Crochet kid Daniel has them in stitches
Crochet kid (10) creates cuddly toys during lockdown
WHILE boys around Northern Ireland have binged on Netflix or delighted in free time to cultivate their PS4 skills, one Co Antrim 10-year old has got himself hooked on something completely different.
For Daniel Simms from Newtownabbey there has been no better way to spend the hours of lockdown by teaching himself how to crochet.
The result is a menagerie of lovingly crafted creatures and creations which are now threatening to overrun his home.
Teddies on the mantelpiece, colourful birds on the windowsill, and seahorses on the sofa, every spare inch now makes a home for a cuddly toy.
“He started by learning to knit last year but in January, when he bought himself a couple of balls of wool, he just taught himself to crochet,” said mum Carol Magill.
“I’m not sure where he got the idea from. I’ve never done it and no one else in the house ever had an interest. He just picked it up on Youtube, watched a few videos and away he went.”
While Daniel remains loathe to part with any of his creations, he will be looking for a new home for at least a few of them over the next few weeks, as he plans to raffle a selection of his craftwork for Cancer Focus in memory of his Scout Leader Beverly Fisher, who died a few weeks ago.
“Everyone at Whitehouse Scouts loved Beverly, especially Daniel, and we thought it would be nice to do something in her memory,” said Carol.
“Some of his works, including an NHS bear and a dragon, will be raffled off for the charity on a justgiving page we’ve set up.
“Daniel originally thought it would be nice to have a table to sell some of his creations at the school fair at Whitehouse Primary where he’s just about to start P6, but when that was cancelled in June we were left with all the animals in the front room.
“He’s got attached to them all now but at least a few of them will hopefully find a new home.”
Daniel was quickly taken under the wing of two local wool shops, who have helped him keep the needles clicking by donating spare wool and hooks to him.
“The staff at The Yarn Patch in Newtownabbey and Lighthouse Yarns in Whitehead have been great in helping him out when he got stuck, but over the past couple of months his designs have become more and more elaborate. They’re thrilled to see what he’s managed to create.”
Those creations include Daniel’s current favourite, a one metre long red dragon. But even that is set to be surpassed with his latest project, another dragon, this time five feet long.
“This one’s the daddy!” said Carol. “He’s still doing smaller bits and pieces for his school friends and I know the school are looking forward to seeing the full range when he gets to go back there next month.
“In the meantime, he’s now started to create his own designs. He has no problem following the videos online and the patterns, but he’s now in extreme crochet territory.
“He’s had plenty of time on his hands to be creative,” said Carol. His dad is an electrical engineer and has been working for the health service, so he’s been extremely busy these past few months.
“I’ve been working at home as a marketing consultant, so it’s been brilliant for Daniel to find a way of entertaining himself. He just get to work in the living room and the bonus is it’s a quiet hobby too.
“Daniel and me both have mild asthma so we’ve been staying at home as much as possible. He’s still done his school work and also learned to ride his bike during lockdown, but he’s always anxious to get back to work on his crochet.”
Find out more by visiting justgiving.com and searching for Daniel’s Lockdown Crochet Raffle.