Tarma
Tarma is an Andean town about 7 hours east of Lima by bus, a journey which climbs the highest road pass in Peru (Ticlio), at 4818 metres. New Zealand nun Sister Dorothy has lived there for over 18 years and now co-ordinates a group of local women to knit.
Around 40 women knit our ponchos, hats and scarves. They are a very vibrant and enthusiastic group. Alpaca is not easily sourced in or around Tarma, so our Lima group sends alpaca wool to them by bus so that they can knit our products. Our blankets are made with sheepswool that the women buy locally, and which they hand spin. They are woven on a traditional wooden loom by several of the women in the group who are experts in weaving (Haydee, Silvia, Belinda and Justa).
The women meet weekly in Sister Dorothy's house and knit together whilst discussing their work, ideas for improvements to the products and offering support and friendship to eachother.
Nearby is the remote and isolated village of Huasa Huasi, where Sr Dorothy lived until the Shining Path guerrillas took control of the village and executed several community leaders, including Sister Irene McCormack. Juana and Diana, two women who live there, crochet some of our beautiful scarves.
