Crochet is making a comeback and Juliet Amos is happy to be part of the resurgence. The owner of Julie’s Creations has turned a skill she learnt more than 26 years ago in St. Lucia into the Barbadian business that is now six years old and is growing.
Crochet is one of several forms of needlework and involves the use of a special needle, also known as a hook, to turn yarn or thread into special designs and eventually specific items, including clothing.
“I learnt it while going to school in St Lucia. The teacher used to do it and we the students used to ask her to teach us but she said she didn’t have the patience. So when the children would go outside for physical education, I would go inside and sit and watch so I learned by watching and then I bought a learner’s book and then I got to know certain things and I start from there,” she told BARBADOS BUSINESS AUTHORITY in an interview at the recently-held Barbados Manufacturers’ Exhibition (BMEX) at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre.
“I started out making baby booties and baby hats, chair backs, and doilies. It’s only this year that I started making bags, I just sat down and decide I would start making bags and that is what I am doing.
“When I started to do them, different designs and patterns just came to my mind.
“Now, I make anything from crochet, including tablecloths, chair backs, car seats, bathing suits, anything anybody wants and anything for the baby.”
Julie’s Creations is based in Carrington’s Village, St Michael, and Amos, who is a member of the Women Entrepreneurs of Barbados, said she was happy to see renewed interest in crochet, noting that it seemed a new generation of Barbadians had fallen in love with it.
She said this was evident by the positive response from customers to the new line of bags she started making and selling recently.
“Crochet started to get popular again mostly among the grown-ups, but the younger people are also showing interest, especially in relation to the in skirts and bathing suits,” she said.
“The response has been wonderful and after BMEX I am starting my Christmas work because I have orders already.
“At Christmas time I am usually very busy making chair backs and tablecloths, but since I am making the bags I am getting a lot of sales. Tablecloths and chair backs are what people order the most of.”
Amos said she had an undying love for crochet and that she was willing to teach the skill to anyone who was interested in learning.
Asked if it was a hard skill to learn, she said, “No, it’s easy. I knit also, but I find crochet is easier and faster.”
“I do anything. It doesn’t matter if people buy it; it just shows your skills and different things you can do. You never know, somebody might see it and like it. I just sit down, ideas come to me and I follow through on them.”
“This is my life. Everyone tells me I have a lot of patience and it does take a lot of patience because sometimes if you are making something and you make a mistake you have to start over. But I am so accustomed to doing this that I don’t make mistakes.”
As for the future, Amos said: “Right now I am thinking about what I will do next in crochet, including different designs and different types of bags.”
