Chennai :

At Ashvita Nirvana in Besant Nagar, at a workshop on crochet making, nearly 12 ladies are hard at work trying to make their own coaster out of crochet. Anne, the instructor for the event, walks around, helping them out in the nuances.

Though having no background in the field, Anne and her husband Rakesh run ‘Happyknots’ crochet business in Bangalore. Anne was in Chennai to conduct a workshop, where City Express caught up with her. A medical transcription trainer for nearly 12 years, her talent in crochet began when she had a baby a few years ago. “Jewellery, hair accessories, clothes, dreamcatchers, curtains, sofa covers….you name it and it can be done the crochet way. Initially, I took the help of a family friend, and later learnt through online tutorials,” she beams. It took nearly five years for Anne to master crochet making.

How many are interested in making crochet? “Crochet is not a dying art; it’s just that people do not have the time and patience to learn it,” she says. “Apart from this, the art can be perfected only through years of practice. Crochet items initially were made only with wool, but today it can be made with any material like, thread, jute fabric.”

As Anne teaches one of the ladies how to start kneading the thread, she says, “Crochet is one art form which relieves us from stress.” But how? She laughs and replies, “When we do this, we are completely occupied; so we avoid thinking about anything else.”

Looking at the accessories she made for her daughter such as hair bands and rubber bands, her family encouraged her to pursue it. Anne began to receive orders which motivated her to start Happyknots. “We don’t get many orders for crochet; only a small percentage of people are interested. Customers prefer works, which have us use our creativity to fuse other forms of art into one,” she smiles.

Anne feels that many people today want to learn the art, but lack training. “More than going for a class and knowing how crochet is done, people need to know the right technique to make the product easily,” she adds.

Anne is known for her fashion accessories and designs (which includes hair and jewellery) using crochet.

For orders, call 09844538518 or visit HappyKnots on FB

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Chennai / Vidya Gowri Venkatesh / August 04th, 2016