About the Initiative
Threads of Togetherness – Crocheter Mela 2026 is a pioneering community initiative by BRIATOSHS to bring the growing crochet community of Delhi & NCR together on a common platform while celebrating International Crochet Day.
The 2026 edition is being conceived as India’s first dedicated Crocheter Mela, creating a focused public platform for crocheters to learn, create, connect, showcase their skills and explore opportunities related to handmade craft and livelihood.
The initiative goes beyond a conventional craft gathering. It seeks to strengthen crochet as a traditional textile craft and contemporary creative skill, while encouraging knowledge sharing, skill development, responsible product pricing, peer networking and recognition of creative talent.
The programme will feature expert-led discussions on yarn and crochet hooks, guidance on pricing handmade products, peer interaction and a 1.5-hour Crochet Challenge, where participants will create an original 3 × 3 inch crochet masterpiece of their choice. Outstanding work will be recognised, encouraging creativity, confidence and excellence in craftsmanship.
Our Mission
To bring crocheters together, celebrate crochet as a valuable textile craft, encourage creativity and skill development, and create a supportive community where every crocheter can learn, connect, create and grow.
Through Threads of Togetherness – Crocheter Mela, BRIATOSHS aims to create a platform where crochet is recognised not only as a hobby, but also as a creative skill, handmade craft and potential livelihood opportunity.
Our Vision
To build a strong and connected crochet community across India, giving crocheters a platform for recognition, learning, creativity, collaboration and livelihood opportunities.
Crocheter Mela 2026 is envisioned as a landmark step towards creating a dedicated public platform for India’s crochet community. The initiative aims to make the Crocheter Mela a recurring national platform, bringing together crocheters, designers, craft practitioners, yarn and textile organisations and creative communities.
Our First Step
Threads of Togetherness – Crocheter Mela 2026 is being envisioned as India’s first dedicated Crocheter Mela 2026 celebrating International Crochet Day, bringing Delhi-NCR crocheters together on 12 September 2026.
One Community | One Craft | Countless Creations
Our Objectives
01. Celebrate Crochet & Textile Craft
Create a dedicated public platform to celebrate crochet as a valuable handmade textile craft.
02. Build a Stronger Crochet Community
Bring Delhi-NCR crocheters together for interaction, collaboration and peer learning.
03. Promote Skill & Knowledge
Provide practical knowledge on yarn, crochet hooks, product development and pricing.
04. Encourage Livelihood Thinking
Help crocheters understand the commercial value of their handmade products through basic costing and pricing awareness.
05. Encourage Creativity
Provide a platform for participants to independently design and create an original crochet masterpiece.
06. Recognise Craftsmanship
Celebrate creativity, originality and execution through the 1.5-Hour Crochet Challenge.
07. Connect the Craft Ecosystem
Create an interface between crocheters, yarn manufacturers, textile organisations, designers, institutions and potential partners.
Target Beneficiaries
The primary beneficiaries will be:
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Crochet artists and hobby crocheters
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Emerging crochet entrepreneurs
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Handmade-product creators
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Students and young craft enthusiasts
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Home-based craft practitioners
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Crochet teachers and community leaders
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Delhi-NCR craft and textile enthusiasts
Geographical Focus
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Delhi & National Capital Region (NCR)
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The 2026 edition is intentionally designed as a Delhi-NCR focused community even
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Banga Sanskriti Bhawan,
Muktadhara Auditorium
18-19, Bhai Veer Singh Marg, Sec-2,
Gole Market, New Delhi - 110 001
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15th September 2026
Tuesday
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10:30 AM
to 3:00 pm
ONE DAY | ONE MELA | ONE SHARED PASSION
TIME
10:30 AM – 11:00 AM
11:00 AM -11:15 AM
11:15 AM – 12:45 AM
12:45 PM – 01:15 PM
01:15 PM – 01:55 PM
01:55 – 02:15 PM
02:15 - 2:45 PM
2:45 – 3:00 PM
Programme
THE 1.5 HOUR CROCHET CHALLENGE
Participants will have 1.5 hours to create a 3 × 3 inch crochet masterpiece of their own choice.
