The interests of various artform involving creativity always seemed to have been within me taking roots from early childhood. I started to work to fuel the interest in crocheting as soon as I became aware of it watching a few of my aunt's working on sweater weaving and doilies. Also I happened to subscribe needle work magazine only out of curiosity and I found certain well crafted pieces. Meanwhile, in the neighborhood I started looking out for different yarns and hooks. At that point of time I had a very basic knowledge , I was in my early teens and these designs amazed me to no end. There was a gap in taking up to crochet for me as I was still studying. A day came when my aunt initiated me into crafting generally and thrust to me some knitting needles, a hook and small amount of wool to explore giving a skeleton information of the knitted garments and basic technique not knowing by then my interest in crochet.
She was kind enough to engage and motivate me in some skill of handcrafting at my own pace, apart from studies. I started learning my first stitch .. and the method involved in it at that time.
Years later I crafted a few pieces slowly.
Internet happened then....
I was enamoured by Japanese method called Amigurumi in creating stuffed toys by hooking technique. I created few and then transcended to various other methods out of vast techniques in crocheting from basic to advanced.
Every piece I made brought joy to me thereafter. I got inclined to learn more and more. This also required better eye - hand coordination and in no time my fingers deftly started moving, the yarn started gliding smoothly over the hook, my concentration at its best resulting in handcrafted pieces.
On the internet I regularly started to update my knowledge and I found whole the world of crafting and crafters, designers and there was no looking back then...
I started purchasing designs, yarns enjoying the journey of my crafting interest thus. It also opened to me the stories of the other crafters, their journies around the globe as I pored over the blogs and their websites reading their stories, their triumphs, challenges, and conquering all while relating the anecdotes. I decided to study the craft for better understanding of all the stitches used in hooking giving me insight into grades of complexities alongside crafting reading the available vast material on the net. It was some serious study I devoted my long period of time to over the years understanding the nuances of the craft. There is always much much to learn from each other. This motivated me greatly to create better.
At one point of time I learnt about a record creation and I participated in Guinness World Record fete at crocheting as an Indian team member at crafting which Indian team successfully excelled in creating the record as per the guidelines laid down by Guinness fraternity winning accolades in crafting community. This was ably supported, guided by the torchbearer of the whole team with enthusiasm and determination in a strategic methodology.
Crochet has always brought immense joy to me. I feel with initial guidance, I am a self taught crafter.
Some of the pictures of my crochet pieces. Two lace doilies in crochet thread and in acrylic yarn a crochet blanket here.
Crochet.. The skill
The best way I can put it as...
It is a technique of looping the yarn to make decorative stitches using the thread or wool and a tool made of metal plastic or bamboo, termed as a hook to create various kinds of woven handcrafted fabric pieces ranging from garments to decorative, ornamental pieces. As the times progressed, industrialisation and modernisation occurred so also this art form grew immensely to tread on to a new path striding rapidly towards creating exquisite work catering to clientele and appealing to the new lot of crafters to learning technique of crochet and drawing them to it with enthusiasm and inspiration.
The contemporary, modern crochet involves the skill, using the basic technique incorporating tried and tested methods using an advanced stitchery, perfecting the knack, understanding of the artf orm to a degree of improvisation to optimum. The idea of a piece to be crafted brings in a certain amount of calculation ,combination of workability conceptualised effectively producing the desired results as intended by the designers who wish to craft out their very best ideas to reality. This requires utmost patience, discipline, dedication passion , perseverance, time, money, efforts and love for the crafting technique. Also on this journey there are bound to be pitfalls, which need to be readily recognised and rectified promptly. Modern technology in this era comes to aid like a boon to all the crafting community in better understanding, minimising the time constraint at creations with ready solutions and suggestions in the form of tutorials and explanatory notes on the internet for the ones who seek help.
Around the world crochet is very well received and popular for its pretty, gorgeous designs in every form from garments to decor to blankets to usable things and 3D artf orms with increasing complexity thus progressing tremendously and appealing greatly to every crafter.
