Amigurumi is a Japanese style of crocheting cute stuffed animals and anthropomorphic toys. (In fact, any translations for the word that I've seen have simply been "stitch doll" or "crochet toy".) It's done mainly with single crochet stitches in the round, with any separate pieces sewn together at the end. Eyes are often (but not always) round, black beads. The effect is reminiscent of Hello Kitty and other Sanrio characters, with many rounded shapes and cheerful colors.

A quick Google Image Search will bring up many examples, some from Japanese websites, and some from trendy crafting websites frequented by English-speaking yarn-lovers. As with many crafting fads, amigurumi can be visually striking when done well, and is accessable to the beginner. Accordingly, it may become a mainstay of the crochet community over time; or, flooded with mediocre ducks, penguins, and bunnies, the scene may tire of amigurumi and move on to the next big thing.

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