CREATE • COMPLETE • WIN
The challenge will focus on:
Creativity | Originality | Craftsmanship | Execution
Ten creation will be recognised as:
MASTERPIECE OF THE DAY
The challenge is intended to celebrate creativity and craftsmanship rather than speed alone.
EXPECTED OUTCOMES & PARTNERSHIP VALUE
Expected Outcomes
The project will create:
A. Community Impact
A stronger and more connected Delhi-NCR crochet community.
B. Skill Impact
Greater awareness of yarn selection, hook selection, product costing and pricing.
C. Economic Awareness
Encouragement for crocheters to view handmade skills as a potential source of income.
D. Craft Visibility
Greater public visibility for crochet as a textile and handmade craft.
E. Creative Expression
A platform for individual creativity and original design.
F. Industry Connection
An opportunity for yarn, textile and craft-related organisations to directly engage with an active community of makers.
The Ministry of Textiles has historically supported handicraft initiatives involving skill development, design and technology development, entrepreneurship, marketing and market linkages, making these areas relevant to the broader craft-development ecosystem.
SPONSORSHIP / PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Partners may support the project through:
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Yarn & Material Partner
Yarn, crochet materials and participant kits.
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Welcome Kit Partner
Materials/products for participant welcome kits.
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Hospitality Partner
Lunch and participant hospitality.
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Award Partner
Prizes/trophies/certificates for the Crochet Challenge.
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Knowledge Partner
Support for expert-led knowledge sessions.
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Venue & Production Partner
Venue, audio-visual and event infrastructure.
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Documentation Partner
Photography, videography and event documentation.
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Principal / Presenting Partner
Overall financial support for the event.
PARTNER VISIBILITY
Depending on the partnership category, partners may receive:
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Logo placement on event creatives
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Partner recognition at the venue
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Logo placement on participant/event material
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Social-media acknowledgement
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Website recognition
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Event-day announcements
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Inclusion in post-event documentation
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Opportunity to interact with the crochet community
Final visibility will depend on the partnership category and agreed deliverables.
PARTNERSHIP REQUEST
BRIATOSHS Crochet Community invites the Ministry of Textiles, PSUs, textile companies, yarn manufacturers, corporate houses and CSR partners to join hands in making Threads of Togetherness – 1st Crocheter Mela 2026 a meaningful celebration of crochet and handmade textile craft.
Your support can help create a stronger platform for:
CRAFT • COMMUNITY • SKILL • CREATIVITY • LIVELIHOOD
We welcome partnerships through financial support, materials, participant kits, hospitality, awards, knowledge sessions, venue support and other appropriate forms of sponsorship.
Together, we can give handmade craft a larger platform.
CSR ALIGNMENT, BUDGET & PARTNERSHIP REQUEST
CSR / DEVELOPMENT ALIGNMENT
The project can be presented to eligible corporate partners around areas including:
• Employment-enhancing vocational skills
• Livelihood enhancement
• Promotion and development of traditional arts & handicrafts
• Skill development and entrepreneurship awareness
These areas correspond with provisions listed in Schedule VII of the Companies Act, 2013.
The Ministry of Textiles’ handicraft programmes have also included skill development, entrepreneurship development, design mentorship, workshops/seminars and marketing support.
Note: CSR eligibility and the appropriate funding route will be subject to the sponsoring company’s CSR policy, applicable rules & internal due diligence.
PROPOSED BUDGET HEADS
The final budget will be prepared based on the confirmed number of participants and partner contributions.
Budget Head
Venue & Infrastructure
Participant Welcome Kits
Lunch & Hospitality
Expert Sessions
Crochet Challenge
Awards & Certificates
Audio-Visual & Production
Branding & Printing
Photography & Videography
Volunteer & Bouncer
Digital Promotion
Contingency
Purpose
Hall, seating and event arrangements
Yarn/materials and kit components
Participant meals
Resource persons & session arrangements
Materials, judging and display
Recognition of participants/winners
Sound, display and technical requirements
Backdrops, signage and event material
Documentation
On-ground coordination
Social media and communication
Unforeseen event expenses
Detailed financial proposal
A partner-specific budget can be submitted according to the desired level of support.
Target Beneficiaries
The inaugural Threads of Togetherness – Crocheter Mela 2026 aims to bring together approximately 180 crocheters from Delhi & NCR on a single platform to celebrate International Crochet Day.
