Joy Jussila is the kind of maker whose enthusiasm bubbles over the moment you mention yarn or watercolor paper. At 69 years young, she splits her creative life between knitting, painting delicate watercolors, and, most recently, crocheting the whimsical amigurumi dolls from Crochetree patterns.
What began as a single request from a granddaughter has blossomed into a joyful obsession: ten unique dolls (and counting) in just a few months. When Joy isn’t swapping yarn colors or strategizing the perfect doll hairstyle, she’s reminiscing about summers on Birch Lake, where her great-grandmother first placed needles in her small hands and planted the seeds for a lifetime of making.
Joy’s story
"My love for knitting and crocheting started a long, long time ago, decades, really. I’m a 69-years-young crafter and painter who has recently fallen head-over-hooks for Crochetree patterns and dolls. In fact, I’m almost afraid to post photos on Facebook for fear my friends and family will decide I’ve finally crossed the line from quirky to certifiably nuts. Since February 7th of this year, I’ve stitched ten dolls, and honestly? I’m having waaay too much fun.
The true spark came from my great-grandma, the woman we all called “Ma-at-the-Lake.” She lived in a little log cabin on Birch Lake near Ely, Minnesota, no running water, an outhouse out back, and the most spectacular picture-window view of that lake you could imagine. I’d sit cross-legged beside her on a worn couch, learning four-needle mittens and socks, lace-crochet doilies, and scrap-quilt blocks while waves lapped the shoreline. Payment for these lessons was endless Scrabble games, punctuated by her insistence that every Swedish word in her head belonged in the English dictionary. Looking back, that was a tiny price to pay for everything she taught me about craft and life.
For years I set crochet aside. I was more of a knitter, and lately I’d been splashing around in watercolor. Then my granddaughter Ella asked if I could crochet Cinnamoroll, one of her favorite Hello Kitty characters. Challenge accepted! Soon I’d hooked three Cinnamorolls, two Keroppi frogs, and one cheery Bounsweet. Facebook’s algorithm noticed and began showering me with other crochet patterns, that’s how I stumbled onto Crochetree and their irresistible dolls.
Fast-forward to a pet-sitting trip in Minneapolis. I packed my yarn and chose Granny Grace as my first Crochetree project. She’ll always be my favorite, even if I crocheted her entire body inside-out without realizing it until Doll #2. I worked too loosely, over-stuffed her, and gave her swollen ankles that spill out of her shoes. I ran short on the right “mushroom” yarn, so her coat sports creative color-block sleeves and improvised pockets. I misunderstood the wig directions and stubbornly refused to look up help, so half the curls are on one side and half on the other. She’s gloriously imperfect, and I adore her.
I imagined my grandchildren would all fall in love with Granny Grace. Nope! They pulled up the Crochetree website, placed detailed orders for their own dolls, and left Granny to me (I suppose undressing an elderly-looking doll might feel odd to a kid). Granny remains my heroine, and one day I’ll probably make her gardening sister, too. For now, she presides over my growing crew like a tiny, lopsided matriarch.
Five dolls have already found homes with granddaughters; two grandchildren remain on the waiting list. Our almost-13-year-old grandson is skeptical, he says maybe I could make him a realistic dog instead. A few daughters and friends have hinted for dolls as well, but giving them away is tough; each one feels like bottled sunshine. They brighten every corner of the house and my mood the moment I see them.
Only fellow Crochetree addicts will truly understand this. At some point the hook will rest and I’ll pick up my paintbrush again. But for now I’m savoring the journey, with many more dolls swirling in my imagination, waiting their turn to come to life.
Happy crocheting, friends."
—Joy
