Knitty Nani?s Creative Yarns

Kaushalya Shroff is a senior entrepreneur in Delhi whose beautiful woollen creations are worth stocking up on! 

It?s hard to tear your eyes away from the pink baby blanket made by Kaushalya Shroff, 72, the senior entrepreneur and creative genius behind Knitty Nani. Made in five shades of pink, it looks like ice-cream and reminds you of everything that soft and nice about little babies.

Knitty Nani is a venture started by Kaushalya that stocks hand knitted woollen products and fabric bags for shopping. What's interesting is the collection of accessories that are beautiful and different, with a contemporary touch. The variety Knitty Nani has on offer is quite mind-boggling. There are patchwork blankets and Ottomans (yes!) in bright, happy colours; soft fuzzy socks, mats and rugs. Oh and did we mention the sleeping bags for babies and crib accessories. And the cushion covers, tissue boxes and teddy bears!

Kaushalya's story and her venture is all about family support and how it can go a long way in encouraging a senior entrepreneur. It's also a great concept that plans to bring together elderly women with a common interest. She loved knitting and was encouraged by her children to start Knitty Nani. Her photographer granddaughter Radhika Agarwal has helped to promote it further by clicking her grandmother?s one of a kind creations in the best way possible, apart from setting up a page for the venture on Facebook.

My grandfather was ill for a long time, so when he passed away four years ago, Nani suddenly had a lot of free time and was encouraged by her family to start this, Radhika says. The idea behind Knitty Nani was not commercial but primarily a social one. We wanted to give her a platform to interact with like minded knitters, Radhika adds. The Knitty Nani logo was designed by a friend and Kaushalya's venture had started.

Round Rugs from Knitty Nani

So far, most of the products under the label have been created by Kaushalya, with few done by family and friends. But the idea is to involve more people, because as Radhika puts it, there are so many people in this age group who like to knit.

The designs are Kaushalya's own, with inputs from her near and dear ones. Many of the products have been done on an experimental basis (such as the accessories) and have worked very well.

For Kaushalya, Knitty Nani has been about getting recognition and the true value of her work. Madhulika, her daughter, remembers how Kaushalya made 100 round mats as gifts for family and friends because she wanted to leave a memory and do something worthwhile with her time. ?More than the money, Knitty Nani gives her self worth,? says her daughter. Kaushalya agrees.

In many ways this is also Kaushalya's way of filling a void in her life after her husband's death. Always a housewife, she raised three children and cared for her husband over his long illness. In 2011 when my husband passed away, I was very lonely and took to knitting, she says. I made rugs and a friend's daughter saw and appreciated the work. Encouraged by everyone, I also put up a stall and tried out other designs. That was the beginning.?

While she does most of the work, she would love to have others join in to create a community of knitters. But, as she points out, it's important to be open to learning. At any age. Everyone has skills but to run a venture you need to put in a lot of effort and you need to be very patient. I have tried new designs and experimented with an open mind. I love trying out new things, she concludes. As we wind up, she mentions her plan to try out a muffler made out of plastic pins a video she has recently seen on YouTube. Given how strikingly different and creative Knitty Nani's products are, we won?t be surprised if the unusual muffler is a hit with everyone too.

2018 UPDATE: 

We love it when our silvers show their never give up spirit and channel their energies towards the greater good.

In 2016, we brought you the above story of senior entrepreneur Knitty Nani, the 75 year old Kaushalya Shroff, who started a venture of knitted woollen products in her hometown Delhi. She loved knitting and after the vaccum created by her husband's death was encouraged by her children to start the home-run venture. Cut to 2018 and Mrs Shroff cannot knit much due to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, which causes pain and numbness in the arm and hands. But that hasn't stopped her from staying busy at all! at all! Instead she has started making daily use bags (for grocery shopping, among other things) with leftover fabric. Not only is the idea environment friendly, given the ban on plastic, she also celebrated her 75th birthday recently by donating the proceeds from the sale of her bags to charity. Don't we just love such enterprising elders Here's nani bagging two of her lovely creations. We wish her luck and a bagload of orders for those cool carriers to take your shopping home in!

Kaushalya Shroff can be reached on 011-42440970. You can also check out her Facebook page Knitty Nani

Alternatively, email radhika767@gmail.com

All photographs courtesy Radhika Agarwal/Knitty Nani