The participants will include:
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Hobby and enthusiast crocheters
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Skilled and experienced crocheters
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Home-based crochet makers
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Emerging crochet designers and creators
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Individuals exploring crochet as a creative or livelihood opportunity
The programme will provide participants with opportunities for skill enhancement, knowledge sharing, peer networking, creative expression, product-pricing awareness and recognition of craftsmanship.
Primary Target: 180 Delhi-NCR crocheters
Geographical Focus: Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Ghaziabad, Faridabad and surrounding NCR areas.
For the CSR proposal, I recommend consistently using “180 direct beneficiaries” throughout the document. This makes the project’s impact clear and measurable.
Our Participants
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Joginder kaur
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Hima Vasudeva
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Kanika pamnani
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SHIKHA AGRAWAL
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Radhika Rao
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Neeru
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Harjeet Kaur
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Sunita Rana
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Sridevi Saridevi
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Swarnika Gupta
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Mrs. Disha Khandhediya
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Poonam taneja
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Anu Gupta
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Sonia
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Pooja Malhotra
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Renu Gupta
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Renu Wahi
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Jasvinder kaur
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Sandeep Kaur
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Anju Singh Sisodia
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Renu Khatter
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Seema saini
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Garima Handa
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Asha Rani
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Poonam Sehgal
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Sunita Bamal
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Ameeta Wadhwa
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Neha Jindal
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Neeta Gautam
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BIMLA KALRA
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Kawaljeet kaur
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Anju Sharma
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Himangi Rastogi
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Bharat
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Rekha Gupta
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MADHU GROVER
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Renu Agrawal
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Ruma Bandyopadhyay
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Pushp Kapur
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Smita Dwivedi
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Manisha Arora
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Sapna Dhaundiyal
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Prasun Bhadana
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Rachna Gupta
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Aparna Gupta
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Sandeep kaur
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Smita Mital
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Amita Ailawadi
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Rinku datta
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Pratibha Srivastava
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Himani Singhal
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Harpreet kaur
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Sudhi Priya
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Mini jha
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Ambika sukumar
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Anju Jain
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Jasleen Kaur
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Arundhati Mukherjee
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Savita yadav
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Shashi Gera
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Achala Joshi
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HARNEET KAUR
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B.Padma Rao
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Alka Aggarwal
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Meenu Kanodia
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Sarabjeet Bhullar
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Jhimli Ghosh
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Simar
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Rubina Arora
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GAURAV SRIVASTAVA
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geeta mamagin
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Seema thapa
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Meena thapa
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Bala yadav
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Harinder Kaur
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Kartik
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Anupma Pattnaik
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Ishieta Chopra
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Neera Chopra
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Jaya Nandita
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Mini Ghosh
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Karma negi
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Monika Rohatgi
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Karishma dev
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Mahima Vasudeva
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Simpy manocha
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Sonia Khanna
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Sunil Kumar
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Shashi Katoch
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Rashma Bhardwaj
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Sushma Aggarwal
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Anju Nagpal
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Anita Sharma
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Meeta Agarwal
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Amita Kohli
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Avni Zindal
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Vinita y.Mohan
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Heera Thakur
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Komal
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Poonam Sareen
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Arti
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MadhuHansda
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Mitali Jain
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Seema maini
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Meenakshi grover
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Jyoti Grover
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Kiran
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Bhupender Kumar
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Sangeeta
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Anita
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Neeru sharma
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Monica Khanna
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Seema Sehgal
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Priyanka
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Garima Handa
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Akriti Dhar
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Deepti Sharma
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Razia hashim
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Urja Khandhediya
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Dimple Kalra
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Baani Bhamra
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Renu kadhila
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Nisha jain
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Madhu
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Varsha saini
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Rajni Panesaf
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Gurpreet kaur
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Rashmi Sehgal
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Ashutosh Biswas
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Ishika Gautam
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Shalini
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Rama Jain
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Megha Agarwal
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Seema
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Vandana Kapur
In Association with
Bank Partner
International Crochet Day is celebrated every year on 12th September to honour the art of Crochet, Creativity, Handmade Work, and Crocheters around the World.
