Beginner Amigurumi Kit: Knit Picks American Pika Review

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As it always happens when I was browse for yarn, I found something new to try and added it to my cart. Although they are always so cute, I’m not a huge fan of amigurumi patterns and haven’t really spent a lot of time making those types of projects. This kit from Knit Picks seemed really fun and interesting so I thought I’d give it a try.

Read my review below and see if this kit might be perfect for you (or a fellow crocheter!)


This post contains affiliate links. This means that if you decide to purchase items through the links I have shared, I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). Thank you for supporting the time and work I put into this website and pattern designing.


I was not asked to write this review. I purchased this item with the intent to make it and share my experience about the product and process.


As a crocheter (and designer), I am typically drawn to projects like scarves, dishcloths and home decor items. Amigurumi is super cute but it isn’t something I have spent a lot of time focusing on. I sometimes find it a little tedious and while I do enjoy making those cute items once in awhile, they aren’t my “go-to” projects. When I saw that Knit Picks had released an amigurumi kit, I thought it would be a great opportunity to give it a try. I consider myself an intermediate crocheter skill wise so while I’m not approaching the kit as a beginner, the pattern looked cute and I was interested in learning more about it.

If you haven’t ordered from Knit Picks or their sister site, WeCrochet, please check out my review here: Ordering From WeCrochet.

Labeled as “Looops Crochet Kit”, at the time of purchase, this product is sold for $30.00 USD. Only the American Pika kit was available but you can now also get the Fly Agaric Mushroom. Both kits are made and released by KnitPicks but the patterns are beautifully designed by Lisa from HELLOhappy (check out the HELLOhappy website here and Instagram here). When this kit is purchased, a portion of the proceeds go to the Oregon Zoo Foundation to help support animal conservation and education.

Let’s take a look at what’s inside:
My first impression was how cute and well put together the whole kit was from a packaging perspective. The bag was not flimsy, it was quite thick and it has a resealable top. I thought that was super clever because it was easy to open and also acted as little bag for storing the tools and project if you needed to take a break or stash it away for a bit. At first glance, this would make a fabulous gift for a fellow crocheter!

Inside, all the supplies you need are included (except for scissors). As you can see from the photo below, the supplies are plenty and I found them to be good quality. The yarn used is “Animation” which is a Knit Picks brand. It is a DK Mercerized cotton and each skein in this kit is 25 grams. I had a lot leftover of the grey, black and white with a little leftover of the linen shade when my Pika was finished. You could definitely set those aside for to make another Pika (you’d need more linen though) or stash them on your shelf for another type of project. While DK yarn is fairly thin, I found it worked well for this project. The Animation yarn is really nice to work with and has a nice texture making it a good choice for amigurumi. This was my first time using this particular yarn line and I enjoyed it.

The included hook is a 3mm and has a lovely pointed tip which I found especially helpful when working into those tighter amigurumi stitches. The handle is padded and very comfortable to crochet with. I actually really liked this hook and I’ll probably use it a lot more if I dive further into amigurumi projects.

Other notions included were locking stitch markers (a must for keeping track of your rounds and first stitches), a bent tip yarn needle, safety eyes, a keychain to turn your Pika into a travel buddy and a generous amount of stuffing.

The pattern itself comes in a really cute and nicely laid out booklet and has nice sturdy pages with colour photos (more on this part later).

There was an adorable little card also included that shares some facts about the American Pika as well as a QR code where you can learn how to help these adorable creatures.

Knit Picks Yarn

About the Pattern:
Because this is not my pattern, and due to copyright, I cannot show the pattern details inside the book. However, as it is geared to beginner amigurumi crocheters, I can say that the instructions are very simply written and the booklet includes a QR code to access video tutorials showing steps and sections of the project as your work through them. All the usual details such as measurements, abbreviations and notions are included and the pattern directions are laid out in an organized and detailed way.

As this pattern and kit are mentioned to be geared to beginners, I was looking for details that would appeal to a true amigurumi beginner. I think this kit does make a really nice beginner project for a few reasons:

  • This pattern uses very simple stitches and techniques (if the thought of increasing and decreasing those basic stitches sounds intimidating, scan the included QR code for helpful video tutorials)
  • The instructions are clearly written and don’t come across as complicated. They are simple and if you need a quick reminder about an abbreviation or technique, they can be easily referenced at the front of the booklet
  • Many of the steps have included colour photos. Because the booklet is pocket sized, the photos might be a little small for some. However, they are clear and crisp and the included QR code can be accessed on each page if you need clarification on those details in the form of a video
  • HELLOhappy has put a lot of work and details into this pattern and it shows. Right down to the video tutorials, everything is geared to helping you create your own little American Pika. Actually, after I finished my own version, I went and spent some time checking out other HELLOhappy designs because I enjoyed this one so much

Okay, are you ready to see the result? Here’s my own American Pika. I especially love the stitch definition from the Animation yarn.

Who Would Like This Kit?
– Beginners who are comfortable with the basic stitches and looking to elevate their skills by trying something new
– Experienced crocheters who perhaps haven’t spent much time making amigurumi but want to give it a try
– Any crocheter looking to try some new products and try a new pattern. For $30.00, this kit is a really fabulous value. You’ll try some new yarn (if you haven’t worked with Animation before) and the included tools and notions are a great addition to your accessories
– This kit would make a really fun and thoughtful gift idea for a fellow crocheter, especially because everything you need is packaged up in such a nice and cute way

Yarn for Crochet at crochet.com

I really enjoyed this amigurumi kit and definitely recommend checking it out. If you’d like to learn more about some of the items I mentioned in this review, you can find those links below:

Happy crocheting!

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