In the fall of 2013 Cydil Waggoner found a bag of yarn in a closet and distributed it to three ladies in the village who she knew could knit. Cydil asked the women if they could make her some scarves that she would try to sell on their behalf. That fall, thirteen scarves were produced, and through a crude blog, all of them were sold!
Motivated by success, the women started earlier in the year and produced more. By 2015, there were too many items to handle on a typical blog so a simple on-line store was created.
In 2016 the Waggoners purchased the name HandmadeInAlbania.org and this site was produced.
Today there are four knitters and the site lists more than 130 unique items. Year by year, the women get a better idea of what will sell and how to manage the yarn they have.
We collect no commission but simply act as the connecting point between the knitters and you, donating our time in photography, inventory curation, promotion and access to markets they would otherwise have no access to.
While still a seasonal job for each knitter, we have seen the women use the funds they generate from this project to provide for their family’s emergency medical needs, pay for higher utility bills in the cold winter months, pay off debts, and furnish their homes with comforts like an indoor kitchen and warm rugs on cement floors.
Cydil continues to use her business experience to help guide the women and her photography skills to share the products. Nathan uses his computer knowledge to keep the website running. In 2018, Tiffany joined the team to help manage inventory and promote this project.
We pray that the 2018-2019 season will be the best one for these knitters yet! Thanks for blessing these families!