Kirsty Malone, Crochet Queen!

I started to crochet in 2015. At first I could only make basic items, but now I am fairly confident to attempt making a variety of items and I still have things I want to make that are a bit out of my comfort zone! Next year I plan to challenge myself to make a new project every month. This year is about making baby items as I recently found out my niece is due her first baby in January.

I usually make items as gifts or for charity. There are 2 charities I regularly crochet for – Octopus for a preemie UK where small octopus or jellyfish are made (to hospital safety guidelines) for premature babies. The babies hold onto the tentacles they same as they would the umbilical cord in the womb. The items help to calm the babies and also stop them pulling out wires that are providing oxygen/medication that they need.

The second charity is Hug in a blanket UK – a group of us make individual squares, some of which are personalised, and they are sewn into blankets for terminally ill children up to the age of 16. A lot of the children find comfort in taking the blanket specially made for them everywhere they go, including when they have to stay in hospital or at a hospice, and the families find comfort in the blanket when sadly their loved one has passed away.

My other items vary from baby blankets/clothing, toys known as amigurumi (the Japanese art of crocheting/knitting small stuffed yarn creatures), christmas decorations, plants etc. I will attempt to make most things I have also had a couple of commissions to make specific items related to Minecraft and Harry Potter so they were fun to do, and it was good to get positive feedback from the recipients.

< back