Khinalig’s wool socksa symbol of a warm welcome
The village of Khinalig in Guba District, which is surrounded on all four sides by the Greater Caucasus Mountains and enchanting visitors from all over the world, is not only distinguished by its unique language and lifestyle. It also has its ancient weaving traditions, one of which is the widespread craft among Khinalig’s inhabitants of making socks from coloured wool. The villagers, who are mainly engaged in rearing animals, spend much of their time in the pastures, where they accumulate large quantities of wool. Carpets, felt, colourful socks, bags made of carpet and bed covers are all woven from this wool.
These socks, usually made in two forms – shortened and elongated – are widely worn in both winter and summer pastures. In Khinalig households, knitting dozens of pairs of socks each year has been a cherished tradition for generations. In the past, seasonal knitted socks were even used as a means of exchange with other villages.
Interestingly, in every Khinalig family, the secrets of sock patterns are passed down from generation to generation. It is, therefore, possible to know in which family a given sock was woven based on the pattern. The yarn obtained from wool is usually dyed using natural plants. These sock patterns can also be found on carpets, and they even have their own unique symbols.
A trip to Khinalig wouldn’t be complete without a special gift for yourself and your loved ones – cosy pure wool socks, handwoven from vibrant threads.
