CHENNAI: The only thing comparable in uniqueness and beauty of Aruna Ravi’s crochet work is perhaps her smile. Both leave a pleasant and lasting impression. She is the talented founder of Loops and Needles — a personalised crochet service that she runs from her Arumbakkam home. She can crochet everything, from shoes to scarves and toys to tea table coasters in the colours and sizes of your choice.
“In 2013, when an accident and a consequent surgery confined me to three months of bed rest, I was upset and impatient,” says the former district level gold medallist runner. “It was at this time that my daughter brought me some yarn and needles and got me hooked to the craft.” Although she remembers her mother doing crochet work during World War times, it was YouTube that she turned to, for learning and upgrading her skills. “I started small, with caps, scarves and shoes and gradually started experimenting with stuffed toys.”
Aruna sources her yarn from Parrys which in turn comes from Ludhiana. She says it is a very cost effective art and has spent less than `10,000 till date for her craft.
She makes every product to order. She shows us other interesting crochet products like a panda-themed bag and a stuffed octopus toy with curly tentacles. “These toys are safe for infants since there are softand have no sharp edges,” she points out.
“There is almost no competition in this field, so that's not a concern at all. Also, I don't have to worry about targets as my customers give me plenty of time and I get a lot of orders,” she says.
In fact, she recommends that everyone should try crocheting since it is an economic as well as eco-friendly stress buster. “My future goal is to teach crocheting at old age homes so that they have a productive pass time and can support themselves,” she says about her future goals.
For details, visit the page of Loops and Needles on FB