Intricate Ball of Yarn Interlocking Its Way Into Hearts

Image credit: Something Sweet n' Precious

Crochet [kroh-shey] is the process of creating fabric by interlocking loops of yarn, thread, or strands of other materials using a crochet hook. The beauty of crochet [kroh-shey] is that this therapeutic pastime and craft has the ability to heal its maker and as well as its’ recipient. It is an underrated activity that is suited for everyone – young and old, famous and unknown yet has an unexplainable means that bring people and the community together. Something Sweet n’ Precious gives us insight into her passion for crocheting and how it changed her life.


About Something Sweet n’ Precious

The mastermind behind Something Sweet n’ Precious is Kam Siew Ping (the crafter and crocheter). Every doll is made by her own pair of hands with love and care. It usually takes two weeks to complete a doll due to her busy schedule and seldom duplicates them. Even when she does duplicate a doll, it comes out looking different with a different expression and mood. All her dolls are incredibly special to her and she feel tremendous joy every time a doll is completed and finds it difficult to part with them. Besides being a full time pharmacist, she is also a wife and mom of two beautiful children. Her days are busy but she always find time to pick up her crochet hook or indulge in something crafty.

Image credit: Something Sweet n' Precious
Image credit: Something Sweet n’ Precious

The Crocheting Story

“Ever since I had my daughter, I have always been looking for different types of softies for her. With a strong belief that 100% cotton softies is more baby friendly, I started to shop around for cotton toy but to my disappointment, there isn’t many choices in the market back then. I started to search online and asked around and I found out there is a something called ‘Amigurumi’ where I can make my own doll using whatever materials that I wanted to and I’ve been fascinated ever since! I’ve been crafting ever since I was a little girl, from card-making, turning junks into something awesome, cupcake crafting (decorating), to knitting and crocheting doilies and clothes. I discovered the beauty and joy of crocheting amigurumi after I have my little princess. My loving husband fully supports me in my hobby and even gives me a lot of ideas! He believes in my dream and always encourages and motivates me to go further than I thought I could!”, Siew Ping shares with TallyPress.

The business aspect actually came very unintentionally. She still has her day job as a full time pharmacist which is her profession. She loved making amigurumi during wee hours and decided to start an FB page by the name of Something Sweet n’ Precious in 2013 to share with all craft lover about everything she has made for her loved ones. Requests for customised dolls slowly came in unexpectedly! It has been a wonderful process of growing and expanding naturally since then.

Image credit: Something Sweet n' Precious
Image credit: Something Sweet n’ Precious

One-of-a-Kind Craftwork

Contrary to majority of the amigurumist, she loves to make customised dolls which are unique to every individual. Her customer would either send her the picture of the person or describe the criteria of dolls that they want and she will create accordingly! Her page followers are mainly international. Despite doll requests coming from both local and international, she has to turn down most of the requests due to her very limited time of doll making.

Despite comments from friends and family members saying that she should start considering doll making as her main job, she could not give up her profession as a pharmacist as it is what she loves to do as well! She enjoys practicing her profession during the day and crafting at night. She loves sharing her work online and take orders occasionally to cover the cost of her crafting materials. Seeing so many people appreciating her work and how excited people get when she writes a new post makes it a priceless moment.

Image credit: Something Sweet n' Precious
Image credit: Something Sweet n’ Precious

Undoing Knots and Crocheting Ahead

The most challenging thing about making and designing an amigurumi is that it is extremely time consuming and labor-intensive. She could never have someone else to do it for her as the dolls comes out differently from different hands despite using the same design and same material! Being a very active person and a full time working mom, she takes time to make amigurumi whenever she is free (often late at night). Life as a mother is always a balancing act.

Additionally, Siew Ping have been invited to be one of the judges in an amigurumi crochet competition hosted by Crochetwawa back in year 2015. Other achievement would be the recognition of her work internationally. Today, her dolls have gone as far as Philippines, Germany, USA, Singapore, Hong Kong and Norway.

Instead of selling the dolls, she decided to start a small crochet group and teach these mommies on how to make dolls on their own for free! Now they are all good at making dolls and she feels a sense of pride to be able to teach people!

Image credit: Something Sweet n' Precious
Image credit: Something Sweet n’ Precious

It is good to love many things, for therein lies the true strength, and whosoever loves much performs much, and can accomplish much, and what is done in love is well done.

— Siew Ping, crafter of Something Sweet n’ Precious quoting Vincent Van Gogh


Click here to be awestruck by more handiwork of Something Sweet n’ Precious.