With a yarn and hook, the possibilities to create are endless. In the quiet comfort of her home, a 12-year-old Shriya Balaji picked up a book full of crochet patterns and started to create.
Little did she know that this would be the start of her journey into making award winning pieces and a future of entrepreneurship.
This past summer, Balaji submitted entries for multiple donation drives and crochet competitions, including the Youth Fiber competition at the OC Fair.
Balaji and her prize-winning entry took first place in the Youth Division for the theme “Always a Good Time.”
“I created a mini me figurine of me crocheting something, because to me, that’s always a good time,” Balaji said. “Seeing all the crochet projects on display at the OC Fair was an amazing experience. It really expanded my view of the art form and what I am capable of making.”
In late June, Balaji also submitted multiple entries to the OC Fair Chemo Caps hat drive, which will be distributed to one of the hundreds of oncology centers across the nation through the Knots of Love organization.
Balaji was first introduced into the world of yarn crafts while in elementary school. Although she wasn’t interested in the hobby at first, she began to pick it up later on when her lifestyle took a turn.
“My mom got me a crochet kit, then later in sixth grade COVID hit and I had nothing to do, so I crocheted,” Balaji said. “Since then, I’ve been free styling more of my own projects with my own ideas and patterns.”
She started off by learning the basic stitches, making small patches to master each stitch. Later, she moved onto stuffed animals, combining different colors and patterns.
Over the years, she transitioned to making more advanced items, such as whales, chickens and frogs. Her projects demand hours of continuous work to create intricate patterns.
After her success in regional competitions this summer, Balaji looked to a new way to share her craft with the public. Balaji was approved for a time slot in the yarn entrepreneurs section of this year’s Irvine Global Village Festival, where she will sell her work for the first time on Oct. 5.
Although she is nervous to begin this next step, she overall expressed her excitement about starting a small business centered around something that she loves.
“I’ll start my stock with things I know how to crochet,” Balaji said. “I’m hoping this is a starting point, but I’m also hoping to apply to more places in the future and then go from there.”
Balaji is currently finding more ways to explore her passion on campus that could also unite more crocheters at Northwood.
With a push from Balaji and a few other students, the Knit Works Club plans to incorporate more yarn crafts, including crochet, into the club this year.
“It’s not just considered an elderly lady’s hobby anymore,” Balaji said. “It’s a fun art form and more people are embracing that. We get to make so many new and creative things, and I think that’s really cool.”
