I am obsessed with these Amamani. You cannot imagine my excitement every time I finish one of these designs. And for every one I make, I think of 5 more I want to make. If only I had four arms…
What are Amamani?
Amamani is short for Amigurumi Amish Puzzle Animals. They are based on the traditional Amish puzzle ball and, as such come apart into three segments (or rings) which have to be assembled to form the animal.
The Amish Puzzle Ball
The Amish Puzzle Ball has been around for donkey’s years and is “traditionally” made out of fabric. It consists of 12 wedges/cones that are attached or assembled in such a way that they form a ball.
As the name implies, it is a puzzle, or at least it should be a puzzle.
In most tutorials/patterns, the wedges are actually sewn together. The resulting balls have the same appearance as the puzzle ball without the actual puzzle element. Even so, these toys make excellent grab balls for tiny hands and, depending on the fabric/colours you choose, can be a real treat for inquisitive eyes and minds.
Because the crochet hook is my weapon of choice, and I wanted an ACTUAL puzzle, I wrote a pattern for a Crochet Amish Puzzle Ball. This pattern is FREE and suitable for beginners.
All my Amamani are based on this simple pattern.
Just as the ball comes apart into 3 segments that can be assembled and taken apart at will, so each animal comes apart into 3 separate sections, which then have to be re-assembled in a specific configuration.
Please note: not all of the animals are configured in the same way.
Although the puzzle is a simple one and can be built blindfolded once you’ve done it once, it can be quite challenging for someone who has never seen one before. My 4-year old can finally assemble the ball by himself. My 2-year old still runs up to me every now and then to tell me that one of the animals’ “face fell off”.
Anyway…after designing the original puzzle ball, and because I love all things flowery, I adapted the design to form the Flower Amish Puzzle Ball.
And then, one random day, a Raveller happened to mention her Puzzle Ball and her grandson’s love of dinosaurs in the same sentence and I thought:
“I could make the Puzzle Ball INTO a dinosaur!”
It took me about three months of playing with the idea and a month of active “designing”. You have no idea how many drafts and versions of the head I had to make to figure out how to shape it as I had never designed proper Amigurumi before. But when I finally assembled the three segments and saw my little dinosaur for the first time, I was smitten… and immediately obsessed.
So please allow me to introduce you to my menagerie of Amamani. I will be adding more as they appear, so if you don’t see anything you fancy, come back in a few months and you might have a lot more to choose from!
Amamani Puzzle Balls Book
I have now published my very first book. Yippee! It contains 5 of the patterns below (6 variations in total), so these patterns are no longer available as stand-alone patterns. The rest of the patterns can still be bought individually in my Ravelry Store.
The book is available in paperback and digital format from Annie’s and you can find it here: Amamani Puzzle Balls. It is also available on Amazon HERE
Amamani Menagerie
 |
SkillieCrochet Turtle PuzzleThis pattern is no longer available as a stand-alone pdf, but rather as part of this book: Amamani Puzzle Balls Skill level: Intermediate Skillie the Turtle works up to 12 cm high by 18 cm long (5″ x 7″). His front leg span is also 18 cm for what that’s worth (7″). Like all my other Amamani, he comes apart into 3 segments that have to be “built” to form the Turtle. |
 |
EleanorCrochet Elephant PuzzleThis pattern is no longer available as a stand-alone pdf, but rather as part of this book: Amamani Puzzle Balls Skill level: Intermediate Eleanor the Elephant works up to 15 cm high x 15 cm long (6″ x 6″). Like all my other Amamani, she comes apart into 3 segments that have to be “built” to form the Elephant. I also have a FREE pattern for Grace the Crochet Elephant Comfort Blanket. Together they would be the perfect gift for a new baby! |
