Damascus Crochet

Cart filled with sweets at the Al Hamadiya Souk, inside the old walled city of Damascus. Own photo.

Ever since Cain murdered Abel somewhere on Mount Qassioun, Syria has been associated with biblical events and rival orthodoxies. Here, Saul became Paul, changing forever the course of Christianity; here also, the early Caliphs of Islam held sway. To the call of God were added the enticements of Mammon, with Damascus growing rich thanks to the lucrative caravan routes from the East. 

Unable to resist the heady mix of religion and trade, everyone tramped through Syria to stake their claim: Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Turks, Crusaders, Mongols, Mamelukes, Ottomans and the cast of Lawrence of Arabia have all trod the trail of Alexander’s Greeks, leaving their mark in an astonishing cultural legacy. 

The old quarters of Damascus, with its maze of narrow cobbled streets overhung by shuttered wooden balconies, are magical. Souks teem with life, colour and temptation. The abundance of sumptuous hammam, mosques, khans, churches, palaces and madrasas stand testimony to rich and enlightened centres of learning, where "lunatics" (burnt at the stake in Europe at the time) were treated instead with a diet of haute cuisine, poetry and music.

It is here in Damascus where the amazing crochet work by artisan Lily Keen can be found as well. Photos courtesy of artist.

Above: Lily Keen crochet lampshades. The bottom one is a traditional sieve on which crochet work has been fastened to create an interesting lamp. Below: Crochet jewelry, a curtain and more lampshades 

Damascus is the world's best kept travel secret - the city is a treasure showcasing authentic and original arts, crafts and trades. It is here where the copper-smith, the potmaker, the embroiderer, the wedding dress designer, the glassblower and more all still rub shoulders in pretty much the same way they have been doing for thousands of years. I have no idea why tourists swamp Marrakesh and pay ridiculous prices for products created mainly for errr tourists when the treasures of Damascus remain a secret. Having been to both destinations, I can vouch that Damascus is by far the superior travel destination. In times of peace anyway.  Pliny, the Roman historian, wrote about Phoenician merchants who accidentally discovered glass in Syria about 5000 B.C. when they placed cooking pots on blocks of nitrate. The high temperatures of the fire's heat melted the nitrate, which mixed with sand, formed an opaque liquid and cooled as glass. It is almost impossible to put into words the magical feeling strolling the old parts of this city knowing that it has existed like this for thousands and thousands of years. 

The below is a collection of snapshots I took with an old little pocket camera during a visit in 2008. For a beautiful collection of photos, take a look at The Husband's collection Soul of Damascus and Soul of Aleppo.

I will leave you with a video about activists crafting a revolution in Syria as posted by Yarnbombing See http://www.jpost.com/VideoArticles/Video/Article.aspx?id=260343 

The graphic splendour of Damascus

Damascus is believed to be the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world - about 10 000 years old, and the Umayyad Mosque stands on a site that has been considered sacred ground for at least 3,000 years. The Umayyad Mosque, also known as the Great Mosque of Damascus or formerly the Basilica of Saint John the Baptist is one of the largest and oldest mosques in the world and considered the fourth-holiest place in Islam. After the Arab conquest of Damascus in 634, the mosque was built on the site of a Christian basilica dedicated to John the Baptist. The mosque holds a shrine which today may still contain the head of John the Baptist, honored as a prophet by both Christians and Muslims alike. 

I was blown away by the similarity in patterns between these amazing afghans and the patterns to be observed within the Ummayad Mosque. 

Vintage Crochet Afghan available from and photos courtesy of Soul Pretty 

 The amazing stained glass windows at the Ummayad Mosque, Damascus, Syria. Own Photo

 Vintage Crochet Afghan 

 Ummayad Mosque, Damascus, Syria. Own Photo

Granny Graphic Afghan

Simple exterior walls in the old city of Damascus conceal a richly interwoven inner world with every surface covered in colour and pattern. This amazing graphic Afghan is a fine example of what the walls and floors, ceilings and stained glass windows look like.  I certainly am hooking this pattern before the end of this year as a reminder of all the amazing times I spent strolling the narrow alleys of this incredible city. Photo courtesy of and pattern available as a PDF download from Crochet Today. 

Ummayad Mosque Stained Glass Windows. Own photo.

Cheers, that's all for now but I have already lined up the work of a hooker in Damascus and will show you shortly what her crochet pieces look like. I LOVE Damascus, my heart is breaking for the bloodshed the wonderful people of this country continue to endure. I am very happy that my memories are only filled with the smells, tastes and colours of the city and the compassion and pride of the people.