BEIRUT, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- For 13-year-old Syrian girl Bissan Hikma al-Halabi, crochet began as a way to pass the time in displacement in Lebanon.
But it became so much more: an outlet for her creativity, a source of satisfaction and a path toward a small business that provides a source of income for her family.
In a side room of her family's home in Joub Jannine, a town in eastern Lebanon's Bekaa Valley, balls of brightly colored yarn, scissors, needles and stuffing materials surround the wooden table where she works on her latest creations.
With a crochet hook in one hand and yarn running through the other, al-Halabi carefully turns loops of thread into dolls, bags and other pieces.
"After I finish my schoolwork, I pick up the hook and yarn and start crocheting. Crochet is not just a hobby for me, it has become part of my life," said al-Halabi.
Al-Halabi was born and raised in Lebanon. Her family had fled the al-Amara neighborhood of the Syrian capital Damascus and lived in Lebanon since 2012.
Three years ago, she began learning crochet from her mother, who is skilled in the craft. "The difficult economic situation faced by my family was my main motivation for learning it, as I wanted to help my mother," she recalled.
Al-Halabi began with simple pieces, learning the basic stitches before moving on to more complicated designs. Some pieces take several hours to complete, while larger or more intricate designs can require several days of work.
"I started with simple things and gradually moved on to more varied designs, making bags, accessories, toys and dolls, children's clothes, bedroom items and decorations," she said.
She also takes care to give each piece its own character, from choosing the colors and determining the shape and size to adding the final details.
"If I don't like one of the stitches, I undo it and make it again," she said, describing the patience and concentration required to complete her work.
So far, al-Halabi has made around 100 crochet pieces, spanning 17 different types. Her products are priced between 10 and 25 U.S. dollars, depending on their size and level of detail.
This summer, she took part in five fairs in towns across the Bekaa Valley, alongside other artisans. At the fairs, hundreds of visitors were drawn to the tent displaying her handmade pieces, helping her earn more than 1,500 U.S. dollars in net profits.
"My participation was well received by visitors, particularly mothers who showed interest in handicrafts," she said. "The dolls and toys I made also attracted children."
What started as a pastime has also opened up new possibilities for her future.
She said that she wants to expand her production, market her creations, participate in more exhibitions, to eventually turn her craft into a small business that could provide more income for her family.
Her participation in exhibitions has also brought her work wider attention and encouragement.
Shawki Dallal, head of the Rashaya Fine Arts Workshop, said the organization was pleased to support and showcase al-Halabi's work, describing crochet as a craft that combines creativity, precision and patience.
Dallal said the girl is among the Syrian children living in Lebanon who deserve opportunities to develop their abilities.
"It is a humanitarian message that gives hope to a child who creates beauty with her own hands," he said. ■