 |
OliveCrochet Octopus PuzzlePattern available for FREE. Suitable for Advanced Beginners. Olive the Octopus works up to 12 cm in diameter (that’s roughly 5″). Like all my other Amamani, she comes apart into 3 segments that have to be “built” to form the Octopus. This is the easiest of all the Amamani, both to crochet and to assemble. |
 |
HermioneCrochet Horse PuzzlePattern available in my Ravelry Store. Suitable for Advanced Crocheters. Hermione Horse works up to 20 cm high by 20 cm long (that’s roughly 8″ x 8″). Like all my other Amamani, she comes apart into 3 segments that have to be “built” to form the Horse. Although the pattern is written for 6 colours, it is easy enough to disregard the colour changes and just make her in one colour. For Hermione’s head, you will need to join in the round and use short rows. You can find out more about both here. |
 |
GregorCrochet Rhinosaur PuzzlePattern available in my Ravelry Store. Suitable for Advanced Beginners. Gregor the Rhinosaur works up to 15 cm high by 15 cm long (that’s roughly 6″ x 6″). Like all my other Amamani, he comes apart into 3 segments that have to be “built” to form the Rhinosaur. For Gregor’s head, you will need to join in the round and use short rows. You can find out more about both in this partial walk-through of the Rhinosaur head. |
| |
DinoCrochet Dinosaur PuzzleThis pattern is no longer available as a stand-alone pdf, but rather as part of this book: Amamani Puzzle Balls Skill level: Intermediate This dinosaur works up to 15 cm high by 25 cm long (that’s roughly 6″ x 10″). Like all my other Amamani, he comes apart into 3 segments that have to be “built” to form the Dinosaur. |
 |
GeminaCrochet Giraffe PuzzleThis pattern is no longer available as a stand-alone pdf, but rather as part of this book: Amamani Puzzle Balls Skill level: Intermediate Gemina the Giraffe works up to 12 cm long (not counting her head) and 23 cm high (that’s roughly 5″ x 9″). Like all my other Amamani, she comes apart into 3 segments that have to be “built” to form the Giraffe. |
 |
KiwiCrochet Kiwi PuzzlePattern available for FREE. Suitable for Advanced Beginners. The crochet Kiwi Puzzle works up to less than 10 cm in diameter (that’s roughly 4″). Like all my other Amamani, she comes apart into 3 segments that have to be “built” to form the Kiwi. Along with the Octopus, this is the easiest of all the Amamani, both to crochet and to assemble. |
 |
FinCrochet Fish PuzzlePattern available in my Ravelry Store. Suitable for Advanced Beginners. Fin the Fish works up to 13 cm wide x 17 cm high x 18 cm long. That is roughly 5″ x 6.5″ x 7″. Like all my other Amamani, he comes apart into 3 segments that have to be “built” to form the Fish. |
 |
BrillCrochet Lion PuzzleThis pattern is no longer available as a stand-alone pdf, but rather as part of this book: Amamani Puzzle Balls Skill level: Intermediate Brill the Lion works up to 13 cm wide x 15 cm high x 15 cm long. That is roughly 5″ x 6″ x 6″. Like all my other Amamani, he comes apart into 3 segments that have to be “built” to form the Lion. Included in the pattern are instructions for making both a cutesey mane AND a manly fringe mane. |
 |
ChloeCrochet Cow PuzzlePattern available in my Ravelry Store. Suitable for Advanced Beginners. Chloe the Cow works up to 13 cm wide x 15 cm high x 15 cm long. That is roughly 5″ x 6″ x 6″. Like all my other Amamani, she comes apart into 3 segments that have to be “built” to form the Cow. Chloe comes complete with a cute little Udder. |
Jane Glass says
I am crocheting Dexter the Dinosaur and each of the many times I’ve tried it, when I finish Roe 10, I’m low on the right side of his face as I’m looking at him, and am supposed to begin the short rows. This just does not work. Please help me
Jenny Lowman says
Hi Jane,
Can you ask the question on the Facebook group with some photos? Maybe it will make it easier for us and others to help you :)