Parenting is full of bittersweet moments, and one of the toughest? When your once-cuddly child suddenly wants nothing to do with hugs.
For Dutch textile designer Marieke Voorsluijs, this shift hit hard when her eldest son started embracing independence—choosing friends, gadgets, and music over his mom’s affectionate squeezes.
But instead of sulking, she grabbed her knitting needles and came up with a solution so unexpected, it took the internet by storm: she knit a life-sized version of her son!
A Hilarious (and Totally Creative) Response
A few years ago, Voorsluijs shared her quirky creation in a Bored Panda article titled “My Son Doesn’t Want to Cuddle Anymore, So I Knit a Cuddly Version of Him.” In it, she humorously described her son’s growing independence and how, like any good mom, she respected it—while also poking fun at her own lingering urge to smother him with love.
“We laugh a lot about the growing gap between his needs and mine,” she wrote. “Him needing more space, and my secret desire to keep on showering him with motherly affection.”
Of course, the internet took her words very seriously. Some thought she had actually knit the boy to fill a cuddle void. But Voorsluijs later clarified to HuffPost that the project was all in good fun, saying, “If I knew so many people thought this was about me being a love-sick mother, I would have posted something different.”
Knitting a Masterpiece
As the founder of Club Geluk, a textile design company specializing in hyper-realistic knitted objects, Voorsluijs was no stranger to crafting unusual things. She had already knitted hams, TVs, and even houseplants, so why not take on her biggest challenge yet—a full-sized, wearable version of her son?
The end result was nothing short of impressive. The knitted “son” featured a beanie, sneakers, and even a sweater that read “Punk’s Not Dead”. It wasn’t just a solo project, either—Voorsluijs’s younger son helped out, and since her eldest kept growing, the final creation actually fit his little brother by the time it was done!
A Parenting Story That Stitched Its Way Into Hearts
Voorsluijs and her family shared the images of the knitted son with the world, knowing it would spark reactions ranging from admiration to amusement. And while no amount of yarn can replace a real hug, this project became a lighthearted reminder of the ups and downs of parenthood.
At the end of the day, kids grow up—but creativity (and a good sense of humor) lasts forever!
Would you try something this wild for your kids? Share this story with a friend who’d totally relate!
