Each crochet piece from A Handcrafted Gaatha is a love story of colour, texture, and time.
1. Tell us a little about yourself—who you are, what you do, and how art became a part of your journey.
Hi, I’m Tanisha — the founder, maker, and dreamer behind A Handcrafted Gaatha. I actually started my career as an art director and interior stylist, but life had other plans. A few years ago, I was going through a really rough patch health-wise — dealing with severe anemia and PCOD flare-ups that forced me to slow down, even when I didn’t want to. It was during that time that I picked up a crochet hook... just as a way to cope and keep my hands busy.
I never imagined that something so simple would become such a huge part of my life. Crochet became my therapy — a quiet space where I could heal, reflect, and create. One thing led to another, and soon, A Handcrafted Gaatha was born — a small business rooted in storytelling, care, and the magic of handmade things.
Now, I not only create my own designs but also work with women artisans — most of them homemakers or women who had to step back from work due to health or family reasons — and together, we build something beautiful. Every piece we make has a little story, a little soul in it.
It’s not just about the product for me — it’s about the people, the healing, and the joy that comes from creating something with your own hands.
2. Art isn’t just something we see—it’s something we live with. How does art seep into your daily life? And what does art mean to you?
Art isn’t just something we see—it’s something we live with.
For me, art shows up in the tiniest, most everyday things—in the way someone styles their outfit, arranges their home, or just how sunlight falls on a wall. It’s everywhere, once you start noticing.
I genuinely believe everyone is creative in their own way. It’s not just about being good at painting or making things by hand. Art can be in how someone builds a software program, the way they write a message, or even how they organize their desk. It’s all expression—it’s all art.
To me, art is emotion made visible. It’s how we tell stories without always needing words. It’s how we connect—with ourselves and each other.
3. Why do you think handcrafted art matters today more than ever?
In the fast-paced, hyper-connected world we live in today, where everything is about speed, numbers, and the next big thing — handcrafted art feels like a gentle pause. A return to something real. Something human.
There was a time, not too long ago, when handmade didn’t feel like a luxury — it was simply a way of life. Every home, every corner had someone weaving, stitching, building, or creating with their hands. It wasn’t commercial, it was culture. But with globalisation and growing competition, we all got swept into the hustle — chasing more, faster, louder.
And yet now, more and more people are longing for what we left behind — the warmth, the imperfections, the slower beauty our ancestors once lived with. That’s why I truly believe handcrafted art matters more than ever today. It brings us back to our roots. It reminds us of the value of time, intention, and touch — in a world that’s constantly trying to rush us past all three.
Handmade pieces aren’t just products — they’re quiet rebellions against mass production. They carry stories, emotions, and care. And in today’s world, that’s exactly what we’re all secretly yearning for.
4. How many years have you been practicing this craft?
It’s been a little over two years since I picked up a crochet hook for the first time — and honestly, I learnt everything through YouTube. I still remember sitting with a ball of yarn and a lot of confusion, replaying the same videos over and over again until my fingers started to understand what to do.
I didn’t take any fancy classes or have anyone to guide me — it was just me, the internet, and a need to create something during a time when I felt pretty low. Crochet gave me a sense of calm and purpose when I really needed it.
5. What makes an artist an artist? (like who can call themselves an artist/what counts as being an artist)
Honestly, I think it’s less about skill and more about intention. You’re an artist the moment you create something that carries a piece of you—your thoughts, your feelings, your perspective. It doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be real.
You don’t need a degree, a gallery, or a million followers to call yourself an artist. If you express yourself—through thread, words, music, movement, code, colors, even how you cook or care for your space—that’s art. That’s you creating.
An artist, to me, is simply someone who feels deeply and finds a way to let that feeling flow outward. If that’s you—you’re already one
6. What does being an artist/brand that sells art mean to you?
If I’m being really honest—and speaking just as an artist without all the pressure of running a brand or meeting expectations—it would mean so much.
It’s a feeling I can’t quite put into words… like someone seeing something I made with my hands and heart, and saying, “Hey, this means something to me too.” That’s incredibly special.
It’s not just about selling—it’s about being understood in a quiet, unspoken way. About turning something deeply personal into something that can live in someone else’s world too. That’s what makes it all worth it.
In the purest sense, it would feel like freedom… like a soft little dream that gets to exist outside of me—and be held, worn, or loved by someone else.
7. How long does it usually take to create one piece from start to finish?
It really depends on what we're making! Smaller pieces like earrings or mini flowers can take anywhere from 30 minutes to a couple of hours, while slightly more detailed ones—like a floral bunch or layered accessory—can take several hours.
Since everything is made by hand, there’s no fixed timeline. Some days the stitches flow quickly, and other days they ask for a little more patience. And every maker has their own pace—some crochet faster, some take it slow and intentional. That’s the charm of handmade—each piece holds the time, love, and rhythm of the hands that made it.
8. What drew you to the medium(s) you work with?
If I look back now, I truly feel like it was all meant to be. I didn’t choose crochet—it found its way to me, gently and quietly.
I remember getting crochet cushions made for a design project once… and much before that, I’d bought crochet earrings without thinking too much about it. I grew up listening to my mom and aunts talk about handmade things—their embroidery, their love for craft. I think those moments planted quiet little seeds in me.
Crochet was looking for me, and the universe just found the perfect moment to place it in my hands. What started as a small, healing escape slowly turned into a big part of who I am.
9. You’ve titled some of your products in Hindi—like Soorajmukhi—while others are in English. Is there a conscious thought behind this bilingual naming?
Yeah, there actually is, but it’s not something I sat down and planned in a formal way. It just happens naturally. Some names, like Soorajmukhi, feel meant to be in Hindi—they hold this softness, this sense of nostalgia that English can’t always capture the same way.
Other times, the product feels playful or light, and English fits better. I name things based on what they feel like, not just what they are.
I like moving between the two—it mirrors who I am: someone who grew up in a modern world but carries the softness of tradition within. Both languages are a part of me, and I love that I don’t have to choose just one.
10. Crochet became both refuge and expression for you during a challenging time. Looking back, how do you think this continues to shape the aesthetics or energy of the pieces you make today?
Honestly, I create things I’d personally love to wear, use, or gift. I don’t chase trends or make something just because it’s “in” on social media. If it doesn’t spark something in me, I just can’t bring myself to make it. That’s probably why my work feels slow and personal—because it really is.
11. You used to be an Interior Stylist/Art Director. How did elements from your former career contribute in building A Hand Crafted Gaatha?
Being an interior stylist definitely helped me see things differently. I’ve always loved color, but that job taught me how to use it—how to mix bold with soft, how to make something feel warm, playful, or grounded just through shades and textures.
Now, even though I’m working with yarn instead of cushions or wall art, that sensibility is still there. I think that’s what makes my brand feel like me—a little curated, a little spontaneous, but always from the heart.
12. Crochet is witnessing immense popularity today, especially amongst GenZ. How do you distinguish your work in a space that’s growing more crowded?
Crochet is having its moment, and I love that—but I don’t create to keep up.
I create from feeling. If I’m not connected to an idea, I won’t make it—no matter how trendy it is. That’s what keeps my work mine, even in a growing crowd.
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