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Knitting in Ecuador
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Knitting is a traditional craft in Ecuador, brought here by the Spanish. More recently machine knitting has also been introduced. Some of the most beautiful garments we saw were knitting using alpaca. In many places, sheep have replaced them but in some Indian villages, including one that we visited they are being re-introduced because they cause less problems with erosion. The white animal on the left of the picture is a llama, the others are alpacas, |
| Knitted items were for sale in many places. Jenny, one of the two Australians on our tour, bought this hat in the station which is behind her in the picture. It is probably hand knitted and made of wool. Gloves were also widely available, together with a wide range of sweaters and some other items. |  |
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These scarves were for sale in a lovely craft shop under the San Francisco church in the centre of Quito, the capital. The two on the left are a combination of lace and garter stitch and the two on the right are garter stitch. Again these were probably hand knitted and made of wool. |
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This is an example of machine knitting. A machine knitted fringe, with tuck rib forming the edging for a knitted poncho. This would have been knitted on a domestic knitting machine in one strip with two pieces of tuck rib on each side and the strands forming the fringe in the middle. |
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The equator runs through Ecuador, and when we visited the folk museum near the Equator monument we saw this interesting wooden frame, used for holding different colours of yarn. I did not see any knitting machines, but in an e-mail an American knitter told me that she first saw a knitting machine in a field in Ecuador! There were certainly many items for sale which could have been knitted on a punchcard machine like the one she described. |
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Some of you are asking why I am retiring and here is part of the answer. Gordon (my dear husband) is so short of sweaters that he bought himself this one in Quito. The range of colours was amazing - and the colour changes are very subtle. Made in alpaca it is very soft and warm and a lovely reminder of our wonderful holiday. |
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