Chenille wins for babies, gifts, and photo appeal
Chenille (velvet-style) yarn produces the plushest finish possible with a hook. It's the right choice for baby loveys, gift amigurumi, and pieces that need to photograph well for Instagram or Etsy listings. Downside: it's slippery, splits easily, and it's harder to see individual stitches - so it's not a great first-project yarn.
Worsted wins for learning, detail work, and craft-fair volume
Worsted-weight acrylic is the workhorse of amigurumi for a reason: stitches are visible, gauge is predictable, and it costs 40–60% less than chenille per finished piece. Every FileDropStudio beginner pattern is written for worsted first, with chenille adaptations included as a secondary option.
Which pattern fits which yarn
Chenille-first: the Bear Snuggler (a lovey needs the softest possible finish). Worsted-first: the Teddy Bear, Fluffy Bunny, and Kawaii Elephant - they show stitch detail (embroidered noses, decorative eyes, ear shaping) that gets swallowed by chenille pile.