Elaine’s Caribbean Crochet’s workshop held on May 21st and 22nd enabled youth and the older generation to interact, learn, and grow from each other over the timeless art form of crochet. Held at Elaine’s Creative Studio, participants were able to learn the single crochet, double crochet, and treble crochet. The workshop allowed attendees to be in a safe space where their creativity and interest in handicraft could grow.
Crochet is to use a hook to make a pattern of connected threads. The word crochet is derived from the French word crochet, a diminutive of croche, in turn from the Germanic croc, both meaning “hook”. During the First World War, women in Britain were encouraged to demonstrate their patriotism through knitting and crocheting woollen comforts for servicemen. In recent years, the art of crocheting has increased in popularity among younger individuals.
Founder of Elaine’s Caribbean Crochet, Nikisha Toppin, notes “This legacy of love to my grandmother has been able to grant youth with an environment where their gifts and talents can flourish and grow. This has been our fifth youth programme specific to the mid-term break period and we are grateful for the opportunity to teach the younger generation.”
Each student received worsted weight yarn, a crochet hook, affirmation cards, think positive handouts, beads, and an iron-on patch pencil case as take-aways from the activity. They attempted, and in some cases, were able to bracelets, a chain stitch flower, a single crochet bag and double crochet tam.
One of the participants noted on the anonymous evaluation form “My crochet workshop was amazing.”
Elaine’s Caribbean Crochet looks forward to hosting a future workshop for the October mid-term break.
Leave a Reply