Amigurumi usually use cotton yarn, particularly robust cotton yarn. If you have a local yarn store, that’s the best bet since they can help guide you. Otherwise, any yarn that specifically mentions amigurumi online and has good reviews should work

I’ve also heard them called yarn butlers or skein holders

Buy it through eBay or Ravelry destash? That way you can get the yarn you want but your money isn’t supporting Hobby Lobby

I’d go for a slightly deeper/more orangey yellow, it’ll help give it the illusion of more depth

Yeah, single ply chunky wool works best, but any wool blend with over 50% non-superwash wool works just as well in my experience. You can avoid knots by doing a “lazy join” and just switching to the new yarn when needed. Hide the ends inside your stitches and voila.

If you really want to be careful, use a thin piece of cotton fabric like an old napkin or t-shirt without any printing on it, between the iron and the aida cloth

I have more spreadsheets set up as formula calculators for my crafting than for any other part of my life.

I started listing Factory Seconds versions of prints on my shop at a discounted rate. I wasn’t sure if people would buy flawed/off-color/etc products but it’s been surprisingly popular and has kept a lot of prints out of the waste bin.

I hope it goes well

Well done!

I usually shoot for a 6”x6” swatch so that the space I’m measuring is 4x4 without any distortion from the edges

You know your niece best. Maybe it’d be worth asking? Could add some angel wings if it comes to it.

Maybe it’s good timing? If Milo doesnt make it to Christmas, they’ll have something to cuddle

That fuzzy belly is 100% a trap though

The Electric Eel Wheels are also very affordable, and it’s a small family-owned business. The Nano 2.1 is about $140 USD shipped if I remember correctly.