When making amigurumi, it's very easy to grow weary of making all-one-color-all-sc-all-the-time pieces.  In writing my crocheted pufferfish pattern, I used a pair of pattern stitches which I think could be used to help bust out of the monocromatic blues.  Give them a try and see what you think!

Click here to read more

EDIT: I also have a video showing how I make the loop stitch. You can watch it here:
http://needlenoodles.com/home/node/164

Nub Stitch



For these directions, the primary color yarn is shown in blue and the secondary color yarn is shown in white.





Step 1: pull secondary color yarn forward and under the primary color yarn






Step 2: sc 1 in primary color yarn






Step 3: Pull secondary color yarn back and under the primary color yarn






Step 4: sc 1 in primary color






Repeat Steps 1 through 4 as many times as required to complete the round.  This is essentially the same as the Loop stitch described below, but without the spacer step to make a loop, or the wrapping step to lock the yarn in place.  If you're having trouble with the Loop stitch, it might help to get the hang of this stitch first.



=======================================================





Loop Stitch



For these directions, the primary color yarn is shown in pink and the secondary color yarn is shown in yellow





Step 1: sc 1 in primary color yarn, pull secondary color yarn forward and under the primary color yarn






Step 2: sc 1 in primary color yarn






Step 3: wrap secondary color yarn around spacer (popsicle stick is used in photo, but a pencil or pen or anything relatively smooth, and about 1" around) and pull secondary color yarn back and under the primary color yarn






Step 4: start a single crochet stitch with the primary color yarn, but do not pull the final loop of the stitch through yet






Step 5: Wrap secondary color yarn around primary color yarn.  Be sure to keep the primary color yarn taut.






Step 6: Pull the final loop of the sc through to complete the single crochet stitch in progress






Repeat Steps 1 through 6 as many times as required to complete the round.  The wrapping in Step 5 is important, because it "locks" the yarn in place.  Without the wrap, pulling on any one loop will just take up all the slack of the surrounding loops, and you'll wind up with one big loop and no nearby loops.







If you're having trouble with the Loop stitch, it might help to first get the hang of the Nub stitch, described on the previous page.  It is bascially the same stich, but without the spacer step to make a loop, or the wrapping step to lock the yarn in place.





Tip: Check the reverse side of the fabric to see if your loops are wrapped properly.






For contrast, this is what the back of the fabric will look like if you leave out the wrapping step.