By Tate M. Slaven
Contributing Writer
With the blistering cold weather hovering over the St. Bonaventure campus, bundling up on your treacherous walk to class is vital. Audrey Mooradian, a sophomore psychology major, uses her hobby to help the Bonaventure community combat these below-zero temperatures. Mooradian makes scarves, and not just any kind of scarves – finger knitted scarves.
At the end of last semester, Mooradian found finger knitting was something she really enjoyed, and figured it could even help her earn some extra money. Mooradian explained finger knitting is a ‘crotchet-like’ knitting technique done with one’s bare hands. After a short time, an original scarf can be crafted, according to Mooradian.
“My friend learned to finger knit,” Mooradian said. “She had a bunch of us over to her apartment and taught us how to do it. I picked up on it easily, and was immediately addicted.”
Mooradian came up with the idea to use her finger knitted scarves as Christmas presents for her family and friends this past holiday season. The scarves’ popularity took off with her friends, which sparked the idea to start selling them.
“I got involved in selling them when I went home for Thanksgiving and saw that a local store called “Where on Earth?” was selling hand-made accessories,” she said.
“I thought to myself since they were selling gloves and headbands, why couldn’t I sell my scarves there, too?”
Mooradian found a way to lessen the stress of the semester and figured she could share what she had made with the community. She jumped on the opportunity and emailed the local store about selling her scarves. They loved the idea. Mooradian wanted to be confident they would sell, so she started advertising via Facebook to Bonaventure students.
“It started with my friends wanting to buy my scarves, but then students I never even saw before expressed their interest by either messaging me on Facebook or texting me (about) their interest in my scarves,” Mooradian said. “I didn’t want to charge too much, so I decided to charge based off yarn prices, and went with $10 for a one-colored scarf, $12 for a two-colored scarf and $5 if the customer bought their own yarn.”
Although she expressed that not many students are interested in making the scarves themselves, Mooradian said its definitely worth a shot to try. She picked up an entrepreneurial spirit, but she also found a way to just relax– something all Bonaventure students can appreciate.
Anyone interested in placing an order for a finger- knitted scarf can contact Mooradian via her personal Facebook page.
“I will continue finger knitting, and I can teach anybody, but whenever anyone is interested just let me know. I can start your scarf Sunday and have it done by Monday night,” Mooradian said.
