Chigorimbo crafts, knits to beat depression
A Mutare woman, Sue Chigorimbo, has ventured into knitting and crafting as a way to beat boredom and depression.
Chigorimbo, who now runs Krafts by Sue, specialises in knitting mostly baby clothes, working with rope and also, making bags, trays and baskets, among others.
A mother of three, Chigorimbo told that crafting was her therapy of tediousness and depression.
“I started my crafting journey in 2018,” Chigorimbo said.
“My daily routine had become boring and I got myself a pair of knitting needles and some yarn.
“I started off making headbands for my daughter, then placemats that I accessorised with buttons.
“I posted my work on and people loved them. I even got orders.
“So, I am the kind of person who doesn’t like routine; I hate doing the same thing over and over again.”
Chigorimbo said after some encouragement from her aunt she took the trade seriously.
“An aunt who had seen my work on offered to teach me how to use a knitting machine and in no time, I was churning out up to 20 covers a day,” she said “That is how Knits ‘n’ Krafts By Sue started.” Chigorimbo said within a short space of time, she bought her own machine and business was booming.
“In 2019 I started battling depression and I didn’t feel like knitting or doing anything else,” she said.
“I stopped knitting and my life took a turn for the worst and at some point I attempted suicide.”
"The anxiety and dark thoughts were overwhelming, until one day I decided to start knitting again.
“I found out that each time I was knitting, my mind was focused on my creation and nothing else,” she said.
“No dark thoughts, no anxiety, I was just so focused on making something every day.
“So, I knitted away and started posting my work again on my now defunct page.
“Orders started coming in again and my work inspired a knitting revolution.”
She said this year she started experimenting with other crafts, mainly working with rope, making bags mostly.
“The brand has become so diverse and hence the change to Krafts by Sue,” Chigorimbo said.
“I am not just a knitter, I am a crafter and I knit mostly baby clothes.
“I also work with rope; making bags, trays, baskets and I also make bags from drawcord.”