The thrill of thread

Lakshmi Iyer, a crafter from Vasco, has a knack for creating one-of-a-kind amigurumi dolls and crochet items

RAMANDEEP KAUR | NT BUZZ

For Lakshmi Iyer, crochet is more than just a hobby—it is a passion she nurtures daily. Even though she learned to knit and crochet in school, it wasn’t until she worked in Mumbai that her interest was reignited during long train commutes, where she connected with like-minded friends and
exchanged patterns.

Originally from Kerala and raised in Mumbai, Iyer moved to Goa in 2009. About 10 years ago, she came across amigurumi, a Japanese crochet technique for making stuffed toys, through an article in Vasco Watch. “Amigurumi dolls have larger heads than bodies, but the patterns can be adjusted to suit your preferences,” she explains.

Initially, Iyer thought crochet was only for clothing and home decor. However, amigurumi opened up a whole new creative world and she quickly mastered even the most complex patterns. “I draw inspiration from nature and the environment for my designs,” she says.

Since then, she has crafted hundreds of amigurumi toys, primarily as gifts, and occasionally accepts special requests. “Amigurumi requires focus—one small mistake can affect the piece’s shape and finish, but that’s what keeps me alert and excited,” she says.

She adds that creating specific characters from cartoons, video games, or movies—like Pokémon, Tweety, and Yoda—is more challenging because their final appearance cannot be altered. “The look and expression must be spot on. Even a slight change can drastically alter the result.”

The most difficult piece she created was a pair of elephants—a mother and baby—for a friend’s children’s storybook. “I had to replicate the design exactly as it appeared in the book, and since her son designed it, she knew exactly what she wanted. The biggest challenge was getting the colour, size difference, and expression just right,” she says.

Each piece is handmade with care, making mass production impossible. “Every doll is unique, and those who want one must be patient, as it takes time to make each one,” she adds.

During the pandemic, Iyer focused on mastering the finer details of the craft, such as choosing the right yarn, hooks, and accessories. She also conducted workshops and spent time researching and creating.

Her dream is to create an amigurumi animal farm, aquarium, and nursery. Looking ahead, she hopes to design exclusive patterns, increase visibility through exhibitions and social media, and eventually publish a pattern book. Besides this, Iyer also crochets bags, scarves, beanies, doilies, and tops. Also, she plans to incorporate her other hobbies, including hand embroidery, sashiko, and quilting, into her
crochet projects.

Although she has not seriously considered monetising her art, Iyer has sold a number of creations through word-of-mouth. She now aims to showcase her work on various art platforms and explore B2C selling arrangements. “Pricing is a challenge. It cannot follow the traditional ‘cost-plus’ pricing model because creativity is the most valued ingredient in this craft,” she says. “One must strike a balance between valuing one’s creativity and understanding how much customers are willing to pay.”