Many people pick up crochet as a hobby every year. For sophomore Dara Onibonoje, it has become an entrepreneurial effort. She said she has been working on creating yarn products and a website since June of this year.
“One of my friends taught me at the end of the school year last year and we were all getting into it because we didn’t have anything to do [in our classes],” Onibonoje said.
Onibonoje said her favorite thing about the crocheting process is creative freedom.
“I enjoy having the ability to create almost anything I want whenever I need it or want it,” Onibonoje said. “I don’t have to go out of my house and go buy things, I can just make them.”
Onibonoje has appealed to many people, gaining several customers. Sophomore Peyton Gillis is one of those customers and said she has received a custom plush from Onibonoje.
“It was actually really well done,” Gillis said. “I got a Perry the Platypus crochet, and the hat detaches so I can do the Perry the Platypus meme.”
Onibonoje said she was planning to name her business “Can Do Crochet” because she said she offers made-to-order products and doesn’t have any premade items.
“I think it’s cool that she’s a small business owner, and the price was really good,” Gillis said. “It was $12 for a stuffed animal that I could buy at Disney for 30 bucks.”
Onibonoje said she enjoys her work. However, with any business comes certain challenges.
“It takes a while to crochet, so things don’t always get done in a timely manner,” Onibonoje said. “Some projects take hours, some take weeks, some take months and that’s one of the roadblocks that I struggle with.”
Onibonoje has made many separate crochet commissions for other people, something that has compelled her to think about entrepreneurship.
“It was two things [that made me want to start a business],” Onibonoje said. “One: money, because I’m broke and have none. Two: being able to share my [work] with other people.”
Despite the challenges that come with creating a business, Onibonoje said she is glad to have started crocheting and that beginners should try, even if it takes time.
“Keep going. Don’t give up because you can’t get the perfect chain or project,” Onibonoje said. “It takes a few weeks to really get good at it, so if you keep going, it does [get better].”
