In a conversation with a Turmush correspondent, she shared that the skills passed down to her from her mother and grandmother have allowed her to become a skilled artisan. “I engage in knitting, making shyrdaks (felt carpets), ala-kiyizs, and various souvenirs. I am also passionate about felting, creating felted animal figures. My products, inspired by the works of Ch. Aitmatov, include national slippers — chokois, and I also practice patchwork sewing (kurak) and embroidery (kerme sayma),” Kynabü said.
She actively participates in exhibitions, promoting her craft skills. “Living in the village of a great writer, we receive many tourists, and foreigners are eager to buy my works. Orders also come from local residents. For me, the work itself is more important than the money. I take pleasure in what I do. For example, the process of making felt requires a lot of effort: first, the wool needs to be cleaned and sorted, passed through special equipment, and then shaped. Creating souvenirs and chokois also takes a lot of time. In one day, you can make only one pair of chokois. Our products are valued for their naturalness, so the prices are appropriate,” Turdalieva noted. She added that her knitted items start at 200 soms and felt items begin at 400 soms.
Kynabü has four daughters and one son.
