monedera (Purse)

This technique of incorporating bobbles is most often used on the caps worn by young children in Accha Alta. Knitting and crochet were introduced to the Andes after the Spanish Conquest. These techniques are used for some items of dress and accessories. Knitting is more often done by men, particularly for their caps (chullu, in Quechua). Other items, like small purses (monedera, in Spanish), are also made in the Cusco region by men or women. Variations in colours, designs, and fineness in chullus, as well as additions, are used to signal differences in affiliation, age, gender, status, rank, etc. Knitting in the round is done on 5 needles that are often fashioned from bicycle spokes.

Bought by the donor in 2003 in Accha Alta, a small community located above the Sacred Valley at an elevation of approximately 11,750 feet. The purse was purchased directly from the maker, Luisa Flores.

The element with knotted bobbles (q’urpu, Quechua) is prepared before knitting begins and it is carried along like a patterning yarn while the purse is knitted in the round on five fine needles.

A knitted coin purse (monedera) with bobbles knitted in.