Knitting and crocheting are similar, but at the same time, different. Both crafts use yarn— spun thread used for knitting, weaving, or sewing—to make items, but knitting is done with two knitting needles and the stitches are loops. Crocheting is done with just one crochet hook and the stitches resemble small knots.

Both are unique and old fashioned hobbies that, some say, are easy to learn but at the same time, can take years of practice to master. 

However, they are very useful and rewarding hobbies and allow for one to be able to create just about anything, from clothing to even toys. 

And this has worked for 22-year old Matutina Tumushabe, whose skills in crocheting led to the launch of a company, Tina Crochet Designs. She creates a variety of outfits for males and females with just her hands, yarn and a crochet hook. 

Some of  Tumushabe’s designs include dresses, sweaters and even swimwear.

"Being an accountant, one would think I am in the wrong business. It’s a long story, but I am more of a creative person, I can do just about anything related to art. My love for crocheting goes back to when I was in school. I recall in Primary Three, girls at school carried yarn to school and would crochet during their free time, it was a hobby for them. I was amazed at how creative they were, making accessories and much more,” she says. 

Tumushabe says she was intrigued, and asked for yarn from them in different colours.

"I learned the basics of crocheting from them, and my sister’s friend too, who taught me whenever she was doing so. Our house manager also showed me how to make crocheted bags. 

"Unfortunately when the house manager left, I also stopped with the trials.  Later on, I developed a love for fashion. I would cut some of my clothes just to change their designs, I still do that to this day. Through practice, I had no doubt I would own a company someday,” she adds. 

While in A-level, Tumushabe says she longed for a sewing machine because she had numerous ideas. Unfortunately, the tailors in her neighbourhood charged a lot, and it was a challenge getting them to sew something exactly the way she wanted it.

The 22-year-old started learning how to crochet when she was in school.  Photos/Courtesy

"I was driven to start saving for the sewing machine and I bought it immediately after completing high school. Everyone was against it, all but my younger brother, and at the time, accessories were in style, and this I learned in school. I wouldn’t say I was sewing from scratch, I’d get old clothes and add a touch of crochet to create something unique. I wasn’t into kitenge,” she says. 

Getting started

In 2019, shopping with her younger brother set things in motion. 

"I am not even a shopping person but my little brother insisted. While buying a few things in a boutique in Kigali, I saw a chunky brown sweater. It was so beautiful and oversize. I instantly loved it but couldn’t afford it. Later at home, as we watched an Asian TV series, I saw the same design,” she says. 

Her brother suggested that she check out YouTube tutorials, which she did, and it’s been an evolving process since. 

"One day, we were making friendship bracelets and a lot of thread remained, so I figured I’d try something new. I made a white beanie that was so beautiful that I couldn’t believe I had created it. Right now, I can make anything; sweaters, dresses, stockings, swimsuits, beanies, pants, shawls, skirts, and so forth,” Tumushabe says. 

Crocheting isn’t for lazy people, she says, it requires patience and dedication. "You might be about to finish something and you realise that the measurements are not right and you have to undo and start afresh. There are plenty of calculations until you are done, you have to count stitches from the beginning, until you are done. At first, the crochet hook I used was tiny, making it even harder to finish one project.”

It is also addictive, she says, you can’t stop crocheting once you get started. 

"A friend one time visited me and loved my work. She suggested I post my craft on social media, and surprisingly, people started placing their orders, that’s how my online clothing line came into existence,” Tumushabe says.

Challenges 

"When I had just started showcasing my designs online, I got discouraging comments from people saying that crochet is outdated. "However, I gave that a deaf ear. People confuse crocheting with knitting, these two are totally different, crocheting is made with hands, and there are no machines for it. "There are only crochet hooks and you have to use your hands from the beginning to the end. It takes time but that’s the beauty of crocheting.”

Also, people don’t know the value of crotchet designs, she says. "They think we charge them expensively yet it is fair, and worth it. It takes a lot of time to complete one item. When people see a finished product, they do not consider the sleepless nights we had to make a beautiful design,” she adds.

Regarding the company’s way forward and her goals for the future, Tumushabe says, "I have started training some youth, we hope to make more products of high quality. In the future, we even hope to export. I also want my brand to be recognised on a global scale.”