Poppy Troll Lovey (Take Two)

Sometimes the projects we make aren't just about the finished piece. They're about the memories stitched into every row.

About seven years ago, I crocheted this Poppy Troll Lovey for my Laila. At the time, I was still learning, figuring things out one stitch at a time. I poured so much love into it, and it quickly became one of those projects that represented exactly where I was in my crochet journey. Looking back now, I can see every little inconsistency, every lesson I hadn't learned yet, and every bit of determination that kept me going anyway.

Now, seven years later, I'm picking up my hook to make another one.

This project isn't about replacing the original. That first Poppy is full of memories and will always have a special place in our home. Instead, I want to recreate it as a way to celebrate how far I've come as both a crocheter and a designer.

Will my stitches be neater? Absolutely.

Will my shaping be smoother? Without a doubt.

But I also hope the new version still captures the same joy that made Laila fall in love with the first one all those years ago.

Throughout this blog series, I'll be sharing each stage of the process, the little improvements I make along the way, and maybe even a few side-by-side comparisons with the original. It's always amazing to look back and realize just how much growth can happen one stitch at a time.

Sometimes we get so focused on what we still have to learn that we forget to celebrate how far we've already come.

I hope this project serves as a reminder that every imperfect project has value. Those early creations weren't mistakes—they were stepping stones that helped build the skills we have today.

So here's to revisiting an old favorite, creating new memories with Laila, and seeing just how much seven years of crochet has taught me.

Let's get this Poppy Troll Lovey back on my hook. 💙🩷

She's Starting to Come to Life!

There's something magical about the moment an amigurumi starts looking like its character instead of just a ball of stitches—and we've officially reached that point!

Poppy's head is fully shaped and now it's time for one of my favorite parts: adding all of that wild pink hair! I like to attach the hair before stuffing and closing the head so I don’t accidentally catch or pull pieces of polyfill through while adding each strand.

Watching her personality emerge with every piece of hair is so much fun. Once her hair is in place, I’ll stuff and close the head, then begin creating her sweet, familiar face.

After that, it’ll be time to crochet the granny-style lovey blanket and attach it to complete the project.

Every stitch brings back memories of the original Poppy I made for Laila seven years ago. It’s incredible to see how much my technique has grown while recreating a project that means so much to our family.

Next Up:

• 💗 Finish attaching Poppy's hair

• 🧶 Close and secure the head

• 😊 Embroider her face

• 💙 Crochet and attach the lovey blanket

She's well on her way to becoming a cuddly companion once again, and I can't wait to share the next update!