BY NOSIPHO MABUZA
MBABANE– Creativity bloomed during lockdown, turning passion into a purposeful crochet journey.
Seluliwe Mdluli, a Liswati crochet artist from Woodlands, Mbabane, discovered her love for crochet during the COVID-19 lockdown. “I got started with crochet during the COVID-19 lockdown, fueled by my passion for textiles and handcrafting,” she explains. “It was a creative outlet that helped me stay engaged and productive during a challenging time.”
Her first project was a simple scarf, a humble but important achievement. “It was a great learning experience and I was proud of myself for completing it.”
A self-taught artist, Mdluli learned through online tutorials, YouTube videos, and experimentation. “I’ve since become confident enough to teach others, sharing my knowledge and skills with those interested in crochet.”
Her inspiration is broad and ever-changing. “My inspiration comes from various sources, including nature, art and everyday life. I love playing with colors and textures and I’m always looking for new ways to express myself through crochet.”
One of her most impressive projects was a colorful dress for a customer attending Luju Festival. “The design was complex, requiring frequent yarn color changes, but the end result was stunning,” she says proudly. “The Luju collection is also one of my most significant projects, pushing me to create innovative and captivating pieces.”
But the journey has its challenges. “My biggest challenge is accessing a variety of yarns in the country,” she admits. “Different projects require specific yarn types, and the limited options can be restrictive. Sometimes, I have to travel to neighboring countries to find the yarn I need, which can be time-consuming and costly. Despite these challenges I’m always looking for ways to work around them and create beautiful pieces with the resources available to me.”
Her message to aspiring crocheters is clear and encouraging: “Don’t be afraid to start! Crochet is a skill that can be learned with practice and patience. Begin with simple projects and don’t be too hard on yourself if things don’t turn out perfectly at first. Most importantly, have fun and enjoy the process.”
Follow Mdluli’s work on Instagram and TikTok: crochet_by_selu.
(Courtesy Pics)
