In the early, confusing, and challenging days of the Corona pandemic—when strict social distancing was suddenly enforced—I found myself feeling unsettled and concerned. I kept thinking about the long-term effects of this global “experiment,” and how we would communicate and reconnect once the isolation came to an end.

To feel a sense of connection with the people I know and love, I decided to initiate a small art project. I sent an email to a circle of friends, inviting them to take part in something that could help us feel together, even while we were apart in our own homes.

The idea behind CroChat Alone/Together was to use Schneckenbänder (snail ribbons) as our connecting threads—symbols of shared activity, quietly echoing the knowledge that others, somewhere in the world, were engaged in the same gesture.

I prepared a few tutorial videos and shared them with participants. But soon, I decided to use Zoom instead—to recreate the feel of a real CroChat gathering, where people could enjoy not only the act of making, but also the conversations that naturally emerge through crochet.

In total, 11 people took part. Some sent their finished Schneckenband back to me, and I rolled them all together—forming one Social Circle that embodied our shared effort and connection during a time of distance.