The Art of Carpet Weaving Revives at the Hands of Women
The art of carpet weaving, which falls in oblivion, revives at the hands of women in the workshop at Mutki Public Education Center in Bitlis. 25 trainees both learn weaving and earn money at the carpet weaving course opened at the Directorate of Public Education Center by Mutki District Directorate of Public Education. In this course, started within the “Lifelong Learning” project supported by the Turkish Employment Agency, women both develop a hobby, and acquire a profession.
Wool, mohair, cotton, animal hair and silk are the raw materials used in weaving. The trainees, who can use the motifs of their choice after learning the weaving techniques at the workshop, also contribute to their domestic economy.
WOMEN BOTH DYE AND WEAVE
The Milas carpets, which were given the geografipcal indications lat year by the Milas Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Muğla, continue to be passed over from generation to generation by women. The women, who continue the almost-forgotten carpet weaving tradition In Muğla’s Milas district, dye the wool yarns with traditional methods with herbs such as thyme and heather, which they collect from the mountains. Then they use these yarns, which they dye, in the carpets they weave.
The yarns they make from cotton and silk, are boiled with root dye and kept in a boiler for a day. Then the yarns are hung for drying.
And they become ready for use in daily life by weaving them on the looms installed at women’s houses. Women contribute to their domestic economy with the sale of the carpets, which can be ordered privately.
CARPET WEAVING WORKSHOP FOR WOMEN IN ERZURUM AND NIĞDE
A silk carpet weaving workshop was opened at the Directorate of Public Education Center of Tortum in Erzurum with the support of the Provincial Directorate of the Turkish Employment Agency. The workshop employs 20 women currently and this number is expected to increase later.
The trainees will be paid regularly, and the number of markets to reach will also be increased. This way, the activities will continue to ensure generating income on a permanent basis.
At the Niğde Carpet Weavers Workshop opened by the Public Education Directorate of Niğde, Anatolia’s ancient art of carpet weaving is revived. At this course with forty trainees, handicraft carpets are woven. This way, women develop a hobby and acuqire a profession as well.
