Spinning an enchanting web

When you first see Kuldip Sabharwal, she seems like any other grandmom. Spectacles perched on her nose, she is diligently working away at...

When you first see Kuldip Sabharwal, she seems like any other grandmom. Spectacles perched on her nose, she is diligently working away at a strip of crochet in her hands. An almost lost art, one not many have time for in these hectic times. But a closer look at Kuldip8217;s handiwork will reveal that she has managed to give a whole new identity to this thread work. For, instead of fashioning the strands into simple laces for table cloths and mats as is commonly done, she is weaving them into the most exquisite dresses. In a large range of shimmering colours, pastel or bright, her stitches incorporate not only the basic chains and double chains, but scallops and shells and fringes as well.

Her grand-daughter Sheetal shows off a lovely onion pink kameez teamed up with a churidar. It has a floral panel in front with simple chains on either side and is edged with a delicate scallop. There are jackets and cholis, purses and dupattas, longer tops and scarves. There are brilliant turquoise blues, sunny yellows, muted beige, sparkling emerald greens and even glittering gold and silver.

Kuldip8217;s daughter Dina Vallicha, who owns the boutique Dress N8217; Drive at Koregaon Park, outlets her mother8217;s creations from her place but most of them get snapped up even before they reach the counter as they are made to order which gives them the perfect fit. Dina recounts a Navjyot party where a Parsi lady was wearing one of Kuldip8217;s gorgeous masterpieces 8211; a black saree with a gold border teamed with a gold choli in a matching design. 8220;The moment I entered the room I was besieged with ladies asking for my mother8217;s address and phone number,8221; says Dina.

Kuldip is absolutely meticulous about detail. Not for her the simple crochet thread available in the market. 8220;When I first learned crochet as a child, I used the imported DMC but since that is not available any more, I have switched over to silk thread.8221; This thread is silky, has an unbeatable lustre and is so fine that she has to entwine seven strands at a time. They are to be found in a wide range of colours so that they can be perfectly matched to any outfit. When Kuldip uses gold and silver threads she carefully mixes them with a silken strand to keep them soft, pliable and comfortable.

Strangely enough, it was knitting which was Kuldip8217;s first love in the initial years. 8220;I learnt both knitting and crochet when I was about twelve years old and a year later I made my first crochet dress for my younger sister, by joining together strips of crochet lace. But it was knitting I was more comfortable with. I would be churning out at least 25 woollen garments every winter, mostly for my family and relatives and later for my children and grand-children. I did the occasional crochet work, but although many people requested me to take orders I refused to be drawn in. It was only two years ago that a friend of my daughter-in-law persuaded me to take orders in a larger scale and my grand-daughter Sheetal gave me the inspiration to try out these trendy garments. Now most of my creations are taken abroad by others,8221; she reveals with quiet pride.

When grand daughter and grandmom get together, the ideas just sparkle and crackle. It is Sheetal who keeps her grandmom up to date on the latest trends and Kuldip innovates and adds her own skill to bring out an ensemble which is unique in every way. 8220;I have never followed any pattern books. I just need to look at a pattern and I can st it down straight away. Even the sizes comes automatically to me.8221; Whether it is darts in a choli or the round shapes for the neckline, every thing comes out perfectly. No need for a second trial at all.

A kameez may take her 10 days to complete, a saree-blouse just 4 days and many is the time that she has livened up a plain dupatta with a lace border within a couple of hours.

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Kuldip now has her nimble hands full, preparing for a grand fashion show. A Millennium Ball to be hosted at the INS Shivaji, Lonavla will be featuring five leading designers from Pune and she is obviously one of them. Since both Indian and western outfits are her forte she will display both. It is a treat to see her ideas flow and multiply. One little idea multiplies manifold. As she crafts some silver thread into a chic batua, she decides to incorporate the design for a matching cap, and then, 8220;why not a mini skirt, maybe even a pair of smart sandals to go with it8230;8221; And that is not all, Kuldip is planning to start a new trend by creating a whole range of men8217;s wear.

Neither age nor the fact that she has undergone an open heart surgery, deters this active 67 year old who is now working out the details for the highlight of the evening a stunning, gorgeous, shimmering lehenga-choli. States Kuldip firmly, 8220;It is not age that matters but confidence and willpower.quot;