As an Audience Engagement Analyst at The National, crochet is not a natural hobby one might assume would accompany a job like mine and rightfully so. I spend my days surrounded by lines of code, spreadsheets and numbers, and have been known to automate every process I can get my hands on so I can move from rote, repetitive tasks to new and exciting challenges. I’ve seen delightful amusement on the faces of many people when I tell them that I spend a few evenings per week winding down with a crochet hook and some yarn as a relaxation method often associated with grandmothers of bygone eras.
I started crocheting around April 2023, right after I had concluded a previous role and I found myself reflecting on what truly motivates me. I had started a summer internship a month after my final university exam and subsequently revelled in the challenges of high-pressure role after high-pressure role. As such, I was uncertain as to what lay ahead for me.
In the meantime, my little sister had picked up crochet and was spinning up hats, toys and little purses faster than I could blink. I’d previously tried to learn in between Zoom calls and Slack messages but grew impatient with how slowly I seemed to be improving and tucked the hooks away.
Then suddenly, I felt unsure what came next, or it’s fairer to say, after four years of immediate work post-university and a relentless desire to climb a career ladder and establish myself in that dream job that seemed ever out of reach, I began questioning the constant-climb mindset that had defined my early career.
Of course, I did what any other twenty-something with everything to prove does and immediately signed up to every recruiting site I could hoping to find the perfect job this time (hint: there is no such thing). The job market was not a forgiving place however, in the world post-Covid-19 and I was growing uneasy in this new world where ghosting candidates was a cross-industry norm. Then one day, after applying to the requisite amount of ads I decided I needed to keep me sane – I was on Pinterest and I decided to pick up the crochet hooks and try again.
Suddenly I was inspired, I had something to learn and work on again. I started crocheting with more gusto than skill and my early pieces definitely reflected this. Crocheting a simple row of chains was a lesson in endurance and the dramatic –beautiful projects I salivated over felt even more out of reach. But slowly, with the help of many YouTube tutorials, I improved.
In crochet, there is a foundational concept of a granny-square. The best way to describe them are squares of crochet patterns that can often be made in a single setting and used as the basis for almost anything. Don’t believe me? Check out granny square blankets, hats, purses, teddy bears and cushion covers. As my job search continued, I found my fingers itching to relax into this art form that allowed my restless mind the ability to meditate whilst creating - a perfect combination. Granny squares allowed me to improve my skills and accomplish something meaningful after a long day of hustling away.
Moreover, I began to just enjoy the process of creation, I made myself a new bag and purse and loved being able to tell people “I made it!” when they asked me where I got a new item from. This is when I discovered a second joy, the happiness in the faces of my family and friends as I gifted them new pieces of work I had created with my own hands. My little sister became the recipient of a bunny I had created using new techniques. The five seconds her three-year-old brain enjoyed filled me with a sense of pride.
Eventually, I found a new job and whilst I revelled in the new challenges and career-development it offered, I did not stop crocheting. When work was challenging or life gave me lemons, I would reach for my yarn hooks and continue to create new pieces. A particularly poignant moment for me was gifting my two best friends crocheted bouquets on the eve of their Masters degree graduations, “Flowers that won’t ever die!” passers-by remarked and I was proud of the many, many long-hours I’d spent creating and perfecting patterns of roses and magnolias.
Of course I considered monetising my hobby, but cursory research showed me that in a world fed by fast-fashion, where handmade art often struggles, receiving a fair price for my labour would be an uphill challenge. And whilst I greatly admire those who do so, I opted to continue to enjoy it as my hobby and gift to those I care for.
Crochet is a unique artform in that unlike knitting, pottery and other handcrafts, there exist no crochet machines. Every piece of truly crocheted art (not crochet imitation available for sale) requires a complex set of hand movements. This means creating a crochet machine is simply too complex and expensive to be worthwhile.
It also means there are no shortcuts and no “optimising” the hours of work I spent with my yarn and hook apart from to just get better and enjoy the process. My crochet hook and yarn have taught me many lessons, which includes giving me deep appreciation for those who make my clothes and accessories and a motivation to be more ethical in my consumption of goods.
As I planned my move to Abu Dhabi, I packed up my crochet hooks and yarn with me. But during the past year I’ve spent establishing a new life, I’ve admittedly had less time to dedicate to my grounding hobby.
