Crochet has always been more than a craft — it’s a quiet language of love passed between generations.
In one family, it became a legacy carried forward without words, until a global pause gave the newest artist a chance to learn.
“I’ve always wanted to learn because I really look up to my mom — she’s an amazing artist,” says Sakina Goriyawala, an artist and maker based in Toronto. “My mom learned from my grandma, who I never got to meet, and my grandma learned from her mom. So, it’s like a four-generational art passdown.”
She finally picked up the craft during the COVID-19 lockdowns, when time at home turned into creative sessions with her mom. After about a year and a half of crocheting for herself, Sakina looked around her room — filled with handmade flowers and toys — and realized it might be time to share her work with others.
With her mom’s support, she began turning her passion into a small business.
“We’re doing it together,” she says. “We developed a business plan, and she helped me out… I don’t think I could’ve done it alone.”
Now 25, Sakina works full time as an accountant and runs Baaagh Studio in her spare time, where she shares her creations — from delicate crochet bouquets to bold tufted rugs — selling both online and at local markets. But at first, putting her work out in public was daunting. “I was terrified,” she admits. “It was really scary… do people even care about this?”
Her fears faded quickly after her first table at Kensington Market. “It was so lovely, I met amazing people. The smiles I saw on their faces when they saw my roses and flowers — that gave me all the happiness and motivation I needed.” While Sakina also sells online, she admits, “I feel like I’m not the best person when it comes to social media,” and finds the in-person connections especially rewarding.
Much of her inspiration comes from the world around her. “My first love has always been nature,” she says. “It’s beautiful, and I’m proud of it because you can have a flower without having to pluck one. It looks like it — but it’s human-made.”
When it comes to her creative process, Sakina believes in the power of small, consistent steps. “Even if I can take out 15–20 minutes, I try to do it every single day,” she says. She carves out time to explore YouTube tutorials, testing new stitches and techniques as she hones her craft. Whether she’s sketching out ideas for her next tufted rug or adding the final touches to a crocheted flower, Sakina is always building — quietly, steadily — toward something bigger.
Looking ahead, Sakina has big dreams for her growing business. While it’s still a part-time passion alongside her full-time job, she envisions one day making Baaagh Studio her primary focus. “I would like art to be the center of my life.”, she shared. Sakina hopes to travel more, drawing inspiration from new places and cultures to fuel her creativity.
Until then, she’s building her business, one handmade piece at a time — weaving creativity, tradition, and love into everything she makes.
Be the first to comment