If you’ve ever made an amigurumi or crochet stuffed toy, you know that attaching the safety eyes is one of the most important steps. Safety eyes are small plastic bulbs that give your toy expression and personality. They come in many shapes, sizes, and colors, usually measured in millimeters to represent the diameter of the eye.
Attaching safety eyes may sound simple, but many crocheters struggle with it. The eyes come with a small washer that locks into place on the inside of your toy. Once attached, they are very difficult to remove—which is why they’re called “safety” eyes. This ensures they stay secure, but it also means you only get one chance to place them correctly.
A quick note: Safety eyes are not recommended for children under 3 years old or for pets, because small parts can be a choking hazard. If you want a safer option, you can always embroider eyes with black yarn or embroidery thread instead. (Like on this cute carrot)
The pattern of the cute dragon on the photo above can be found here for free!
My Easy Trick: Use a Marker Cap
Pushing the washer onto the back of a safety eye can be tough, especially if you have small hands or limited grip strength. Here’s my favorite tip: use the cap of a marker or pen to press the washer into place.
First make a hole in the amigurumi with for example a thick embroider needle (photo 1) and push the safety eye through the hole. Put the washer on the safety eyes (photo 2) . Then simply place the washer inside the hollow end of the cap (photo 3), line it up with the stem of the eye, and push down firmly to attach the safety eyes. The marker cap acts like a tool, giving you extra leverage and saving your fingers from pain.
This little trick makes attaching safety eyes quick, painless, and secure. Once the washer clicks into place, your amigurumi’s eyes won’t budge.
Watch the video below for a step-by-step demonstration of how to attach safety eyes with this method. After trying it once, you’ll never go back to doing it by hand!
There are many free Amigurumi patterns on my blog that use safety eyes! Go make some with these great tips!