Crocheting Wool Clothes in Palmyra

By Hassan Ali

Crocheting, also known as “ta’qif” or “crochet,” is a craft that originated in France and has since spread to other countries. It can be defined as the process of knitting or looping yarn with small needles, specifically a hooked needle called a “crochet hook.” The fabric produced by crocheting is called “mu’aqqafah.” The yarns used are varied, and the materials used range from cotton to wool, silk, and others.

In Palmyra, the crocheting of wool clothes using locally available yarn has been widespread for decades. Some people have considered it a profession for earning a living, while others have learned it as a hobby to fill their free time with something fun and useful. It also spread with them after the displacement of 2015 to the countries of the diaspora, because the people of Palmyra prefer hand-crocheted wool clothes to ready-made clothes, especially for children, as they are considered warmer and last longer than ready-made clothes, which provides some income for the head of the household.

Regarding the practice and activities of this profession in Palmyra, Mrs. Rawa’a al-Faris, a 33-year-old woman from Palmyra who works in the profession of crocheting wool, says: “I learned this profession from my mother and grandmother in Palmyra. When we were displaced to Turkey, I developed my profession and took courses with the Turkish Red Crescent. I added new knowledge to my experience to be more proficient in this profession. Then I worked as a trainer for this profession at the Taiwanese Center here in the city of Reyhanli.

The tools required for this profession are the crochet hook or hooks (each type of hook has different sizes and can be made of metal, wood, or hard plastic), wool threads that come in different thicknesses and colors, and there are types of wool threads such as natural wool threads, combed wool threads, and wool threads blended with cotton. Each type is used according to the desired product. We also need a needle, scissors, and maybe some accessories for decoration. Sometimes I make the accessories with wool threads on the crochet hook to add beauty to the products I produce.

As for the method of crocheting wool, it starts by making a knot (stitch) on the crochet hook and then pulling a loop to form another knot linked to the first knot. This is how all the knots in a row are formed. The chain can either be turned and worked in rows, or it can be joined to the beginning of the row with a slip stitch and worked in circles. Circles can also be made by working many stitches into a single loop. For example, if I wanted to work a small piece like this hat on the crochet hook or on the two hooks, the way of working does not differ much between them. I make a row of stitches of about 12 stitches and then return to the first stitch I worked in the row to move on to the next row. I have to pay close attention to counting while working so as not to make mistakes, because if I make a mistake, I have to repeat the stitches and start the work over. If I work in a circle, every time I move to two rows and the third, I have to increase the number of stitches. I usually increase two stitches every three new rows until I reach the last row, which is the widest circumference in the circle. At that point, I have finished making the hat. After cutting the thread from the crochet hook, we can add decorative accessories according to our desire, and it is then ready for sale. The stitches can be of different types: single crochet, double crochet, popcorn stitch, and stuffing stitch. The most important traditional products in Palmyra are clothes such as sweaters, pants, shawls, socks, hats, gloves, and baby rompers. In the country of displacement, we developed the production by producing toys and models with accessories and table covers, among other things.

The income from this profession is not satisfactory, because if you want to produce a children’s sweater, for example, you need three days of work, and when you sell it, it does not sell for more than five dollars. So I suggest that there should be an export market for the pieces worked on to Europe and the rich countries.”

Rawa’a adds: “The income from this profession is not satisfactory, because if you want to produce a children’s sweater, it takes three days of work and when you sell it, it does not sell for more than five dollars. So I suggest that there should be an export market for the pieces worked on to Europe and the rich countries. Here in the country of displacement (Turkey), I developed the production and started producing toys and models with accessories and table covers, among other