Watch her fingers fly
SONIA Grevell, the fastest crotchetier in Australia, was in Warwick yesterday sharing her tips and secrets.
The title has belonged to the Toowoomba woman since 2006 and she said she was lucky to win it.
"I won the state competition and was then invited to the Australian titles," she said.
"We have three minutes to stitch as many stitches as possible.
"I was going well, until I dropped the hook. I thought it was all over but the time keeper picked up the hook and handed it to me.
"If I had had to get up I would have never won. In the end I only won by seven stitches."
Mrs Grevell said the secret was in the way she holds her hook.
"Most people hold it like a pencil," she said.
"But it is unnatural and makes your hands all tense."
She readjusted her hands, holding the hook in the same way you would hold a chopstick.
"This is a much more natural position."
Mrs Grevell said she had had a lot of practice.
"I have been crocheting since I was five," she said.
"I grew up in an orphanage in England and we all had to learn to knit and crochet."
Mrs Grevell has written 10 pattern books and teaches children how to crochet.
"I love teaching," she said.
"It is my heart's desire to teach children. It is great for them to learn this art.
"It incorporates counting and math skills."
She said it did not take children long to pick it up.
"There are only five stitches used in crocheting and the children leave the first lesson knowing three of them," she said.
Mrs Grevell said crocheting was an enjoyable hobby.
"It is very relaxing," she said.
"I can watch TV, or read a book or magazine while I'm doing it."
However Mrs Grevell said it did take a bit of practice to be able to multi-task while crocheting.
"I work by feel," she said.
"I don't have to look at what I'm doing.
"It only takes me two nights to make a rug. There is so much you can do with it.
"It doesn't have to me old-fashioned you can knit clothes, baby clothes, scarves and beanies."
Mrs Grevell said she could knit as well.
"Knitting is way too slow for me," she said.
The crocheting superstar said she hoped to attend for the whole 10 days at next year's festival.
