Getting into the Christmas spirit one stitch at a time

Panaji: A unique community art project brought together 25 women crocheters from across Goa to create an 18-foot-tall Christmas tree made of 1,000 crochet squares.

The initiative began in Aug after one crocheter issued a simple call on WhatsApp, which drew an enthusiastic response from bankers, teachers, retirees, home-based entrepreneurs, and women ranging from their 30s to 60s.


The crochet collective came together at the home of one of the crocheters, where participants met and the magic unfolded over the course of three months. These crochet squares differed from one another in the use of colours, but the design was uniform. In addition, the women also crocheted white snowflakes to add to the tree. Once ready, they assembled the crocheted pieces around a metal frame. The handcrafted Christmas tree has since found a permanent showcase at a museum in Pilerne.

Crochet, derived from the French word for ‘small hook’, is a craft that creates textiles by interlocking yarn or thread loops with a hooked needle.

In Goa, traditionally, newly-wed brides carry crochet pieces to their marital homes as gifts, often displayed as part of household exhibitions. Items such as crochet pillow covers are also gifted to relatives, as they are viewed as heirlooms of affection in Goa.

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