Margaret Muani discovered her passion for crocheting later in life, turning childhood memories and challenges into creative inspiration. With a background in embroidery and knitting from her school years and vivid recollections of her mother's handiwork, Margaret had always been drawn to textile crafts.
Yet it wasn’t until 2024—thanks to the heartwarming appeal of Crochetree dolls—that she committed to learning crochet and began crafting her own amigurumi creations, blending nostalgia, resilience, and artistic growth into every stitch.
Margaret’s Crochet Journey
"When I was younger, I did cross stitch, embroidery, and knitting as part of schoolwork—but I never tried crocheting. I remember watching my mother knit, and ever since I was a child I loved dolls. Unfortunately, due to money constraints, I never had one that I could truly call my own. So, resourcefully, I made my own dolls by stuffing old baby onesies with pieces of cloth.
In 2024, I came across an advertisement for the Crochetree dolls. My eyes lit up like a little girl’s, and all those memories of longing for my own dolls came rushing back. In that moment, I told myself: I am going to learn how to crochet and make these beautiful dolls for myself.
At the beginning, it was hard—not because the patterns were overly complex, but because I had never learned how to crochet before. Whenever I was unsure about a stitch, I turned to YouTube tutorials and took things slowly, stitch by stitch.
The first Crochetree doll I bought was Hazel, and I loved her the moment I laid eyes on her. Before tackling Hazel, I practiced amigurumi animals and simpler shapes to get comfortable with the feel of crocheting. It took me months of trial and error to complete Hazel. As a mother of two young boys, carving out time to craft was a challenge—and as a beginner, my progress was slow—but I was overjoyed and proud of how Hazel turned out. The kind compliments from the Crochetree community motivated me to keep going, and now I’m hooked.
I’ve just finished Naomi, and I feel immense pride in how she turned out as well. So far, I’ve completed three dolls, I have more works in progress, and I’m excited about future creations.
In 2023, I lost my only brother. Crocheting became a lifeline—it helped me cope with grief, loss, and heartbreak. When I immersed myself in crochet, I could momentarily forget pain and stress. The repetitive rhythm of each stitch offered solace and a creative escape.
Creating these beautiful dolls brings me immense joy. I’m deeply grateful to Crochetree for their amazingly detailed, clear patterns. They’re some of the best I’ve ever worked with.
I don’t have much advice—since I’m still learning—but here’s what I’ve learned:
- Even as a complete beginner, you can make beautiful dolls—Crochetree’s step-by-step patterns leave little room for error.
- Use the recommended hook size for your yarn.
- Stitch tight and stuff firmly—that makes the doll come to life.
- Don’t be discouraged if your first attempts aren’t perfect. Practice makes progress—and perfection will follow."
Margaret’s journey is a touching testament to creativity, perseverance, and healing. From making stuffed onesie dolls to mastering amigurumi, her story shows how art and craft can transform memory, grief, and hope into something beautiful.
