How to use safety eyes

Safety eyes are plastic bulbs that help give some character and life to your amigurumi, crochet stuffed toys. Safety eyes are easy to attach but difficult to remove. They come in multiple shapes, colors, and sizes. They’re measured in millimeters, which represent the diameter of the eye.

Safety eyes aren’t safe for children younger than 3 years old, or pets. If you don’t want to use safety eyes, simply embroider them on instead.

Watch the video below for a demonstration on how to attach safety eyes securely.

How to attach safety eyes to your amigurumi (step-by-step with photos)

1. Safety eyes come with an eye and a backing.2. Make sure the “right side” of the piece is facing you. Insert the eye between two stitches.
3. On the inside of the piece, put the backing on the stem, flat side facing the yarn.
4. Push down on both sides of the backing to snap it into place. Push it far enough that it’s secure, but not so far that it distorts the piece.
5. Repeat steps 2–4 for the other eye. Count how many stitches away the second eye should be by counting the number of gaps that represent the space between stitches.


TIP

Before putting the backings on, put both safety eyes where the pattern instructs. Then adjust their placement if you think it could look better.

Still have questions?

The size of the safety eyes will depend on both your project's size and your personal preference.



If you're creating a small amigurumi piece or looking for a more subtle look to your design, 4 or 6mm works best. If you're making something larger or want a more expressive look, 8 or 10mm safety eyes might work better. Ultimately it's up to you - safety eyes can be as big as 30mm!



No matter which size you decide to go with though, make sure that they come with washer backings so that they stay securely attached.

There are lots of great places to find safety eyes for amigurumi. Depending on your budget and the size you’re looking for, you can check out craft stores like Michael's or Jo-Ann Fabric & Craft, which often carry them in many sizes and colors. You could also look online; Etsy has a great selection of safety eyes from independent sellers at competitive prices. Amazon also carries safety eyes, from both local and worldwide sellers.

Absolutely! There are plenty of options for giving your crocheted creations personality without using safety eyes.




One great option is to embroider your own eyes. This gives you the freedom to make creative decisions about the shape and size of the eyes you want to use. Depending on how much detail you want in each eye, this can be a simple and fast process. If you go this route, don't forget that if it’s a stuffed toy or amigurumi then stuffing will be required in order to give it more dimensionality and life-like features.




Another option is button eyes which come in all sorts of sizes and shapes so they are perfect for customizing any design with bright colors or fun designs like hearts or stars! Just make sure that if you choose buttons for any project intended for small children that the buttons have been approved by an independent safety testing lab/company just like any other toy would need before being sold commercially.




You could also use felt circles that you glue gun or sew on with embroidery thread. Or even try using fabric paint for larger projects like blankets — simply draw on some “smiley faces” using different colors (or whatever design works best) and let it set overnight before enjoying the end result!

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