Click. 

Clack. 

Snip.

Swish.

Click. 

The metallic echo of a crochet hook fills the room. 

“Clack” rings the crochet hook once again; this time, weaving through the colorful strands. 

Snip. 

The scissors add a sharp note to the melody, punctuating the air accurately. 

Swish. 

The yarn flows like a gentle stream, final stitches fall into place. 

Click… Clack… Snip… Swish… 

As sophomore Tuhina Pandit crochets her way through each meticulous stitch, the symphony of stitching echoes in the air. Yet, her echoes extend beyond the walls of her creative space as every crochet hook click propels her towards building her business, where each creation becomes a signature.

“Ever since I lived in Australia, a bunch of my friends suggested I sell, and I finally acted on it as I have more time to create now,” Pandit said. “My mom definitely inspired me too, she’s an entrepreneur herself with a self-made cake business.”

Local shopping has become more significant than ever, with shoppers anticipated to spend $6.04 trillion in local stores. Younger consumers, like sophomore Lexi Holding, are strong supporters of buying locally to show their support and appreciation for craftsmanship. 

“I chose to purchase from Pandit because I wanted to support a small, new, and local business,” Holding said. “I also decided to buy from her because I’ve seen her work before and already knew she was a spectacular crocheter.” 

For her crochet orders, Pandit follows a specific process, starting with looking for inspiration online and ending with packing each order and delivering them to her customers.

“First, I plan and create a pattern inspired by the internet for the design requested (usually Pinterest), take some pictures of the product for Instagram, then pack the order, and finally present it to my customer,” Pandit said. 

Pandit has made crochet designs ranging from bunnies to seasonal and holiday specials. Friend and client, freshman Zoe Arangio has bought two of her creations since first finding her business through Instagram. 

“I found out about her business from an Instagram post, I saw it and thought it would be amazing to support a friend,” Arangio said. “At first, I purchased a custom bunny, a light blue one. Then, my second order was a Valentine’s Day rose.”

To grow her business, Pandit uses both word of mouth and online advertising.

“I market and promote my business through word of mouth. My friends spread my business to each other which helps,” Pandit said. “Publicity online through posts, reposts, and stories on Instagram was a big factor too.”

For junior Joe Skinnel, supporting small businesses is important because of the homemade feeling they bring. 

“Smaller businesses are important to me because they provide that homemade feeling that you won’t get anywhere else,” Skinnel said. “Even if it’s using more expensive materials, you know it’s made with real passion, and for a purpose, not just for making money.”

Pandit is grateful for all of the support she’s received and finds joy in seeing people’s smiles when receiving her crochet pieces.

“Originally, I’d get too attached to my crochet creations to give them to anyone, considering the personalization, love, and effort put into them,” Pandit said. “Now, my real motivation for all this is seeing the smiles on people’s faces when I give them their crochet pieces. I’m always grateful to all those who’ve supported me.”

This story was originally published on Wingspan on March 1, 2024.