Cotter Pin Joints for Amigurumi
Cotter pin joints for amigurumi are made up of a flat disc attached to a metal pin, a small metal disc, and a wooden disc. This is fantastic for heads and especially attaching two body parts made in different yarn, like the Friendly Poodle pattern.
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If you would like to make the pattern you see here
Cotter Pin Joint
A Cotter Pin Joint is made up of the pin, wooden discs and metal washers. You will also need small pliers to make adjustments to the pin. The pin, wooden disc, and metal washer will be placed on whatever piece you will need to close first (a leg for a body, or the closed body if you are doing a head). Then it goes through the fabric of the other piece where another wooden disc and metal washer are put on the pin. Using the pliers, you bend each of the two parts of the pin so that they are snug against the wooden disc.
This is a great option if you want more hold than the yarn through method. It is also easier to get through the stitches than the plastic joint method. If you struggle pulling the yarn and needle through or snapping the washer on the joints, then this is a great choice. It takes some effort to curl the pin, but it is more about technique. This one took me longer to feel comfortable with. However, practice makes perfect. This is my favorite method for attaching heads, especially if the stitches go different directions.
It is also amazing when you are attaching different types of yarn together. This is what makes it an ideal situation for the pattern I included in this section. The poodle’s head is made separately from the body, and it is two different types of yarn being connected.
Pros and Cons for Cotter Pin Joints in Amigurumi
Pros
*hold just as well as the safety joint
*after initial learning curve, may be the easiest to get on
*requires less strength/effort
*Much easier to get through stitches
Cons
*Steeper Learning curve
*You are limited by the size of joints you use
*Some smaller areas may be hard to attach.
Cotter Pin Joints for Amigurumi Heads
The method for attaching heads is just different enough that I made a different video showing this specifically.
