When one grandfather took up crocheting as a retirement hobby, he had no idea it would lead to a whole new career creating inspiring, life-changing dolls for children and adults.
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Making a Memory
Joao Stanganelli, Jr., a 64-year-old Brazilian man, wanted to give his granddaughter a memory of himself that would be more meaningful than a photograph. He decided to make her a crochet doll.
Stanganelli has vitiligo, a skin condition that causes the skin to lose pigmentation unevenly. When he made the doll, he named her Vitiliga and gave her the same white patches he had.
Inclusion and Self-Esteem
His granddaughter and her friends loved the doll. Soon, children and adults with vitiligo were asking for their own dolls.
Stanganelli and his wife estimate they have made more than 200 dolls for people with skin conditions, physical disabilities, visual impairment and other things that made them feel left out, embarrassed or ashamed.
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“I want to give them representation and self-esteem,” he said.
He’s Still Crocheting Away
Stanganelli uses the amigurumi method of crocheting. Amigurumi items tend to be soft and fluffy, which makes them especially comforting.
His Instagram page features dozens of children posing with their doll replicas. The busy grandfather says he’s still working hard, but now he gets to work at something that brings joy to himself and others.
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