Valentina Balliu
- 24-Jan-2025
- ALCDF TIRANA
Pershkrimi
Valentina
is a master craftswoman in the art of hand-knitting socks and sweaters, a craft
she has learned and practiced with passion. Valentina lives in the village of
Kastriot, a place known for its rich cultural and artisanal heritage. She has
dedicated most of her life to preserving and developing this ancient craft,
making hand-knitting socks and sweaters a true art form, closely linked to the
tradition and nature of the village where she lives. Hand-knitting socks and
sweaters, a process that requires patience, skill and dedication, starts with a
simple resource such as cotton or wool yarn, which can be natural or dyed in
different colors or fabricated to allow for the creation of different patterns
and designs.
Valentina
uses natural yarn, which is stronger and has a longer lifespan. The yarn can be
wool, cotton, or a mix of both, depending on the pattern she is creating, with
the main tools she uses being needles.
The
hand-knitting process begins with the use of needles, a tool that has two small
teeth, and which allows the craftsman to work the yarn to shape and create
different shapes. Valentina begins by forming the toes of the socks or the body
parts of the sweater by holding the yarn by hand, a process that requires
careful and precise movements to create the desired structure.
For
the socks, she starts at the little toe or the first toe and slowly works her
way up to form the entire rest of the sock. Each needle is inserted and removed
in an elaborate manner, and each pass of yarn is a part of Valentina’s
passionate work. This can take several hours, depending on the complexity of
the design and the size of the product she is working on.
In the village of Kastriot, Valentina Balliu is not only a master of hand-knitted socks and sweaters, but also a keeper of an ancient craft that has been threatened by modernization. With her work, she is an example of how heritage can be preserved and adapted to the times, making this craft live and spread to new generations. Through Valentina’s passion and dedication, the village continues to be a rich source of handicrafts and a place where tradition does not die but is constantly renewed.
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Rajoni:
