Last month Zimbabweans across the world went through so much, physically and emotionally. So did I. You may have noticed that I did not post as many blogs as I usually do. I really did not even have the heart to promote my new book. I cried and prayed a lot for my country as I am sure many people did too. I felt hope and hopelessness at the same time, way too often.
At the height of what felt like chaos in my heart I decided to make this crochet hat. What I had not expected was how much it would make me think and feel. Mostly my heart ached.
I knit and crochet mostly because I enjoy it. I can make something in a day or years it will not matter. I do make some money off my hobby here and there, mostly it keeps me occupied. It is an option for me but for many women, knitting and crocheting is what feeds their children. Or sends their children to school. Which is what makes a charity like Gogo Olive so important, they provide an income to women who otherwise would not have it.
There is a Zimbabwean knitwear designer, whose name I cannot remember right now, whose business model was similar to Gogo Olive. She employed many Zimbabwean women but had to close because of the cost of doing business in Zimbabwe. Right now no one manufactures yarn in Zimbabwe, not even cheap acrylic. What you can find is really bad imported acrylic that feels terrible in your hands. So you would have to import yarn and that is not an affordable option. In the end all these skilled women had to lose their jobs and I still wonder if they have found a way to make an income.
Perhaps it’s time for a yarn manufacturer in Zimbabwe or revive the one thats already there in Mutare!
Last week, I was following a discussion on twitter and one of the female politicians was encouraged to leave politics and go crochet a doily. I try not to be offended by a lot of things on twitter but this made me roll my eyes. I don’t get why people look down other people’s jobs or hobbies. Sure, crochet is not rocket science but it does take thinking, calculations and skill whether you are working with a pattern or not.
Lastly, before you tell me that knitting/crocheting is old fashioned, make sure you are not wearing a knit sweater!
