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For many decades, crochets have been a pass time hobby for many,
especially for housewives. Same goes for Presentation D’Souza from Siolim who
is 90 years of age. She began her crochet journey at the age of 21 in Gujarat
when she saw children in school learning crochet.
She was inspired and
decided that she too wanted to make crochet pieces. She explains, “I had a book
which showed how to make various patterns. I learnt it by myself through
observation and with the help of the book. I also did not have the crochet
needles back then; I used sticks from the brooms. I have made table cloths and
I have even made the portrait of Jesus and Mother Mary. Every size of crochet
needle is numbered. Whenever you are working on a crochet piece, it requires a
certain number.” She adds that her favorite crochet work is making motifs and
joining them. She also makes crochets whenever there is a celebration in the
family, birthdays or anniversaries, she gifts custom-made crochet pieces.
Margaret D’Souza was around 14 years old when she decided to
make crochets by observing her mother at work. “I was about 14 years old in
Class 8 when I began crocheting. I use to see my mother making crochets, so
looking at her I too wanted to make. I learnt the basics and then later, I made
crochets on my own”, she says. She has made various crochets, like table
cloths, Christmas decorations, like stars, angels and even hair ties and much
more. She has also mentions about her favorite crochet. “My favorite crochet is
the Filet crochet. It is basically space and block to make a pattern”. Till now
she continues making different types of crochets.
Although 69-year-old
Libania De Sousa has stopped making crochet, she has prepared wonderful
crochets. Her crochet journey began around the age of 40. “I was already into
stitching. I use to stitch dresses and other clothes, and so from that only I
got in crocheting. I learnt crocheting from different books and learnt a
variety of patterns,” says this resident of Chicalim. “I also learnt to do
embroidery work so that would help me for my crochets,” adds Libania, who like
Margaret likes the Filet crochet.
Blanche Mendonca, a
resident of Porvorim and is 65 years old. She is an entrepreneur, who has
retired from the Embassy of Brazil after 35 years of service. She learnt her
crochet from her elders, at a very young age. She was 13 years old when she was
in Beira, a small city by the sea, situated in Mozambique, a colony of
Portugal. “In those days, it was a custom for a teenage girl to spend her free
time preparing beautiful crochet items and embroidery linen for her bridal
trousseau and that was kept inside a beautiful carved cedar chest,” she says.
As time passed, she
returned to Goa from Mozambique. She shifted her attention to studies and
getting a job. Soon after completing her college and because her proficiency in
Portugal language, she was offered a job in the Embassy of Brazil in New Delhi.
There, she worked in different departments and gathered a lot of experience
dealing with high profile dignitaries from different countries. “I have always
been attracted to beauty and colour. Deep down, I have always been a creative
person, so I decided to start my own entrepreneurship, based on who I am, my
values, traditions and experiences.”
“I prefer the modern
designs of crochet. I have moved away from the traditional lacy doilies.” She
also has an Instagram handle @ blanche. crochet where she uploads beautiful and
creative crochet designs. She adds, “I try to involve other women crafters in
my ventures too. We are a team that makes crochet home décor products, like
cushion covers, tablemats, table runners and coasters. We try to offer our
customers, products that are handmade with love and beautify their homes.”
Myra Menezes, 42,
hails from Curchorem. She studied in St Pius X Convent High School in Orlim.
She learnt the basics of crochet during the work experience class; she was 13
years old at that time. She was later told to crochet a tablecloth. “The
pattern was given by our teacher and I was so eager to finish mine the
earliest,” she says. She clearly remembers her teacher’s words during the
submitting of her work. Her teacher said “It’s neatly done, the stitches are
uniform and the shade too is really beautiful.” Her teacher encouraged her to
make more crochets. She then made a few more pieces of doilies and two more
tablecloths. She received a lot of admiration and support from her family,
cousins and even neighbours and this appreciation inspired her and motivated
her to continue her crochet journey.
Crochet not only has
been her hobby but it also became her passion and she simply just loving it.
Out of all the designs and patterns, she mostly loves making doilies,
tablecloths, coasters and few filet crochets. She says, “Every time I started
with a new project there was no resting until it was completed. I enjoy
crocheting and I love what I do. I want to develop my skill further and want to
try crocheting even more pieces.”
Ornella Menezes from
Colvale is a 23-year-old student from St Xavier’s College, Mapusa, who is
currently pursuing her masters in physical chemistry. “I started crochet when I
was 12 years old, and it was taught to me by my mother,” says Ornella. She has
been inspired by her mother, who use to make crochets every day.
“My inspiration was
also fashion designer, late Wendel Rocdricks, who noticed my talent. We also
did a show together called, ‘The Zentangle Collection’, in 2019, for which I
made crochet earrings and a necklace for the show and later on, I made
accessories which were on sale in his boutique in Panjim. After the event, I
saw pictures of my work and I felt really amazed because I loved seeing my work
on the big screen and the way Wendell put it across was just amazing”.
Since then, she
worked with fashion designers, Ninoshka Alvares-Delaney from Saligao and JJ
Valaya from Delhi. “Designers are challenging to work with but you realise your
true potential”, she says. She does crochet because she loves it and she loves
the intricate and challenging designs. The challenges she faced are mainly
financially dealing with customers, but there are also customers who return
back for more. “My favourite pattern is creating the portrait of Mother Mary,
which was my first big piece and I love it till date”, she says.
She
mostly makes home decors that include table centre pieces, table covers and
table runners. She also makes jewellery. She not only makes crochets but also
makes hand embroidered handkerchiefs with crochet edging. She also teaches
crochet online. She markets her work on social media platforms like Whatsapp
and Facebook. “I can say that my work is getting recognition and I get
international orders too”, she concludes.