Chennai :
Colourful threads, interlocked in loops to create interesting patterns and accessories- this defines the art of crochet making, in a nutshell. While there are only a handful of crochet makers/artists in the city, CE caught up with Bhuvana, a city-based art teacher and crochet maker.
As we enter her ‘art den’, colourful crochet handbags, keychains, bottle holders, neck pieces, hair clips and other accessories stand out. Made from acrylic (artificial threads) to cotton yarns, from t-shirt yarn to jute, Bhuvana shares that procuring good quality yarns is a tough task. “We get synthetic threads and wool here. But if you are looking for the soft, thick, cotton yarns, you have to procure it from Delhi or foreign countries.”
When asked how she was drawn to crochet making, Bhuvana replies “It all began after I saw the movie Barfi (2012)! Priyanka Chopra carries a crochet handbag in the movie. Until then I had only seen old-fashioned scarfs, baby clothes and accessories.After that, for four years, I did intensive research on materials, tools and accessories involved in crochet making. Until then, I didn’t know the difference between knitting and crochet making!”
A year ago,she started her own label, EM’s Crochet art and artifacts on Facebook and has been showcasing her work on the page. “Since I also teach and paint, I make crochets whenever I get time. In fact, my goal is to incorporate crochet in art,” she says.“Abroad, crochet art installations are very common. Even in India, some artists have done such installations and I intend to do something like that.” With a plethora of styles and stiches in crochet, she explains a few such as single, double, triple crochet, granny squares and bobble stitch. “One interesting thing about crochet is that each stitch in crochet is completed before proceeding to the next. This makes it easy for us to remove a particular loop in case of changes,” she explains. Tapestry crochet, which is predominantly seen in carpets and mats, is another interesting style, adds Bhuvana. “This type of crochet making is not as easy, but its output is very beautiful. It involves working parallely with multiple threads of different colours. I am currently working on stocking material for that,” smiles the artist.
A Masters graduate in painting, she shares that any form can be achieved in crochet. Even stuffed toys! “I made a rat out of crochet. The loops are interlocked in the required shape and then the opening is stuffed with cotton before the final stitch. I am currently concentrating on making more toys,” she says. Shedding light on why crocheting is considered a women’ job in India, she avers, “Firstly, it’s not just a women’s job. I have seen a lot of men doing crochet in foreign countries. But, I don’t understand why it doesn’t happen in India. I know very few men who do it here,”adding that when it comes to accessories, men don’t prefer crochet. “They think it’s feminine. But key chains and crochet bracelets can be used by them. Some of my male friends have bought them from me,” she beams.
Bhuvana has exhibited her paintings and crochet art works at Bangalore and will also be a part of City Souk, Chennai. For details, visit: https://www.facebook.com/emsartandartifacts
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Chennai / by Roshne B / August 04th, 2016