– Crochet designer turns hobby into business
By Joel Vogt
“Knitting has helped me a lot with my mental health and also taught me the importance of having patience.”
So says Phelicia Adams, a 19-year-old crotchet designer and founder of Flawless Wings, who hails from the peaceful village of Parika on the East Bank of Essequibo.
Adams considers herself as an all-rounder and holds many titles as she contested in several pageants; namely the Miss Earth Guyana 2019 pageant that was held last year at the National Cultural Centre. Adams began her crotchet journey in early 2017 after completing her Caribbean Secondary Examinations Certificate (CSEC) examinations but was introduced to knitting by her mother even before finishing high school.
“I was never a fan of knitting and many times my mom would try to teach me, but I would always fail every time I attempt,” she recalled. The teen further went on to say that she was home one day with her mom, who was at the time knitting a crotchet chair back while Adams, being eager to know how to knit properly as her mom, paid attention.
“As my mom knit, I was just staring at the way she was doing it. My mom went in the kitchen to do something, so I picked up the chair back and looked at the pattern and started knitting. I was amazed by myself as well as my mom.”
Adams noted that to nurture and perfect her skills, she spent most of her time looking at crocheting videos on YouTube and with the guidance of her mother, which later made her developed the love and passion she has today for crocheting. “The videos and my mom showing me what to do and not to do, helped me a lot, even though it was hard to understand the stitches and the movement of the needle and thread,” the 19-year-old added.
As with any other discipline, she improved her inherent gift with constant practice over time. Looking back, little did Adams know that she would continue her mother’s tradition of crotchet making, given that her mother spent most of her time knitting while she was pregnant with Adams.
Seeing improvements in her handmade designs, she then launched Flawless Wings Designs in December of last year. Her small business specializes in crochet clothing, such as crochet tops, dresses, baby outfits, short pants, swimsuits and among others. Asked why she chose “Flawless Wings” as the title of her business, she said: “Within two seconds I created my business name. Flawless has always been my favourite word, so it was the only word in my head at that time, and I don’t recall how Wings came up.”
The young designer explains some of the challenges she faces while doing her handmade designs. “At first crocheting was very challenging, but after a time it becomes easier… as much as I love crocheting, I have to balance it with my work. I am usually free at nights so I take that time to knit even though I have been told not to knit at nights because that can damage your eyes, but I hope in the future I don’t have to wear glasses.”
As with every new skill, one needs to be patient in order to learn. In addition, Adams said, “Knitting tells a lot on your nerves, especially when you make a mistake and have to lose out the entire pattern and start over again. It can be really stressful at times, but you need to have patience.” Adams’ plans for the future as it relates to her business, are to be one of the best crotchet designers in the Caribbean and to open her own clothing boutique and website that will help her expand her designs nationwide, and possibly around the Caribbean.
Persons interested in Phelicia Adams’ designs can visit her personal Facebook account @Phelicia Lotoya Adams, Instagram @Phelicia Adams and business Instagram account @Flawlesswings_designs.
