Every crocheter eventually runs into the lopsided sphere problem. You follow row-by-row instructions to the letter, yet the finished head leans to one side or sags when set on a wooden table. The issue rarely lies in the pattern itself; it comes down to microscopic tension shifts and how yarn loops stack as you work continuous spirals.
Mastering the Yarn Under Single Crochet
Standard single crochet uses a yarn-over motion that creates small V-shaped stitches. For amigurumi, wrapping the hook over the yarn from the back often introduces slight slack, letting stuffing peek through. Switching to a yarn-under motion pulls each loop flush against the previous row, forming tiny tight crosses that lock the fabric upright.
Maintaining Stitch Count Across Continuous Spirals
Because amigurumi patterns run in spirals without a joining slip stitch, miscounting by even a single stitch cascades through subsequent increase rounds. Keep a contrasting scrap of yarn running through the first stitch of each round rather than trusting memory. If your round ends with thirty stitches instead of twenty-eight, pause and unravel immediately rather than attempting to hide the extra stitch on the next turn.
Stuffing Firmly Before Closing the Opening
A plushie needs internal scaffolding, not a cloud of loose fiber. Break your stuffing into small, walnut-sized wads and push them toward the outer walls using the blunt back of a wooden crochet hook. Fill the shape until it feels dense and springs back under thumb pressure, especially before you work your final decrease rounds down to six stitches.