Through Youtube, online courses, this final year student masters the craft of crocheting

No one expected its emergence but it came like an uninvited guest, shocking the world and disrupting global balance. In 2020, When everyone was striving to adapt to the effects of the Coronavirus, Barakat Lawal, a final-year student of Linguistics and African Languages made the most of the standstill and she is reaping it now.

This is not a love story between two individuals, but for her, the interest was “Love at fight sight”. Driven by a marriage of boredom and a strong desire to acquire a new skill, she turned to YouTube one fateful evening. As an inquisitive learner, a single video wasn’t enough to sway her, even though it sprouted her interest. Through persistent engagement on the platform, she developed an affinity for crocheting that nestled itself deep within her heart and at that moment, she knew she had discovered the perfect skill for herself.

Meanwhile, it wasn’t until late 2021 that she finally began practising crocheting. The delay was due to her lack of necessary materials and not having threaded the path of learning the basics of crochet while growing up. However, she embarked on a dedicated learning sojourn through YouTube tutorials, online courses, and the guidance of friends who were already skilled in crochet. Gradually, she honed her skills and ventured into the business of crocheting but encountered a hurdle along the way – others perceived her as a novice, making it challenging for her to establish herself. She confided in me that her level of expertise far surpassed that of a beginner during that time.

A problem known is halved

Ms Lawal took a proactive approach to address this challenge. She offered her crochet creations at ridiculous prices despite the high level of craftsmanship involved. Through this, she built her portfolio and officially launched her business with the right push from her friends. Reflecting on her journey, she expressed, “It has been an interesting journey since then. The more I learn about crocheting, the more I love it. It is not just a business or a hobby, it is a passion”.

Being a dedicated final-year student, the sojourn has never been a walk in the park. While Juggling academics and crocheting may appear daunting, especially with limited time, she affirmed that abandoning one for the other is quite difficult. Nevertheless, she has managed both pursuits through effective planning and scheduling.

“Sometimes, I take crochet to class and whenever we have a break, I don’t waste it. I stay up late a lot and I barely have time to play with my friends,” she confirmed.

Many young people face obstacles when selecting a career due to their parents’ perspectives. As for Ms Lawal, her parents considered her crochet work as a hobby, as they were unaware of the significant time she had dedicated to it. The first time her brother witnessed her crocheting, he questioned if she was feeling depressed, as he had only seen characters in American movies engage in crochet during moments of distress. However, she seized the opportunity to provide him with a better understanding of her craft.

Over time, crocheting has helped her challenge her preconceived notions and discover her ability to multitask. By integrating crochet with various activities, she surpasses her limitations and derives excitement and satisfaction. When she’s not engaged in crochet or focusing on her academic pursuits, she finds herself in the company of loved ones, indulging in activities such as reading, writing, watching movies, listening to music, or scrolling through Nancy Isime’s Instagram page.

Unlike many, Ms Lawal does not scroll through Nancy Isime’s page just for the fun of it. She shared that “Nancy Isime is a very big source of inspiration for me. She’s a woman of honour and strength. Unlike other celebrities who are so farfetched, Nancy Isime looks home, she’s comforting, encouraging and pushing. She’s dedicated to her work and consistent. Her lifestyle isn’t the only thing I cherish. I adore her personality and her kind of woman.

“I am happy someone like her exists for me to look up to. Going through her page is a kind of energy-refilling thing for me, it brings back my lost motivation and pinches me back to reality and screams loud into my ears why I need to get up and work”.

She elaborated that Nancy Isime is not a sluggish person and her kind of speed is what she needs in her crochet work.

Ms Lawal is a December-born from Osun state. Her passion for creativity since young age spurred her interest to write poetry, some of which have been featured in reputable publishing platforms. If she won’t be crocheting, she might consider being a hairstylist, a skill she does naturally. Passion, money and interest are her major motivation and she can’t wait to graduate so she can focus fully on her business.