Despite the fact that the woman has a disability of the second group and suffers from polyarthritis, she successfully earns a living by creating and selling various knitted products.
“I am learning to read the Quran on my own. In my free time, I engage in handicrafts. I give the items I create to the artisans who teach me. My illness does not allow me to move far, and I can only walk with support. I have been suffering from it for many years,” Kalikova shared.
She has been passionate about handicrafts for 48 years.
“I knit bags for the Quran, regular bags, jumpers, vests, phone cases, socks, and headwear. During particularly difficult times, such as in 1994-1995, I knitted clothes for the children of my relatives,” she recounts.
“Back then, we used yarn made from the wool of Angora goats. Currently, my younger sister, who works in Russia, sends me high-quality and soft threads, with which I continue to create. Additionally, I make small handmade items, such as teapot coasters and phone cases,” she added.
Kalikova strives to keep her products affordable. For instance, she sells knitted children's jumpers starting at 500 soms, and hats for 300 soms. Adult knitted clothing generally costs around 2000 soms. For example, she sold a teapot coaster for 100 soms and a phone case for 500 soms,” she noted.
