It started with five-year-old Jonah Larson catching the glint of something shiny in a bag of leftover crafts—a crochet hook. “So here is my first ever crochet project I want to show. It’s a dish cloth that I made,” says Jonah. It wasn’t long after, according to his mother Jennifer that Jonah was going up against grandmothers in area competitions.
Jonah’s local fame as the “crochet kid” brought him national attention, including an appearance on the Today Show. His mother says, “He loves to entertain. He likes to teach.” He teaches about something he’s passionate about. Jonah’s crochet stardom has helped him cultivate an international Instagram following in the tens of thousands.
His life behind the crochet hook is different from what it could have been—something Jonah says he thinks about. Originally from Ethiopia, Jonah was brought to Wisconsin while he was young and in need of medical care. His mother says that after a few days in the hospital, Jonah began thriving, and has become a bright and vivacious child.
When that vivacity became a little too much in school, crocheting helped Jonah with an additional outlet. He explains the teacher “said I could bring it into the classroom and work on it after I finished up assignments.” Afterward, Jonah’s parents never received another call from a teacher about misbehavior.
With his internet following, Jonah hopes to spread a message of joy and happiness, especially to encourage his “crochet friends” to do what makes them happy—no matter what.
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From Tribune files: La Crosse crochet prodigy Jonah Larson's rise to fame (series of articles)