But recently, I was reminded of how therapeutic an art form my craft can be after a particularly tiring week when I decided to take my co-worker up on her request (read: challenge) to crochet her a dress for her Labubu. Over one weekend, I sat down and worked out a pattern and allowed myself to create something. I took this project with me to coffee with friends, whilst chatting with family and watching YouTube videos. And, as it had in 2023, crochet allowed me to claim back my time as resistance to my frustration.
As I sat down to work that week, and my coworker showed her Labubu’s new outfit to everyone at the office, I was reminded again of how, despite how the modern age's pressures to optimise, automate, industrialise, there is always time to take some joy from leaving our screens, and mindfully create purpose with our own hands.
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES
Saturday (UAE kick-off times)
Watford v Leicester City (3.30pm)
Brighton v Arsenal (6pm)
West Ham v Wolves (8.30pm)
Bournemouth v Crystal Palace (10.45pm)
Sunday
Newcastle United v Sheffield United (5pm)
Aston Villa v Chelsea (7.15pm)
Everton v Liverpool (10pm)
Monday
Manchester City v Burnley (11pm)
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
Results:
6.30pm: Maiden Dh 165,000 1,400m.
Winner: Walking Thunder, Connor Beasley (jockey), Ahmad bin Harmash (trainer).
7.05pm: Handicap (rated 72-87) Dh 165,000 1,600m.
Winner: Syncopation, George Buckell, Doug Watson.
7.40pm: Maiden Dh 165,000 1,400m.
Winner: Big Brown Bear, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
8.15pm: Handicap (75-95) Dh 190,000 1,200m.
Winner: Stunned, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
8.50pm: Handicap (85-105) Dh 210,000 2,000m.
Winner: New Trails, Connor Beasley, Ahmad bin Harmash.
9.25pm: Handicap (75-95) Dh 190,000 1,600m.
Winner: Pillar Of Society, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
The Book of Collateral Damage
Sinan Antoon
(Yale University Press)
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If you go
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Nairobi, with fares starting from Dh1,695. The resort can be reached from Nairobi via a 35-minute flight from Wilson Airport or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, or by road, which takes at least three hours.
The rooms
Rooms at Fairmont Mount Kenya range from Dh1,870 per night for a deluxe room to Dh11,000 per night for the William Holden Cottage.
Poland Statement
All people fleeing from Ukraine before the armed conflict are allowed to enter Poland. Our country shelters every person whose life is in danger - regardless of their nationality.
The dominant group of refugees in Poland are citizens of Ukraine, but among the people checked by the Border Guard are also citizens of the USA, Nigeria, India, Georgia and other countries.
All persons admitted to Poland are verified by the Border Guard. In relation to those who are in doubt, e.g. do not have documents, Border Guard officers apply appropriate checking procedures.
No person who has received refuge in Poland will be sent back to a country torn by war.
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
Founders: Abdulmajeed Alsukhan, Turki Bin Zarah and Abdulmohsen Albabtain.
Based: Riyadh
Offices: UAE, Vietnam and Germany
Founded: September, 2020
Number of employees: 70
Sector: FinTech, online payment solutions
Funding to date: $116m in two funding rounds
Investors: Checkout.com, Impact46, Vision Ventures, Wealth Well, Seedra, Khwarizmi, Hala Ventures, Nama Ventures and family offices
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The specs
Engine: 5.2-litre V10
Power: 640hp at 8,000rpm
Torque: 565Nm at 6,500rpm
Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch auto
Price: From Dh1 million
On sale: Q3 or Q4 2022
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TWISTERS
Director: Lee Isaac Chung
Starring: Glen Powell, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Anthony Ramos
Rating: 2.5/5
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Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA
Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi
Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser
Rating: 4.5/5
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Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
The bio
Studied up to grade 12 in Vatanappally, a village in India’s southern Thrissur district
Was a middle distance state athletics champion in school
Enjoys driving to Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah with family
His dream is to continue working as a social worker and help people
Has seven diaries in which he has jotted down notes about his work and money he earned
Keeps the diaries in his car to remember his journey in the Emirates
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
No.6 Collaborations Project
Ed Sheeran (Atlantic)
MATCH INFO
Liverpool v Manchester City, Sunday, 8.30pm UAE
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
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