Question 1

What is Crochika?

Accepted Answer

Crochika is India's first dedicated crochet marketplace, launched in 2025. It enables buyers to purchase handmade crochet items or commission custom creations — including amigurumi, clothing, bags, and home decor — directly from skilled Indian artisans. Sellers list their handcrafted products, bid on custom commissions through The Board, and receive secure escrow-protected payments via Cashfree (UPI, credit cards, debit cards, net banking). According to Fortune Business Insights, India's handicraft market is projected to reach USD 174.44 billion by 2026, and Crochika serves this growing demand as the only platform specifically built for India's crochet community.

Question 2

How do I commission a custom crochet item on Crochika?

Accepted Answer

Crochika's commission system works through 'The Board' — a reverse marketplace where buyers post requests and artisans bid. Here's how it works: (1) Create a commission request describing your item — specify size, colors, materials, budget, and deadline. (2) Skilled crochet artists review your request and submit bids with their price, estimated delivery time, and a message. (3) Compare bids, review each artist's portfolio, star ratings, and completed order count. (4) Accept the best bid — payment is held in escrow via Cashfree until you confirm delivery. This model is unique in India's handmade marketplace space. Unlike platforms such as Etsy where you search for existing items, Crochika lets you describe exactly what you want and have artisans compete for your project.

Question 3

How do I sell crochet items on Crochika?

Accepted Answer

Selling on Crochika takes under 2 minutes to set up. Sign up with your Google account, complete a quick onboarding, and start listing your handmade crochet items with photos, pricing, size/color options, and categories. Crochika offers three seller tiers: Free (up to 10 active listings, 12% commission), Pro at ₹499/month (unlimited listings, custom shop URL, analytics, 12% commission), and Studio at ₹1,499/month (8% commission, bulk CSV import, verified seller badge). You can also browse The Board and bid on custom commission requests posted by buyers. According to a 2026 Thotfy study on Indian handmade marketplaces, artisans earn up to 35% more by selling directly to consumers through dedicated platforms versus traditional retail middlemen.

Question 4

Is Crochika available across India?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Crochika serves crochet enthusiasts across all of India — from major metropolitan cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, and Kolkata to smaller towns. India has a rich crochet heritage: Narsapur in Andhra Pradesh alone employs approximately 160,000 women artisans in crochet and lace production (Rural Handmade). All payments are processed in Indian Rupees (INR) through Cashfree, supporting UPI, credit cards, debit cards, and net banking. Sellers arrange their own shipping, and buyers can shop from any location with internet access.

Question 5

What types of crochet items can I find on Crochika?

Accepted Answer

Crochika offers handmade crochet items across multiple categories: amigurumi (crocheted stuffed toys and plushies — a category with 27.3 million TikTok posts globally), crochet bags and handbags, crochet clothing (tops, cardigans, dresses), accessories (earrings, scrunchies, keychains, phone charms), home decor (coasters, table runners, wall hangings, doilies), baby items (blankets, booties, newborn gifts), and pet accessories. All items are 100% handmade by verified Indian artisans. If you can't find what you're looking for in the shop, you can post a custom commission request on The Board and have artisans bid on your project.

Question 6

How are payments handled on Crochika?

Accepted Answer

Crochika uses Cashfree — one of India's leading payment gateways — to process all transactions securely. For commission orders, payments are held in escrow: the buyer pays upfront when accepting a bid, but funds are only released to the seller after the buyer confirms satisfactory delivery. For ready-made shop purchases, the same escrow protection applies. Supported payment methods include UPI (Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm), credit cards, debit cards, and net banking. Seller payouts are transferred directly to their registered bank account. This escrow model protects both parties and eliminates the trust issues common in Instagram DM-based crochet transactions.

Question 7

Why should I choose Crochika over selling on Instagram or Etsy?

Accepted Answer

Crochika solves three problems that Instagram and Etsy don't address for Indian crochet sellers. First, order management: Instagram DMs make it easy to lose track of orders, pricing, and delivery — Crochika provides proper order tracking, status updates, and a seller dashboard with analytics. Second, payment security: direct bank transfers via Instagram carry fraud risk, and Etsy charges listing fees of $0.20 (₹17) per item plus a 6.5% transaction fee — Crochika starts free with 0% listing fee and uses escrow-protected payments in INR. Third, discovery: Crochika's Commission Board is a unique feature where buyers post what they want and sellers bid, creating demand that doesn't exist on Etsy or Instagram. India's knitting and crochet market segment reached USD 0.88 billion in 2025, growing at 6.4% CAGR (Business Research Insights), making this a rapidly expanding opportunity.