You are holding a crocheted animal and you wonder who made it. Good. That is the curiosity we hope for. Here are five questions a buyer can fairly ask, and the honest state of our answers.
1. Who made this one?
A woman in Nairobi made it, with a hook and recycled acrylic yarn. We do not give names unless a maker has agreed. We do not label single animals with a maker's name. If you want to know more, ask. We will tell you what we can.
2. How many women are there?
Mikono supports 25+ women. The plus sign means at least that many. That number is the only count we publish. We do not break it down by age, role or place. We would rather give you one true number than several guesses.
3. Can I see them at work?
Yes, in photos. The makers page and this journal show women at work. They crochet on chairs, sew a face onto a bear and trim a lion's mane.
In our photos, one woman crochets on a chair beside a finished animal. Another sews on a grey sofa. A third trims a mane among heaps of pieces. Different work happens at the same time.
Seeing the work matters to us as well. A photo can show hands, yarn and finished animals, but it cannot show everything. Treat it as a window, not the whole room.
Ask us about visits. We have not published a visit policy, so please do not plan one before we reply.
4. What does the work give her?
Income, which supports her family. That is as far as we go for now. We do not publish pay, hours or roles. We say so openly instead of guessing.
5. Can I hear her story?
Maybe. A story belongs to the person who lived it. We share one only if the maker agrees, and in her own words. If you ask, we will pass your question on and tell you honestly what comes back.
Questions we cannot answer yet
- What each maker is paid.
- How long each animal takes.
- What fills our animals.
- Where the yarn is collected.
These are still being confirmed. We list them so you do not have to wonder.
How to ask well
- Ask about the work, such as which animal she enjoys making most.
- Skip questions about money, family or hardship. Those are hers to share.
- Be patient. A reply from a maker may take time.
Questions about the work usually bring the best answers. A maker may be glad to talk about her favourite animal. She may prefer to say nothing else. Both are fine.
What we do with your questions
Your questions help us improve this site. If many people ask the same thing, we know a page needs a clearer answer. We then work on it. We do not make up an answer to fill a gap.
Send the question you most want answered. Other readers may want the same answer.
