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Hand-crocheted in India

Crowchett

Hand-crocheted, made one at a time in India

A close view of blue shell stitch, each fan of stitches overlapping the row below.

The maker

Meet Shikha Walia

A mother, a teacher, a housewife and an artisan, often in the same day. The crochet is the part strangers see. What she brings to it is attention: a row that sits one stitch out of line, a colour that goes flat under a different light, a strap that will lose its shape in a year. Most of what she makes is pulled apart at least once before anyone else sees it.

Read her story

  • Shikha behind her exhibition table with rows of her crochet clutches laid out.

    Her table at the exhibition

  • Shikha with three children at Nai Disha, each holding a small pouch she made.

    At Nai Disha, with pouches she made for the children

  • About twenty crochet clutches laid out in rows, every one a different colour and stitch.

    Twenty clutches, no two the same

Loved most

See all pieces

The work itself

Five stitches, one pair of hands

A crochet stitch is not a decoration applied afterwards. It is how the fabric is built, row by row, and it is chosen before the first loop. These are the ones she works in.

  • A gold tote worked in a star-pattern stitch with a chain strap.

    Star pattern

    Each point is built from stitches worked into the same base, then closed. Counted, never improvised.

  • Three folded clutches in maroon, pink and black, their surfaces worked with beads.

    Hand-added beads

    Every bead is threaded on and worked in by hand as the row is made. There is no shortcut for this one.

  • A red sling bag with a repeating white dog motif worked into the fabric.

    Checkered

    Two colours carried across the same row, so the pattern is built into the fabric rather than sewn on after.

  • A close view of blue shell stitch, each fan overlapping the row below.

    Shell stitch

    Fans of stitches that overlap the row beneath, which is what gives the surface its depth.

  • A beige drawstring potli bag in open mesh work with tasselled ties.

    Mesh

    Open work, far fewer stitches, and much harder to keep even across a whole bag.

In their own hand

Her exhibition guestbook

People wrote in a book at her stall. These are copied out of it, word for word.

  • Outstanding collection. Really very unique and beautiful.

    Vijaya

  • Excellent collection. Hand made things are really precious.

    Neelu

  • Good collection. Reminds me of my grandmom’s projects!

    Arshiya

  • Amazing work to showcase and use. Really appreciating! Keep up the great work.

  • I visited the stall and found all the handmade products lovely.

    Shibani

All pieces

Bags

₹1,500 to ₹4,500. A larger size or a chain strap moves it up.

Every piece is made by hand, so colour, size and stitch vary a little from the photograph. That variation is the hand.

Clutches

₹1,200 to ₹3,500. A metallic yarn or a chain strap moves it up.

Every piece is made by hand, so colour, size and stitch vary a little from the photograph. That variation is the hand.

Jewellery

₹400 to ₹1,200. Bead count and yarn type move the number.

Every piece is made by hand, so colour, size and stitch vary a little from the photograph. That variation is the hand.

A piece made for someone in particular

Tell her who it is for, what the occasion is, and roughly when you would need it by. She will tell you what is possible.

Message on WhatsApp

How a commission works

About 7–14 days from confirmation.

Each piece is made by hand, one at a time. The yarn is chosen, the stitch pattern is planned, and the whole thing is crocheted start to finish by Shikha herself. That takes time, and it should.

If you have a size, colour or occasion in mind, message her. There is no form to fill in, just a conversation.

Talking to Shikha

Pieces are not sold online. Every conversation, every order and every question happens on WhatsApp.

Message on WhatsAppInstagram

Or call and text: +91 98919 96650

Crowchett

Every piece is a conversation on WhatsApp. Nothing is sold through this page.

Message on WhatsApp