Artigianati.com

by Manda Lillie

Junior Jon Portinga works on crocheting a hat in between classes.Media Credit: Joe Olivieri

Jon Portinga is a junior marketing major at UMD who already has a head start in his field of study: he crochets. During an interview, Portinga placed two handmade crocheted hats on the table. Both were unique, durable and colorful and each brandished the word "Tinga," the name of Portinga's hat company.

Tinga was a name given to Portinga in high school, which he says means familiarity and trust. Portinga knows every stitch of the hats he produces with his co-owner and co-crotchetier Josh Myers.

"I've touched every part of it," Portinga said.

Tinga's Hats began last March, but Portinga has been making hats for four to five years. He began just giving them away but realized he could start charging for them.