Stitch by stitch

Ciana Fernandes from Baga tells NT BUZZ how she got hooked to crochet and launched her own business

ELSTAN NAZARETH

Four years ago, when Ciana Fernandes’ brother was gifted a strawberry crochet plushie, she instantly knew she wanted one herself! So she decided to make one herself.

“I bought yarn and a crochet hook from a local shop and got to work. My piece ended up looking like a tomato!” she laughs. But she didn’t give up.

For a whole year after that, Fernandes began watching beginner-friendly videos and just kept practicing different stitches again and again. “I first posted pictures on my personal Instagram account, and slowly friends and family started ordering,” she shares. Eventually, she launched crochet.cubcake.

“I chose the word ‘cub’ because my first order was a lion cub. Also, I enjoy baking, especially cupcakes. So I mixed everything and hence the name, crochet.cubcake,” says Fernandes, a student at St Xavier’s College, Mapusa.

Today, Fernandes sells crochet products like keychains, flowers, giant plushies, blankets, bookmarks, scrunchies, and home decor. She is also open to custom orders too. “If it can be crocheted, I’ll find a way to make it!” she says. Her favourite order, till date, was a plushie version of a customer’s pet parrot. “She was moving abroad and wanted to carry a plushie that looked exactly like her pet. It turned out well, and the customer cried tears of joy. That piece felt really special,” she reveals, adding that going forward she would like to experiment with crochet tops, cardigans, and seasonal wear.

Fernandes handles everything by herself ‒ from taking orders and crocheting to packing and shipping. “Packaging is something I take seriously. I use bubble wrap, a sturdy box, and plastic outer covering for added safety. Every customer gets a tracking ID once the order is shipped,” she says. Besides selling online, she also participates in pop-up bazaars and small business markets.

But balancing studies and her business is not always easy. Besides this, she also faces other challenges that are synonymous with home-based businesses. “The biggest challenge is inconsistent income. Some weeks I just have one or two orders, and other times I’m flooded with 50. It can be hard to manage everything by myself and still give each customer proper attention,” she says.

Pricing handmade items fairly is a consistent challenge for her. “Many people don’t understand the time and effort that goes into each piece. Also, managing everything alone, from creating to marketing can get overwhelming,”
she shares.

What has helped her along the way is patience and persistence. “I’ve also learned how important it is to value your own work and not undersell your efforts. Time management and customer service are the two things I’ve really improved on too,” 
she says.

Fernandes aims for a bright future for her business. “I’d love to open a permanent store someday and also want to be a part of more pop-up bazaars and  small business markets. I’d also love to expand into teaching crochet and maybe even create employment for other local women who want to learn the art,” she says. “Infact, I am planning on releasing DIY crochet kits and beginner-friendly tutorials in
the future.”