Okay, I have a new crochet project, and this one is making me very happy. 😄🧶
If you’ve watched Inside Out, you probably already know who I’m talking about: Joy! 💙💛
I’ve decided to make a Joy amigurumi, and since I’m still in the middle of making her, I thought, Why not bring you along with me?
So, would you crochet Joy with me?
Let’s see how this goes! 😂
Why Joy?
I’ll be honest. There are plenty of cute characters I could have chosen, but Joy felt a little more special.
My family is very fond of Inside Out. We’ve watched the movie together, talked about the characters, and honestly, we can relate to a lot of what happens in it.
What I especially love about the movie is how it gives us a way to talk about feelings and emotions.
In our family, we try to raise our kids to be open about what they’re feeling. We encourage them to name their emotions and talk about what’s going on instead of keeping everything inside until it turns into a much bigger problem.
Sometimes it’s as simple as saying, “I’m angry.”
Or “I’m sad.”
Or “That hurt my feelings.”
And sometimes it’s just, “I don’t know what’s wrong with me today.” 😂
But being able to talk about those feelings can make such a difference. It can help prevent little misunderstandings from becoming major conflicts, and it reminds us that it’s okay to feel things, even the “not so happy” ones.
That’s one of the reasons Inside Out has stuck with our family.
And I guess that’s also why crocheting Joy feels a little more meaningful than just making another cute amigurumi.
Finding the Joy Amigurumi Pattern
Now, before I could start crocheting, I needed a pattern!
I found this Joy amigurumi crochet pattern on YouTube by Nudo y Tejido, and I immediately wanted to give it a try. 💛
The original tutorial is in Spanish and uses Joy’s Spanish name, Alegria.
A little credit where credit is due: I did not design this pattern. I’m following Nudo y Tejido’s tutorial and sharing my own experience making the project here on my blog.
And can I just say, thank goodness for YouTube subtitles! 😂
I really appreciate YouTube for having subtitles, but most especially, I appreciate the creator for putting the pattern instructions for each round in English right there on the screen.
Otherwise, guys, I would be doomed. 😂
I’m already imagining myself staring at the screen like, “Okay, I have absolutely no idea what you just said, but let’s rewind that one more time.”
And honestly, I think I already learned a word or two for the amount of watching, pausing, and rewinding I’ve been doing. 😂
But that’s the beauty of crochet tutorials, right?
Watch.
Pause.
Crochet.
Rewind.
Count your stitches.
Watch again.
Question your life choices.
And then…
“Ohhh! I get it now!” 😂🧶
So far, those English instructions on screen have been a lifesaver, and I’m really grateful that Nudo y Tejido took the time to include them.
Guess What? I’m Using Leftover Yarn!
Here’s another fun little part of this project: I didn’t buy new yarn for Joy. 🎉
I’m actually using some leftover yarn from a project I made just two weeks ago, a handmade crochet bandana inspired by the Philippine flag. 🇵🇭🧶
If you’ve been following along with my blog, you might remember that project.
It was a pretty special one for me because I made it from scratch without a diagram or pattern, using blue, red, and cream yarn and crocheting the little 8 ray sun stitch by stitch.
And now, look at that yarn having a second life! 😂
From a Filipino inspired bandana to a little Joy from Inside Out.
I actually love that.
It reminds me that crochet doesn’t always have to begin with a trip to the craft store. Sometimes, the yarn you already have sitting in your stash is just waiting for its next little adventure.
And apparently, this yarn’s next adventure is becoming Joy. 💛
Here’s My Progress So Far! 🧶
Now for the fun part. Let me show you what I’ve actually made so far!
Because, at this stage, she doesn’t exactly scream “Joy from Inside Out!” just yet. 😂
I started with the yellow crocheted pieces, which eventually began taking shape as Joy’s legs and body.
At first, I had these little yellow pieces sitting on my notebook, and honestly, I just had to trust the process.
“Okay, these are supposed to become legs.”
Got it.
Let’s keep going. 😂
Once I had both legs crocheted, it was time to join them together.
And this was one of those moments where the project suddenly started making a little more sense.
Oh! We’re getting somewhere! 😆
There’s something really satisfying about taking two separate crochet pieces and turning them into one little body.
Then came the stuffing.
And if you’ve ever made amigurumi, you know this part can be a little nerve racking.
Please don’t make it lumpy.
Please don’t make it crooked.
Please look like the picture. 😂
But slowly, the shape started coming together.
And then…
A little bit of green! 💚
This was probably my first real “Ohhh, I can actually see Joy now!” moment.
She’s still very much a work in progress, but seeing the yellow and green together made me excited about what’s coming next.
My Very Glamorous Crochet Setup 😂
If you look at my progress photos, you’ll notice something very important:
My crochet workspace is basically a notebook, a crochet hook, some yarn, stuffing, and a whole lot of handwritten notes. 😂
I’m writing down the rounds as I follow along with the tutorial because I definitely don’t trust myself to remember where I am.
And yes, there is still plenty of:
pause → crochet → rewind → crochet → count → recount → stare at the screen
happening over here.
Very glamorous.
Very professional.
Very much my crochet life. 😂🧶
But honestly, I love seeing the project this way.
Not perfectly finished.
Not perfectly staged.
Just little pieces slowly becoming something.
Will My Joy Actually Look Like Joy?
Now that’s the question. 😂
Right now, I’m trusting the pattern and hoping that all these little yellow and green pieces will eventually turn into the cheerful Joy we know from Inside Out.
There’s still a lot to do.
There’s a face to make.
Hair to figure out.
More details to add.
And probably a few moments where I’ll have to undo something and crochet it again. 😅
But that’s okay.
That’s crochet.
And honestly, I think that’s what makes handmade projects special.
The finished amigurumi isn’t just something you made. It’s a little reminder of all the time, patience, mistakes, counting, recounting, and tiny victories that went into it.
I’ll Share My Progress Along the Way
Since I’m still in the middle of making Joy, I thought I’d share the process with you instead of waiting until she’s completely finished.
I’ll be posting my progress as I go, the pieces I’m working on, the parts that make me go “Wait, what?” 😂, the little victories, and hopefully, eventually, the moment when all these tiny crocheted pieces finally start looking like Joy.
So this is just Part 1 of the adventure. 🧶💛
If you’d like to follow along, come back for the next part and let’s see how this little amigurumi turns out!
And while we’re here, tell me:
Have you ever crocheted a character from a movie or TV show? What did you make?
I’d love to hear about it!
For now, I’m off to crochet, count, pause, rewind, and probably count again. 😂
See you in Part 2! 💛🧶✨