Socks making

The socks that people have worn throughout history for the purpose of dressing, protection from the cold, and self-expression have turned into an economic activity in Bursa and appear as an occupation that has been continued for generations. Five small needles called “spindles” are used when knitting socks whose material is wool, cotton or nylon thread. Socks are classified according to the number of loops; socks knitted with 18 loops are for men, 15 or 16 loops are women's socks and 12 loops are children's or baby socks. In addition, bootees called çetik, which knitted up to the ankle with 15-16 stitches, are knitted for young girls' dowries and daily use. In socks knitted for sale, the zenne pattern is used only on the toe and heel parts, fern, geranium, almond, mushroom, corn, apple core, daisy, earring, clover, violet, crowbar, butterfly and motifs called cancer, which is called so because it is difficult to knit, are used. Socks, whose colors and motifs change according to whom they are knitted for, the young, old, child, bride or status, are knitted in multi-colored and multi-patterned fashions for the dowries of young girls. Socks knitted by family elders have spiritual value. Yenikaraağaç village of Karacabey District of Bursa is known as "Çorapçı köyü" (socks makers' village) because men and women knit socks together.