Making blankets while the sun shines at Tash-Rabat
On a visit to Tash-Rabat in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan I stumbled upon a mother and daughter about to make a traditional blanket called a ‘tushuk’.
A ‘tushuk’ is like a kind of quilted blanket commonly used by the Kyrgyz people in their yurts. The blankets are stuffed with sheep’s wool and/or goat hair and are very comfy and warm in winter. I stopped for a while and watched the woman make a ‘tushuk’ with the help of her daughter, so here is my understanding of how it is done…
Step 1
Gather plenty of sheep’s wool and/or goat hair.
![](wp-content/uploads/2011/02/1-kyrgyz-tushuk-making-sheep-wool.jpg)
Step 2
Lay the blanket covering out on the ground (inside out) and lay all the stuffing on top in an even layer.
![](wp-content/uploads/2011/02/2-kyrgyz-tushuk-making-spread-wool.jpg)
Step 3
Roll the stuffing up into the blanket covering.
![](wp-content/uploads/2011/02/inside-caravanserai-tashrabat-kyrgyzstan.jpg)
![](wp-content/uploads/2011/02/5-tashrabat-kyrgyzstan-blanket-making.jpg)
Step 4
The tricky part – turning it ‘outside in’ (or was it ‘inside out’) so the stuffing ends up on the inside. I’m still not sure how they did it!
![](wp-content/uploads/2011/02/6-blanket-making-kyrgyzstan-tashrabat.jpg)
Step 5
Even it all out and sew up the sides of the blanket.
![](wp-content/uploads/2011/02/8-kyrgyz-blanket-tushuk-making-tashrabat.jpg)
![](wp-content/uploads/2011/02/9-tashrabat-making-kyrgyz-tushuk-blanket.jpg)
Related post : Tash-Rabat (Kyrgyzstan) & an unexpected insight into Kyrgyz life
Comments
Hi Sarah, Nadia – I wish I’d got a couple of extra shots in this sequence to show how they managed to get the stuffing inside and not get it everywhere.
Ayngelina… thank you. I think more luck than judgement 😉
Interesting post, Step 4 does seem pretty tricky.
Interesting! I agree with you on Step 4, it does look like it requires a lot of practice.
Wow such beautiful work. I like that you pulled out wide enough to see the landscape in the background.