Lahauli Knitted Socks & Gloves

The local wool for knitting of Lahauli socks and gloves is obtained from sheep bred in Lahaul and Spiti, which is a scheduled tribal district. These are available in natural white, black, grey and brown colors. The region is better known as the Cold Desert of Himachal Pradesh. The socks and gloves knit in Lahaul and Spiti are made of indigenous wool sheared from local sheep. This craft is developed traditionally by the skilled artisans of the Lahaul and Spiti valley and has been passed over to next generations. A Lahauli sock is knit in parts, using four/five double pointed needles. First the cuff is knit, second the leg, and at last the heel. The upper part of the foot is knit using eight colors into a traditional eye catching design called “Dashi” which comprises a pattern of 7 to 8 motifs. Each dashi is laid out in 4 to 5 rows using either of the motifs in different colors. Once the front portion with dashi is ready, the sole is built and the two are joined together up till the tip of the toe. The sock is then carefully sealed with ties or knots running inwards. Some motifs are used both in the heel and dashi, while some exclusively on the dashi.