On July 19th, 2026, the AYLUS Foundation hosted our third Arts & Crafts Workshop, where volunteers crocheted mini octopuses to donate to hospitals, homeless shelters, and other community organizations. Since many of the participants were new to crochet, we decided to continue with the octopus project so everyone could learn the fundamentals before moving on to more advanced patterns.
At the beginning of the workshop, we gathered our materials and reviewed the basic crochet stitches and techniques needed to make the octopus. Emma Wei and Jasmine Wang led the workshop by teaching each step of the pattern, demonstrating the techniques, answering questions, and helping participants whenever they needed assistance. It was exciting to see beginners gain confidence as they learned new skills and watched their projects come together.
One of the highlights of this workshop was having several parents join us to help and learn alongside the volunteers. Their participation created a welcoming and supportive atmosphere, making it enjoyable for both new and returning crocheters. It was wonderful to see families working together while creating handmade gifts for people in hospitals, homeless shelters, and other community organizations.
This workshop was another meaningful opportunity to learn a new skill while giving back to the community. By the end of the session, participants had made great progress on their octopuses. We are looking forward to introducing the bunny project at a future workshop once everyone has had the chance to build a strong foundation in crochet.
Volunteers that participated:
Emma Wei (3.5 hours), Olivia Lin (3.5 hours), Zhitong Liu (3.5 hours), Ariane Wu (3.5 hours), Ella Hu (3.5 hours), Chloe Liu (3.5 hours), Nina Zhang (3.5 hours), Jasmine Wang (3.5 hours), Davina Lin (3.5 hours)
Reporter: Emma Wei
