Crocheting a business from YouTube tutorials
Destiny D’Souza from Candolim, will begin her third year at St Xavier’s College with a major in Psychology.
She is in love with crochet, an art she learnt through YouTube. “It all started with a simple beginner tutorial.
From learning how to hold the hook
and make basic stitches to changing yarn colours and reading patterns, YouTube became my teacher. With consistent practice, I grew more confident and skilled in the art of crochet,” explains Destiny.
What began as a hobby has now turned into a small online business. “I create handmade crochet items like tops, bouquets, and more. I continue to rely on online tutorials to refine my techniques and stay inspired, and I hope to soon start designing and sharing my own patterns,” she adds.
Turning a New Year resolution into a baking venture
About five months ago, Siddhi Parsekar from Porvorim started baking. It began as part of her New Year’s resolution to do something creative this year. What started as a hobby slowly grew into something more meaningful. “I wanted to try something new. My neighbours and people from my village tasted my cakes. They really liked the taste and design and asked me to bake cakes for their children’s birthdays. That encouragement made me think seriously about turning this hobby into a small business,” says Siddhi, a law student.
She shared her work through WhatsApp and her personal Instagram account but recently, created a separate account for her baking journey. “I had to put in a lot of practice and effort. I learned everything from YouTube like how to make sponge, use cream, and perfect the small details. Compared to online videos, getting baking materials was easier thanks to local shops that cater specifically to bakers,” says Siddhi, who finds joy in baking.
Turning DIY passion into a small business
Ridima Rajesh Banaulikar from Assonora, recently completed her Class 12 in the Arts stream. Her creative journey took off in 2021 when she began exploring DIY projects through YouTube. “I learned to make scrunchies and other hair accessories by watching tutorials online. YouTube is a good teacher because you can learn new things from the comfort of your home,” says Ridima, for whom YouTube has played a huge role in inspiring her to start selling the products she made.
“If you want to start your own business, you can learn something from YouTube and use that knowledge to start your business. I began promoting my creations through Instagram, which helped me reach more people and build confidence in what I do. I enjoy learning different forms of art and DIY crafts, and platforms like YouTube are powerful tools,” adds Ridima.
Exploring new techniques in art
Anika Amit Kelji from Sangolda recently completed her Class 12 in Commerce and is now preparing for the entrance exam for Fine Arts. She has been drawing since she was in Class 1 with the initial encouragement from her mother, Aditi. “I started exploring online platforms like YouTube and Instagram to learn new techniques. These online resources helped me a lot and I picked up new skills. Over the years, I’ve focused mainly on painting and pencil shading, and I’m currently working on self-portraits. While I haven’t participated in any exhibitions yet, I’ve sold a few of my artworks to friends and family and am now looking to expand my reach and explore more opportunities,” says Anika.
She shares most of her work through stories and posts on Instagram. “Though I’m from a commerce background, art has always been my passion and YouTube has helped me to learn more I learned more,” adds Anika.
Crafting creativity into a career
Rachel Elsie D’Mello from Pirna has completed her Class 12 in Arts and plans to continue her studies, but her creative journey began during the Covid-19 lockdown. Her interest in arts and crafts really grew and the best source to learn was YouTube. “I explored knitting, crochet, and jewellery-making using beads and woollen threads. I also made woollen caps by following YouTube tutorials, which
opened the door to more forms of art and craft. I ventured into sketching, painting, tile painting, embroidery, flower making, fabric painting, and even creating decorative pieces from waste materials,” explains Rachel.
She began taking small orders for birthday party favours, wedding giveaways, and ring holders, turning her passion into a part-time business. “YouTube has helped learn so much more about different art forms that I can now source my material and design any piece of art,” says Rachel, who recently completed a professional nail art course.