My hope when I first set out to create this series is that I would be able to talk to enough people with a breadth of experience that all readers would be able to find a story that resonated with their own, and appreciate the experiences that were different. Out of my first batch of interviews, this was the one that resonated with mine. I’d like you to meet Ramsha, a crochet pattern writer & tester, wife, mama, and teacher.
I’ve always loved the arts and I have always desperately wanted to be able to make cute amigurumi. It all started when I was a child and saw an orange and yellow fish in my grandmother’s knitting magazine. My grandmother used to make garments. I begged to have the fish, but at the time I didn’t understand that she didn’t know how to do that.
I never saw myself as an artist. In my culture the arts aren’t really valued. So I was never encouraged or supposed to be interested in that. But then we moved to Canada. And during our schooling, my younger brother became interested in arts. So my mother encouraged him, but not me. I wanted desperately to be able to create, but I internalized that I never could and I wasn’t good enough.
For the past few years, I have been going to craft fairs and buying amigurumi toys. I just love them so much. I tried learning knitting from one friend and that was a disaster. I tried learning crochet from another and that was also a disaster. So it made me think I just must not be any good and I put it out of my mind for years.
Last year, I was on maternity leave, and I had severe postpartum depression (PPD). I was browsing Facebook one day and saw the ads for the Woobles. And I thought to myself, why not? Everyone says they love it and can do it and they learned. Maybe I can try too. So I looked into them and since I live in Canada, the cost of shipping from the United States was atrocious. I was just looking into it and trying to justify it when a lady that lives in my town posted about teaching crochet classes. But they were on Friday when my husband was at work, so I had nowhere to leave my baby. I thought it was a sign and I need to put these silly thoughts of crocheting away.
But I happened to mention it to my husband and he encouraged me to sign up. He literally took time off Friday afternoons at work to be at home with our baby so I could go.
I started going and at first it was super frustrating and I couldn’t even remember how to make a slip knot to start a chain. But I kept trying and practicing. I desperately wanted to learn and make toys. I have this fantasy of being the grandmother that always has cookies baking and makes little toys for the kids in the neighborhood. She has a rocker and you can see her in good weather sitting outside and making up something.
My first class was Jan 6th, 2023. There were 8 classes of 2 hours each. At the end of them I made my first amigurumi by myself following a written pattern that had video help. I made the little monster in March.
Today I have made over 200 toys. Donated about 50% or more of them to women’s shelters or emergency services. I have written my own patterns and published them for free. I specialize in no sew designs. I give items away for free because I know what it’s like to be poor and not be able to afford nice things. Crochet gives me so much I want to give back.
I still don’t view myself as an artist. It’s a strange thing. I feel like an imposter at times. But I talk to other people and they are amazed at what I can do. Although crochet brings me such intense joy I don’t view myself as an artist.
I never thought this would be my life. I never thought I’d ever have this or be able to achieve it. Every day I crochet, I am filled with joy. It’s a soul deep sense of purpose. It feels like destiny.
You can follow Ramsha at (@q.squared.crochet), where she posts her free no-sew patterns.
