Thursday 28 Mar 2024

Tales of the yarn

Colours, designs and patterns speak a silent language of universal harmony, feels Reena Bino, the founder of Knit N Purl Ocean, who finding peace and bliss in her unique creations

BHARATI PAWASKAR | NOVEMBER 19, 2017, 02:56 AM IST
Tales of the yarn

Upon entering Reena Bino's home in Raia, on the outskirts of Margao, one is greeted with a cheerful picture. The walls, the furniture, the plants and showpieces, all blend in, in happy colours - all which speak volumes of her unique taste. And indeed, an expert at knitting, Reena's creations never fail to enchant, as her best friends- the needles and thread never disappoint. 

For Reena, knitting was never just a hobby. It was and is a craze, a passion that gives solace to her restless soul and makes her forget everything else. Having learnt the nuances of the art from her first craft teacher, her mother Maya Tulshidas Naik, at the tender age of eight, Reena continued to nurture this passion all her childhood and youth and continues to do so till date, having started Knit N Purl Ocean.
Taking pride in displaying the pretty patterns in table mats, sofa covers, doilies, baskets, caps, baby booties, wall hangings, coasters and even cute little earrings, she mentions that she knits in many shapes - round, square, oval and star. The colours she prefers are vivid - whites, pastel and rustic which make a perfect gift for house warming, birthdays, weddings and as home décor. New moms are thrilled to have the delicately knitted booties in a wide range of colours as gifts.
"Yes, Reena's artistic home décor products make a perfect gift even for festivals," vouches a regular customer who dropped in at her home to book an order for Christmas stars. Orders are booked on phone or in person, on her Facebook page and through social media.
For her works, Renna prefers imported wooden, bamboo, aluminium and steel needles and can knit with even 13 to 14 needles at a single time. The size of her needles begins with 0.1 mm and it can go up to 15 mm or even more. "These are double pointed knitting needles and the thread I use is Red Heart cotton yarn which is long lasting. I also use jute yarn for rustic look, which had demand in five-star hotels or in corporate sector," points out Reena who currently sells through outlets like People Tree in Assagao and pop-up bazaars or exhibitions.
Having mastered the art at young age, she still enjoys keeping herself engaged in learning new stitches and innovative designs - just like a curious child. "I have 250 plus designs in my kitty and I keep adding more to my booty," she says, adding that she continues to learn from her mother even till date. Sometimes it is she who suggests new patterns to her elderly mother who has not given up knitting despite her arthritis.
However, she believes that very few indulge in knitting as it needs great patience, commitment and determination. "To master this art, one has to worship it with great devotion," admits Reena, a BSc in Chemistry and post-graduate in computer science, who decided to quit her job in August this year to be permanently engaged with her passion.
For Reena there is no fixed duration that she devotes per day to her art. She can keep knitting while watching television too. Though for new learners it takes time to pick up the art, she is habitual now and can concentrate even while doing house chores. For her it's a good stress buster. The joy of creating something beautiful is always hidden in every human being. Turning philosophical she asserts, "All of us have an artist hidden within ourselves. We only have to tap it and explore our inner self to stay blissful."
Over the years Reena managed to earn name and fame on mere word of mouth. Today, a familiar name in the world of knitters and knitting, Reena recalls selling her first doily for Rs 12, when she was just 10. Today, her pieces range from Rs 100- 10,000. Her venture indulges in the art of knitting and the sales of knitted products. Wanting more school kids to embrace this art, Reena has plans to take up workshops in schools during vacations.
"Though so far I haven't had much exposure and haven't participated in exhibitions or pop-up bazaars because of my busy work schedule, now that I have free time for myself, I am dreaming to exhibit my art, not only before Goan crowds but even take it to the Goan community abroad," discloses Reena, adding on an interesting note that it isn't just women, but men too who appreciate the art "I have seen that not only women but even men appreciate the art and buy for their homes," she mentions. "My husband Bino is my strongest moral support."
And her son is curious to learn the art from his mother, just like she learnt it from her mother. "Arjun is in class six but unlike other kids of his age, he has shown inclination for knitting," the proud mother in Reena adds. Happy that the legacy that she carried forward from her mother will not break - and that her son will take it ahead, she concludes smilingly, "It is not always that only daughters can take the art forward, even sons too can do it for their mothers."

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