Velvet Yarn
Short-pile shine that catches the light — thin #2 velvet for small, detailed amigurumi and plush #5 velvety chenille for big, cuddly pieces.
Is velvet yarn the same as chenille?
Close cousins, not twins. Both wrap a soft pile around a core thread. Velvet keeps that pile short and dense, so the surface reads smooth and lustrous with crisp stitch definition. Chenille grows the pile longer and loftier, trading definition for maximum fluff. Neither is "better" — they're built for different scales of project.
Which one for your project?
Velvety Chenille Fine (#2) is the small-work specialist: clean faces on palm-size amigurumi, tidy embroidery-friendly surfaces, tiny limbs that still show every stitch. Velvety Chenille Bulky (#5) is the cuddle specialist: large plushies, cushions and wearables where you want depth of softness over fine detail.
One habit serves both: velvet-family yarns show tension differences more than matte yarns, so keep your stitches snug and consistent — and go down a hook size for amigurumi so stuffing never shows.
More on choosing and working velvet: velvet yarn guide. Comparing it with chenille? See velvet vs chenille yarn.