Textiles from Turkmenistan
Last week my husband had to travel to Turkmenistan for his job. He travels quite a bit, but this country was a challenge.
Turkmenistan is mostly desert, located just north of Iran and Afghanistan, and it was part of the Soviet Union until 1991. So the population mostly speaks Turkmen, with a little Russian thrown in, and my husband was working with a Chinese company. He doesn’t speak any of those languages. But even though few people speak English, American dollars are one of the two currencies accepted.
It has a totalitarian government. Reporters without Borders called it the second worst nation for press freedom in 2012, coming in behind North Korea. About ten years ago, the former President for Life closed all the hospitals outside the capital city, this in a country the size of California.
So this was a little worrying to me. If there was a medical issue, or if an official wanted to pick up some “auxiliary income”, communications could be a problem. In fact, even before he left, my husband had communication problems – he couldn’t make definite arrangements for a way to get back from the work facility, to the closest city 2 hours away, and then from there back to the capital of Ashgabat.
Thankfully, he had an uneventful stay. He had one day to sight-see a little, and leaving an open-air market, he saw a little old lady with a table set up on the street. He went to check it out, and found the perfect gift for me!
Hand-knit socks and camel toy from Turkmenistan.
These are handspun and hand-knitted, I’m guessing from camel or goat hair. They look rough, and you can feel little plant burrs and seeds in the yarn, but they are so comfortable. They are so precious to me, because this is the kind of craft that disappears when modern culture comes on the scene. They cost the equivalent of $8!
I wish I could talk to the little lady who sold them. I bet we would be able to communicate with sign language. I would love to know what animal the fleece came from, whether her family raised those animals, if she did the knitting herself, who taught her to knit. From the little I have learned about her country, I cannot imagine the changes she has seen in her life, but I think we would find some common ground in textiles.
A lovely gift, would much rather something like this, than the usual souvenir. I always like to know the story behind the item as well.
Yes, the little craft items capture a place so well. I may never visit a country, but I feel like I know it a little better when I see the work of one of its craftspeople.
I’m sure the “common ground” would be easily found! They do look wonderful and such a bittersweet story. I know that I have absolutely no idea what an existence in dire poverty would be like! We who have so much will be held accountable some day for all that we failed to do. That purchase came with heaps of meaning for their creator/maker.
You can’t do everything for everybody, but one of my favorite things about my husband is that he is aware of the levels of the societies he passes through, and tries to help a little. One time in India he went into a small costume jewelry booth and bought dozens of sets of earrings – I bet that store owner thought it was a great day.
I’m sure it was the “talk of the town” for a while!!!!!!
Very cute and special. Blessings Always, Mtetar
I don’t know how many she had for sale but I wish he had bought more! I hope she knows how her work has touched people today. Blessings on you too!
I love the little animal. The addition of the bridle? and tiny saddle tells me about the maker. She just couldn’t stop with the camel. She had to add the beauty of the bridle and tiny saddle. A wonderful artistic soul.
You are so right, she wanted to give a more complete expression of how she sees the camel.
Early in our courtship, the husband made a joke about ‘woe to the Turkmen’ because of the President for Life’s madness. I’d never heard of Turkmenistan, and he told me how the president renamed a month after his mom or something, and ultimately appointed his dentist to succeed him. Weird man. Also pretty fascistic, for sure.
In any case, I’m glad your husband is safely home – and bearing such lovely gifts!
I think I actually heard of it first in a Toby Keith song!
Those people have been through so much! It turns out they have the fourth largest natural gas reserves in the world, or something like that, so if they handle that income right, they could benefit. Right now the citizens are guaranteed free electricity, water, and salt.
I’m glad he’s home too – I think this is the 32nd country he’s been to, and this was probably the hardest one to negotiate. Of course after this just about anywhere will be easy.
Well, to be honest I’ve never heard of Turkmenistan so I learned something today. So glad your hubby made it there and back safely. What an experience and what a precious gift your husband brought back for you. I too would like to know the story behind them… I was thinking of goat or mohair myself when reading about them. Thanks for sharing …
I wish I could get him to run an import business on the side, so he could bring back souvenirs for everyone here, and let the craftspeople there know how appreciated they are. 🙂
What a lovely gift. I love the litle camel. It would have been good if you could have been there too to communicate with the lady. A wonderful momento of your husband’s visit to such a different country.
How important are these boundary crossing skills. Like a hand reached out across a border. Food is the obvious unify- er; one I think of and study country to country. Why have I never considered textiles? But we women want to make sure those around us have clothes, water, food, and if we are truly blessed, a roof over our heads, and one over our neighbors. How can we sleep if our neighbors families can barely exist? I love your wondering about who taught the woman how to knit! Also in your comment, about letting craftspeople know how appreciated they are! I was never taught to make anything, but always wanted to learn something…I get to vicariously through this wonderful blog! Thanks!
Thank you for your kind comments!
Once you start focusing on handmade textiles, you see them in so many places – you said you are interested in food, and that reminded me how handmade and vintage textiles are used in food styling pictures in magazines. I just looked through the current issue of Allrecipes, and counted 28 different textiles there! Even when we’re not really aware of them, I think they send a subliminal message of effort and caring.
Your saying that you always wanted to learn a craft but haven’t been taught yet – arghh! that affects me like those commercials about the poor homeless pets! I want to fix that right away! 🙂 I know these are such busy times, but I hope you can find a craft you love!
What a great husband, to know exactly the right gift for you! I feel exactly as you do, about the textiles and their ability to help connect us with women in different cultures and times. Your socks are precious!
Sounds like an interesting place. Love, love, love the gifts your husband brought back! Very special.
I found your blog today while searching for an image of camel hair socks. Do you know the story of the Texas camels? I’ve got Parts I and 2 already posted on my blog, and I’m working on Part 3, which will include the story of a woman from Victoria who knit a pair of camel hair socks, and sent them off to Secretary of War Jefferson Davis to give to President Pierce.
Would you mind if I used your image? Of course I would link back, and give credit. And your own story of how you came by them is wonderful!
Yes, I am happy for you to use the picture!
I do know about the camels – I used to work in a historical park and I picked up lots of odds and ends of Texas history. But I will drop by and refresh my memory!
Thank you so much!