When her kid wants a new toy for the play kitchen, Jenni picks up her yarn

The play kitchen has plenty of options for a quick bite. The sushi pieces are stuffed with batting. Jenni cuts shapes out of foam and crochets covers for them.

Her base of operations is an armchair in the corner of her living room in Tampere. That’s where Jenni Tiala sits every evening after her child has gone to bed and takes out her yarn and crochet hook. Sometimes she turns on an audiobook or podcast through her headphones, but just as often she daydreams in her own world. That’s when she imagines wandering through an enchanted forest and picks up ideas for new stories, characters, and craft projects.

When toys are handmade from start to finish, they’re guaranteed to last. Jenni hopes her daughter will want to keep these mother-made toys even when she grows up. Jenni’s Instagram account @jennitaiteilee started as her personal diary. Now she wants to inspire others to explore different craft techniques.

The crocheted ice cream cones are stuffed with batting.

She plans to eventually use the oranges and blood oranges in a painting.

Jenni, how did you get excited about crocheting?

I’ve enjoyed crafts for as long as I can remember. The urge to create things by hand runs in my family—my mother and both grandmothers have always made all sorts of things. About five years ago, when my daughter was born, I rediscovered crocheting as we began exploring colors, shapes, and flavors together. My daughter and I picked out fruits and vegetables that were easy to find at the grocery store. We would go buy the fruit of the day together, examine it, draw it on paper, taste it, and the next day she had a crocheted version for her playtime. My daughter eats nearly everything, and I believe this kind of food exploration has helped with that.

Pettson and Findus, perched on a couch cushion, are the kid’s favorites. Jenni has built them from scratch. Pettson’s body is sewn and stuffed with batting, the hard parts are painted papier-mâché, and the hair is made from old yarn. He’s wearing her daughter’s old pants, and Jenni knitted his shirt herself.

The soft chenille yarn of the pillows is also a favorite of Sisko Ponteva the cat. Jenni made the donut by sewing an inner cushion from old T-shirts.

With some filler, paint, and stud stickers, a cardboard box became a planter. Jenni made the stems and leaves of the papier-mâché vegetables from paper twine and an old artificial flower. The ‘soil’ is foam and a thrifted shirt.

Was it hard to get started?

I have to admit I made many practice versions at first. I couldn’t find any instructions that appealed to me, so I had to learn by doing. I’m also not very good at following patterns, because the vision in my head is so strong. I began by making, testing, unraveling, and making again. In the beginning, I got annoyed and frustrated if something didn’t go according to plan. Now, if something goes wrong, I think it’s wonderful. You learn so much from mistakes.

Where do you get ideas for new toys?

My child’s wishes are my top priority. Besides vegetables, I’ve made donuts, cakes, sushi, sandwiches, pizza slices, cinnamon rolls, and various grillable foods for her. Together, we discuss what should be available in a grocery store or a bakery. Beyond crocheted play food, I also make other toys, especially fantasy characters.

I find inspiration everywhere, whether in nature or the city. In cafés, I often photograph the lovely treats in the display cases and jot down ideas in my notebook. I love writing by hand. My brain is like a computer, and my hand is the printer that helps me put my ideas on paper.

Jenni designed and sewed the play campfire with her daughter. The flames are stitched from pieces of felt and filled with batting. The logs are made of brown fabric, and the stones from an old blanket and felt. Her daughter stitched the seams on the stones. The marshmallow is crocheted and attached to a flower stake, and there’s an LED light inside the flames. Once it was finished, Jenni and her daughter talked about where you can light a fire, what you can do with it, and what you’re not allowed to do.

What’s the loveliest part? And what’s the most boring?

Crafting is my lifeline. I can’t imagine my life without it. If I’m happy, I can express that through creating something with my hands. If I’m sad or anxious, I can use a particular technique to unburden my mind and handle life’s challenges. It’s the best kind of therapy because it takes the weight off me. Nowadays, I rarely feel overwhelmed. It’s wonderful to make my own ideas into reality and to grow with every new technique, lesson, and skill.

The most boring aspect is having to make too many identical pieces in a row. It’s easy to lose interest and leave them unfinished.

There’s enough yarn to fill several cabinets. Next to the crocheted Findus is the Crow from the Swedish Mamma Moo stories. The beak of the knitted hand puppet is made of papier-mâché and painted with acrylics, the legs are polymer clay, and the wings and tassels come from old clothes.

What are your most important tools?

Pen and paper. That’s where many of my ideas begin, whether it’s something to crochet, paint, or a fantasy character to create. Over the years, I’ve collected a lot of yarn in hundreds of shades. Nowadays, I only buy yarn when there’s a real need, because it’s not sustainable to fill your cupboards just for the sake of it. I also pick up leftover yarn from recycling centers; it’s great for making character hair and perfect for tufting. I have a few crochet hooks I use all the time, plus plenty of watercolors, acrylic paints, various glues, and polymer clays like Fimo.

How often do you do crafts?

I always have my craft bag with me, whether I’m heading to a work meeting or taking a 15-minute bus ride. Making things is a great counterweight to my job as a product specialist. In spring and fall, I browse community courses because I want to keep learning new techniques. I’d rather know a little about everything than everything about just one thing. My dream is to write and illustrate my own children’s book or design my own craft book.

I always follow my mood when doing crafts. Too much planning beforehand makes me anxious, because the result never matches what I initially imagine. I like the work to come together on its own—I’m just the channel.