Ali Obertubbesing picked up a hook in 2020 while expecting her first child and looking for a handmade touch for milestone photos. What started with a unicorn, pony, and one ambitious llama became a love for amigurumi, and eventually, Crochetree dolls. After discovering Louise on Instagram, Ali dove in, leveled up her skills, and even took home ribbons at the Minnesota State Fair. This is her story, in her own words.
Ali Obertubbesing’s Story
I started crocheting in 2020, at the height of the COVID pandemic. I was pregnant with my first child, and a while back, I had found a really cute crochet llama pattern that I really wanted to make to use in my baby's milestone photos, even though I didn't know how to crochet. With quarantine in full swing, it seemed like as good a time as any to learn!
I bought a “learn to crochet” kit that included a book explaining how to make a few basic types of stitches and used that book and YouTube videos to teach myself. I made a small unicorn and pony from that kit as my first projects and then moved on to tackle that llama. Safe to say I was hooked, and I couldn't get enough of making cute crochet stuffed animals for my kids!
As I kept looking for new and exciting patterns, I found several dolls that I wanted to try, but I felt a little intimidated by them. They seemed more complicated and detailed than the larger animals I had been making. I even bought a pattern and gave it a try, but did not end up finishing it because I thought the directions were confusing. I kept building my menagerie of crocheted animals instead.
However, last year, I was scrolling on Instagram and an ad for Crochetree came up on my feed. I just loved the featured doll, Louise. It really was the eyes that drew me. This was the first doll I had seen in all my pattern searching that had embroidered eyes rather than plastic safety eyes. It gave her so much character, and she seemed really special. Since I had a few more years of experience under my belt at that point, I decided to go for it and give a doll another try. I'm so glad I did!
The pattern was so easy to follow, not at all like the one from a different creator that I had tried previously. I was so excited when I finished Louise (who my son adopted and named “Poppy”). I couldn't wait to start another one! It launched an addiction to making Crochetree dolls, and as I have made them, I continue to learn new things and improve my crochet skills.
So far, I have made five dolls and have a whole lineup of ones I plan to make! It makes me proud when I look at them side by side and can see the improvements from one to the next, as well as when I see how much my execution on other projects has improved by applying the skills and techniques I have learned by making Crochetree dolls. I was even inspired this year to enter two dolls in the Minnesota State Fair, and they won first place (Yuki) and second place (Naomi) in their respective categories! I am glad that I get to share my work with others and enjoy gifting my creations to those special to me.
I would encourage anyone interested in starting to crochet to jump in and give it a go. It is so satisfying to make something beautiful from scratch, and you will surprise yourself at what you're able to do. And once you complete your first Crochetree doll, look out, because you'll want to make them all!
