A humanitarian knit

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ONE FOR THE ROAD: Ranong joins the participants for a group photo at the end of the course in Ba Kelalan.

THERE are two things high on Ranong Peru’s help list – to revive the age-old craft of crochet and knitting among local women and help them improve their livelihood.

The 43-year-old native of Ba Kelalan said she will accept the challenge in a heartbeat even though it may seem insuperable.

Ranong, who is proprietress of Ran and Nong Creations and Beauty House in Kuching, traverses the country to conduct her training programme.

Getting out of her comfort zone, this Lun Bawang handcraft trainer aims to reach out to women throughout the state, in particular, the disabled and single mothers from the different ethnic communities.

She teaches crochet, knitting as well as spa management which includes the different techniques of massage, its benefits and concoctions of treatment oils.

“These skills will enable the women to earn an income. And being able to stand on their own feet will restore their identity and dignity as they will not have to stretch out their hands to their spouses for every little thing they need,” she said.

Most importantly, her training will give the disabled a new lease of life – a sense of independence – as they will be able to work for their living.

Ranong has come up with a programme specially for the blind who attend her training.

“No one should deny them the right to earn an income,” she said, adding that these people had refused to let their handicap hinder their personal development and “they have my utmost respect and admiration.”

  Not alone

She is not alone in her humanitarian effort, having teamed up with the Women, Family and Community Ministry, MARA and the Community College for the necessary support and access to the right audience.

THIS WAY: Ranong giving a participant tips on knitting.

“My workshops are open to all women, both able-bodied and disabled from all races,” she assured.

The training is free under the One Malaysia Programme on completion of which students will receive certification, accredited by the Education Ministry.

Through her training, Ranong hopes to revive interests in handcrafts among the locals.

Many of her former students are now employed in beauty houses in the city. A lot her handcraft students are also making and selling their own products.

Both crochet and knitting are age-old handcrafts which used to be a homemaker’s art. Their popularity has, however, declined with few signs yet of a turnaround.

  Obvious reason

The obvious reason for their dormancy is the present generation’s reluctance to take them up because the processes involved are tedious and time-consuming.

Moreover, crochet and knitting machines are readily available and this has dispensed with the need to use needles (with small hooks at the end). In other words, machines are now doing the work that used to be painstakingly done with hands.

FOR SALE: Key chains, bookmarks and educational toys made by Ranong’s students are on sale at Ran & Nong Creations, Twin Tower Centre, Mile 2 1/2 Jalan Rock.

However, Ranong is quick to point out the big difference between a machine-made and hand-made crochet lace.

“Both are exquisite and beautiful but when it comes to longevity, the hand-made lace can readily outlast the easily torn machine-made version.

“For the hand-made lace, each stitch is crocheted with love. Such pieces are usually kept within the family because they not only take a lot skills but also patience to produce. Being durable and lasting, they make prefect heirlooms,” she explained.

According to her, knitting is not as popular as crochet in this part of the world as it’s often perceived that knitwear is for colder regions.

She explained this was not entirely true as knitwear with the correct yarn such as cotton would also be suitable for warmer climate.

Ranong learned handcrafts when she was in Cape Town, South Africa, from the local womenfolk, known for their exquisite handiworks.

She learned spa treatment from Ibu Mooryati Soedibyo, founder of the famous Mustika Ratu Beauty Range in Jakarta.

But unlike Mooryati, Ranong, who gave up her career in the hospitality industry here to join her husband in South Africa, learned all techniques of spa treatment – from Swedish to Indonesian massage. Her expertise includes the concoction of beauty oil with backyard herbs and plants.

Already in the initial stage of producing her own beauty line, this mother of one has come up with a body scrub and bath salt made of Ba Kelalan rice and salt respectively.

“Eventually Ran and Nong Creations and Beauty House will only use products made of local plants. They will be totally Sarawakian,” she enthused.