Doctors in operation to popularise crochet

by Husna Inayathullah

"I can weave words together and create magic,it's like knitting and crocheting words with pen and paper, some call it Poetry."

- Charmaine J Forde

Dr. Carmeline Fernando, a retired consultant anaesthetist from the Kandy General Hospital and Dr. Pushpa Perera, a medical officer of the OPD at Kalubowila Hospital will hold an exhibition of crochet at the J. R. Jayewardene Cultural Centre, Colombo 7 on December 13 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Crochet is a process of creating fabric from yarn and thread using a crochet hook. The word is derived from the French word "crochet" which means hook.

Hooks can be made of materials such as metals, woods, or plastic and are commercially manufactured as well as produced by artisans.

Material

Crocheting like knitting consists of pulling loops of material through other loops but additionally incorporates wrapping the working material around the hook one or more times.

Crochet differs from knitting in that only one stitch is active at one time, stitches made with the same diameter of yarn are comparably taller, and a single crochet hook is used instead of two knitting needles. Crochet has its own system of symbols to represent stitch types.

In the 19th century, as Ireland was facing the Great Irish Famine (1845-1849) crochet lace work was introduced as a form of famine relief.

The production of crocheted lace being an alternative way of making money for impoverished Irish workers.

Mademoiselle Riego de la Blanchardiere is generally credited with the invention of Irish Crochet, publishing the first book of patterns in 1846.

Irish lace became popular in Europe and America and was made in quantity until the first World War.

Designs

Along with Dr. Fernando and Dr. Perera, Chandrika Wijethilake, a paralysed patient and her consultant Dr. Devika Kanapathipillai, a plastic surgeon from the Kandy Hospital is also going to assist them in the exhibition.

They will display their cross stitch arts. This is second time that they are conducting the exhibition.

Dr. Fernando said, "We used synthetic thread and cotton thread. We have created a variety of designs such as the Hansa puttuwa and figures depicting a royal wedding. Miniature Christmas trees with ornaments, table clothes, Christmas cards, skirts, blouses and sarees in crochet will be displayed at the exhibition. Those will be available for sale at the same time." She further said, "I love crocheting. I learnt it all by myself from the Daily News in the early '60s."

Dr. Perera said, "I had the habit of doing embroidery, so I learnt it. It is a very interesting hobby. Our motive is to popularise the art of crochet in Sri Lanka. We want young girls to start and continue crocheting. I think it is a useful way of spending the leisure time as well."