PONY MCTATE

If you want to be kind to someone what do you do?

“A box of bikkies often does the trick,” says Pony Mctate. “Sometimes it’s the simple things in life that are the most meaningful.”

Sadly Mctate’s biscuits are not the consumable variety. However, they are the result of her immense skill and talent as a crocheter (or for the folks in the know, a hooker) and her ability to create almost life-like versions of everybody’s favourite teatime accompaniment.

Like most of Mctate’s work, this collection of biscuits is derived from a desire to create art that is playful and brings joy and delight.

“It might not be art with a capital ‘A’ but if it puts a smile on someone’s face, then I’ve done my job,” she says.

From vampire squids to gloves, jewellery to watches, Mctate has been crocheting for the past five years and loves the bizarre and outlandish requests she occasionally gets.

“The oddest commission I’ve had was a bottle of anchovies,” she says. “I got an actual anchovy jar and filled it with tiny crocheted little anchovies.”

Growing up, Mctate was surrounded by different crafts and her mother was an avid crocheter but her own passion was ignited more recently.

“It all started when I had my first baby and needed something to do during those 4am feeds,” she says. “I can’t remember much from those early days but I do remember crocheting solidly for three weeks and loving the process.”

It’s easily accessible, affordable, and yes, it’s different from knitting, because all you need is your hook and some yarn.

“Crocheting is a wonderfully practical art form,” Mctate concludes. “It’s had a bad rap in the past but it can entertain you and your children as required; prove to be a handy skill when the zombie apocalypse arrives — and at the very least, make you the popular one at Christmas time.”