A Group for Traditional Hand Knitting from the Home
for Individuals with Physical Disabilities
Our group for traditional hand knitting was established in 2004 with the help of the Regional Economic Development Agency of Stara Zagora and, after passing a short training in organization and developing own business, we found that the most proper work for us is hand knitting. In the beginning the plan was to give an opportunity to those in the Social Institutions to be included in labor activities by using their skills and intelligence. The program began in May and included the first group of about fifteen women who worked on making souvenirs – dolls wearing traditional Bulgarian costumes. After seeing that there was no market for the souvenir dolls, the group began working on hand knit clothing and accessories in the traditional Bulgarian spirit. From the original group of fifteen, those who could not knit quit and those who remained had decades of experience in hand knitting. Now the group numbers eight women, most of whom were born and raised in villages where they learned the traditional Bulgarian skills for women, keeping the household, cooking the food, and making the clothing for all the family members. In big families from the villages, girls with physical infirmities are often taught to knit, embroider and sew and to use these skills to earn their living.
Nearly all the women in the group worked for Meresev Company (a State owned clothing manufacturer) as seamstresses. They were laid off from work in 1991 with the explanation that as invalids they would be taken care of by the State. However, they had learned to work as children and now they can not stop, in spite of that some are of retirement age. The women, who have dared to take up this subsequent challenge in their hard lives are:
 Anelia Ivanova Ilieva (Ani)
An invalid since birth, Ani completed her primary education in the town of Lukovit. She worked until 1991 for the firm of Meresev as a seamstress. Knitting was her hobby and became an excellent way for her to make her own perfectly fitted and beautiful clothes. Ani knits any products requiring two needles. She also enjoys making needlework paintings, growing flowers, listening to music and big merry parties.
 Elena Atanasova Blagoeva
Elena was born and raised in a big family in a village. She is married with two grown daughters and grandchildren. After the accident which confined her to a wheelchair, she moved into the Home for the Handicapped and began to work for Meresev. All her life Elena has knit clothing for members of her family as well as to sell to private clients. She works primarily with two needles. She loves good music and books and the flowers with which she fills her room.
 Zhechka Atanasova Dimova
She was born and lived in a small village near Haskovo. In her first year in high school, she became ill and suffered a paralysis of both legs and her right arm. Her education was interrupted and she moved into the Home for the Handicapped in Stara Zagora where she immediately began to work. At first she worked making children’s toys but later went to work for Meresev until she retired. At this time she began to knit clothing for herself, her brother, her sister, a large number of nieces and nephews and her friends. She also sold her knitted items to private clients. Zhechka knits with two needles. She has a lively correspondence with many people and decorates her room with dolls sent to her by friends in Bulgaria, Russia and Israel. She loves flowers and soap operas, which she can watch without stopping her work.
 Radka Andreeva Velichkova
Like the others, Radka was born and raised in a big village family and was taught to work from a tender age. Because of a congenital illness, she spent more time indoors and did the housework while others were working outside on the farm. She learned everything from her mother, as the mistress of the house you must know how to cook, to take care of the house and keep it clean and orderly, to sew, embroider and knit. After graduating from high school, she completed her studies in the Institute for Economics in Svishtov and worked as a bookkeeper for the cooperative farm in her village. An accident forced her to retire early and she moved into the Home for the Handicapped and began working for Meresev. While doing this, she completed a course in making women’s clothing and sewing clothes for private clients. When she was laid off from Meresev, she had worked in every part of the clothing firm. A shop owner offered her a position in her shop in town, but she couldn’t accept because her health condition would not allow her to travel every day. She prefers to knit with two needles. Radka really loves flowers, solitary time to herself and many kinds of wonderful books.
 Slavka Vladova Zaharieva
The sweater that Slavka is wearing in the photo shows the skill of her hand knitting. While she was living in her family home, she worked for many years hand knitting in a cooperative to earn her living. She works very well with one or two needles and can knit everything. She has created many needlework paintings and embroideries, but has had to stop embroidering since her eyesight has weakened. She enjoys the company of her friends and making beautiful clothing.
 Todorka Kostova Ovcharova (Toni)
Through her long life, Toni has tried to do many things including repairing her own car. She studied in a school for children with special needs. During this period of her life she read a great deal, wrote poetry and painted. After graduating from high school, Toni attended Sofia University where she studied Russian Language and Russian literature. She also took a three year course in English. Toni has always loved literature and the arts, especially those from Russia. She has had some of her own work published in Bulgaria. In the meantime, she worked in a cooperative doing Bulgarian embroidery, sewing and knitting. After eight years, Toni transferred to the Home for the Handicapped in Stara Zagora where she completed a one year course in making women’s clothing and began working for Meresev until she retired. Because she was good with her hands, she began to work as a seamstress sewing and knitting clothing for retail customers. In 2001, Toni developed an interest in learning something new – the computer. She knits with one or two needles, whichever is called for. Besides books, she loves elegant artwork, music (except chalga and rap), wonderful old movies, flowers and most of all dogs.
 Tsetsa Todorova Yordanova
An invalid since childhood, Tsetsa began knitting in her family home learning the traditional skills and making clothing for her large family. This is the case for most Bulgarian girls from the villages. She is enriching her artistic skills now by studying with Slavka with whom she shares a room. For now she knits with two needles. Tsetsa loves music, films and flowers.
 Tsvetanka Ivanova Giorgieva
Tsvetanka was born in a village and lived there for many years. She was also used to doing all the work of the household as a young girl. She has knit a lot, first for the adult members of her family, and later for her children and grandchildren. After a serious illness she was confined to a wheelchair and moved into the Home for the Handicapped in Stara Zagora. Tsvetanka knits equally well with one or two needles. She is skillful enough to be able to knit practically anything from any material.
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Anelia Ivanova
Ilieva (Ani) |
Elena Atanasova
Blagoeva |
Zhechka Atanasova
Dimova |
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Radka Andreeva
Velichkova |
Slavka Vladova
Zaharieva |
Todorka Kostova
Ovcharova (Toni) |
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Tsetsa Todorova
Yordanova |
Tsvetanka Ivanova
Giorgieva |
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