The celebration began in 2007, initiated by Jim “Jimbo” Price of Jimbo’s Front Porch, who wanted to give crochet the recognition it deserved.
INTERNATIONAL CROCHET DAY 2026
India’s First Dedicated Crocheter Mela’26
BRIATOSHS Crochet Community is celebrating this occasion in India through Crocheter Mela 2026, a dedicated Celebration of Crochet, Community, Creativity, and the Dignity of Handmade Work.
Due to the BRICS Summit and restrictions on large gatherings in our venue area, the event date has been changed:
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12th September → 15th September 2026
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Crocheter Mela’26 — Celebrating the Spirit of International Crochet Day in India!
One Hook | One Thread | One Community
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A Meaningful Meeting & A New Beginning
Today, dated 2 Sept 2026 we had the wonderful opportunity to meet
Shri Kishori Lal Sharma, MP from Amethi, and present the outline of one of our upcoming projects before him.
When we shared our vision and the details of the project, he warmly appreciated the initiative and praised our efforts. His simplicity, humility, and encouraging words made the meeting even more special.
He also assured us of his support and cooperation in every possible way. When you are working to bring a new idea to life, having your efforts appreciated and encouraged by someone who believes in your vision gives you an entirely new strength and confidence.
I am truly happy to share this special meeting and encouraging news with all of you.
Sometimes, a few words of encouragement are all it takes to give wings to a dream.
A Heart That Believes in Creativity
With Gratitude to Karin Moisel, Germany
Some gestures go far beyond their material value—they become a source of encouragement, strength and belief.
Karin Moisel from Germany, who served for 30 years as Editor-in-Chief at Burda Publishing, has extended her support to my project with a heart full of love, blessings and faith in the vision behind my work.
Her beautiful words truly reflect the spirit of what I am trying to create:
“Creativity not only enables us to create beautiful things, but also carries us through life. It allows us to find solutions to problems and to find joy in simply being.”
Karin’s generous contribution is much more than a donation to me. It is a token of trust, encouragement and understanding. She understood my feelings, my passion and the purpose behind this journey—and chose to stand beside me.
For an artist and creator, there can be no greater gift than having someone believe in the work that comes from the heart.
Karin, my heart is filled with gratitude for your kindness, your blessings and, above all, for believing in my dream.
Your support will remain a cherished part of this journey, reminding me that creativity has no boundaries—it can connect hearts across countries, cultures and distances.
With deepest gratitude and love, Dr. Babita Biswas
Threads of Togetherness – Crocheter Mela 2026
Ganga ACROWOOLS Ltd–
We are Yarn Lovers
Saourabh Gagnani – National Head–Craft Yarn, Ganga ACROWOOLS, shared the company’s plans to expand the experience and accessibility of its extensive product range. He spoke about the upcoming new Experience Centre, which will showcase the company’s wide range of products. He also shared that the company plans to introduce its products to international markets while simultaneously strengthening their presence in the Indian market.
“We are working towards opening a new Experience Centre where people can discover our extensive range of products. We also look forward to taking this range to international markets while making it more accessible to the Indian market.”
A Report
India’s first dedicated Crocheter Mela'26, organised by Briatoshs, celebrating International Crochet Day and bringing together crochet artists to create, connect, learn, celebrate and receive recognition. New Delhi, 15th September 2026: The Briatoshs Crochet Community’s Crocheter Mela ’26 brought together more than 85+ crocheters, crafters and crochet enthusiasts for a vibrant celebration of creativity, craftsmanship and community at Muktidhara Auditorium, Bharatiya Sanskriti Bhavan, Gole Market, New Delhi.
Organised by Briatoshs, in association with Ganga Acrowools Ltd and PONY Needles, the mela witnessed a full-house response, with the auditorium filled with crocheters and craft enthusiasts who came together to learn, interact, showcase their work and celebrate the growing crochet community.
The event was organised around the spirit of “Threads of Togetherness”, highlighting crochet not merely as a creative pursuit but also as a skill that can contribute to confidence, community building, wellness and livelihood opportunities.
85+ Crocheters Come Together
With participation from more than 85 crocheters, the event reflected the growing interest in crochet as a creative and social activity. Participants came from different backgrounds and skill levels, making the mela a platform for interaction between experienced crafters, beginners and members of the wider crochet ecosystem.
The packed auditorium also reflected the community-driven nature of the initiative, with participants actively engaging in workshops, demonstrations, conversations and product showcases.
PONY Needles Showcases New Products
A major attraction of the mela was the participation of PONY Needles, represented by Karuna Singh, Brand Manager, along with the PONY team. The brand showcased its latest products and launches, giving participants an opportunity to explore new crochet tools and accessories.
Karuna Singh said, “Events like Crocheter Mela give us an opportunity to interact directly with crafters, understand their needs and introduce them to our new products.”
PONY Needles: The Right Tools for Every Stitch
Representing PONY Needles, Isha, Export Manager, highlighted the importance of using the right needle for comfort, stitch quality and the overall finish of handmade creations, while also sharing the brand’s long-standing association with crochet and needlecraft communities.
“Quality needles are an important part of the crochet-making process. Our aim is to help crocheters understand how the right needle can make their work more comfortable, precise and enjoyable.”
Mohammed Faiz Khan Appreciates the Initiative
Social activist Mohammed Faiz Khan, was also present at the event. He appreciated Dr Babita Biswas and the Briatoshs Crochet Community for their initiative and the sustained effort behind bringing together a large community of crocheters around the art and craft.
He acknowledged the effort involved in creating a platform of this scale and appreciated the dedication with which Dr Babita Biswas has worked to bring crochet enthusiasts together and give handmade creativity a larger platform.
“Craft has the ability to bring people together across age groups and backgrounds. What we witnessed at Crocheter Mela was not simply an exhibition of handmade work, but a community coming together around creativity, patience and skill,” he said. He also spoke about the wider social relevance of handmade crafts and the importance of giving skilled crafters opportunities to showcase their work and connect with larger communities.
Dr Babita Biswas: Building a Community Around Crochet
Dr Babita Biswas, founder of Briatoshs Crochet Community, the mela was an extension of the community’s larger objective of bringing people together through crochet. Speaking about the event, she said: “Crochet is much more than a craft. It gives people an opportunity to create, learn, share and connect. The response to Crocheter Mela ’26 has been extremely encouraging. Seeing more than 85 crocheters come together and a full house at the auditorium showed us the strength of this community. Our aim is to continue creating spaces where crafters can meet, learn from one another and find new opportunities through their skills.”
She added that the community intends to continue creating platforms that recognise the efforts of crocheters and encourage more people to take up the craft.
She is on a journey to unite 10000+ Crocheters pan India covering 800+ cities in next year.
Voices from the Community
The mela also brought together individuals working beyond the immediate crochet and yarn ecosystem, including social activist and community voices.
A Platform for Skill, Creativity and Livelihood
The mela highlighted the multiple dimensions of crochet — as a creative activity, a source of personal satisfaction, a community-building tool and, for many, a potential source of income.
The interaction between crocheters, yarn representatives, needle manufacturers and craft community members provided participants with an opportunity to discuss products, techniques, experiences and possibilities for taking their craft further.
The presence of Ganga Acrowools Ltd and PONY Needles also helped strengthen the connection between the crafting community and the industry that supports it..
Full House, Strong Community Response
The overwhelming participation and full-house auditorium became one of the defining features of Crocheter Mela ’26. With 85+ crocheters participating, the event demonstrated the growing visibility of crochet communities and the demand for physical spaces where crafters can meet and interact.
For Briatoshs Crochet Community, the mela marked another step towards creating a stronger and more connected ecosystem for crochet enthusiasts.
Dr Babita Biswas summed it up:“
Every stitch connects us to another person, another story and another possibility. This mela was about those connections — and we hope to keep adding more threads to this community.”
Crocheter Mela ’26 was organised by Briatoshs Crochet Community, in association with Ganga Acrowools Ltd and PONY Needles, bringing together the craft community under the spirit of “Threads of Togetherness.”
Threads of Excellence Awards 2026
From 85 outstanding entries, 10 exceptional crochet creations were selected for the prestigious Threads of Excellence Awards, celebrating creativity, craftsmanship, originality and dedication to the art of crochet. A glimpse of the talented winners and their beautiful masterpieces.
