Tunisian Hand-made Red Chechia

The traditional close-fitting red skull cap known as a chechia. these felt caps begin as a

huge hand-knitted white woolen tube, often created by women. Then it is subjected to a

series of dippings in hot spring waters and ancient dyes, which gradually shrinks the tube.

The chechia is then dried, pressed (often by sitting on them), and given a nap by teaseling

it with a bulrush.
Appeared in Tunisia in XVIIth century, the “Chechia” was imported from Spain by the Moorish,

name given to the Muslims of the Iberian Peninsula converted by force to Catholicism then

evicted in the course of the centuries after catch in 1492 from Grenade, fief of “Andalous”,

which found a second fatherland in Tunisia. Made by outstanding chaouachis, the “CHECHIA”

did not defer occupying three whole souks in the medina of Tunis, so much its success was

big, giving of job to thousands of persons.
It was exported by camels or ships, not only in Algeria, in Morocco and in Sudan, but also

in all Near East (Egypt, Syria, Anatolie) and until Asia.
Even today, the Tunisian “CHECHIA” is sold to the Near East and in numerous countries of

Africa: Libya, Mauritania, Mali, Chad, and even in Nigeria, country most populated with

Black Africa.
The nice “KABBUS” or “CHECHIA” is made of worsted, knit by the women who make hats ” kabbous

“. These hats are sent in treading, they are wet with some hot water and the soap and the

men mill on them with feet, for a long time, to saturate them, to such an extent that the

stitches of the tricot will have practically disappeared…
Many colors and shapes we can afford.