Malati didi

Malati Didi is a home based wool spinner at Aatmiya. She transforms tangled threads into smooth balls of wool for the crocheting Didi. She works hard to provide for her two children and their education, balancing her time between cleaning brass figurines in temples and rolling yarn for Aatmiya. Malati Didi enjoys flexible, part-time work and takes pride in her hand-spun wool traveling the world.

Malati Didi is a dedicated wool spinner for Aatmiya, transforming the tangled threads from the dye factory into smooth, usable balls of wool, ready for the skilled hands of our crocheting didis. At thirty-six years old, Malati Didi life is a blend of family responsibilities and a passion for her craft that supports our handcrafted crochet and hand knitted products.

Fifteen years ago, Malati Didi moved to Kathmandu with her husband, who works in the hotel industry and provides a stable income for their family. They have two children: a twenty-year-old son who is pursuing a scholarship to complete his Bachelor's in Business Management in Canada, and a six-year-old daughter enrolled in Year 1 primary school. 

Malati Didi divides her time between her jobs, balancing cleaning and polishing brass figurines in Kathmandu's many temples and shrines, and rolling the yarn into neat balls for Aatmiya. 

She began working at Aatmiya four years ago, after being introduced by her neighbor, who is one of our sample makers. Malati Didi found her niche in rolling the wool, a task that she enjoys despite her decision not to learn crochet or knitting due to her poor eyesight. She likes that the work keeps her occupied. This role provides her with the flexibility she needs, allowing her to work part-time from home and manage her household duties while still contributing to the family income.

Malati Didi finds joy in visiting the Aatmiya office to drop off the rolled wool. These visits are more than just work-related errands; they are moments of connection where she spends time with the didis, catching up and sharing stories. During peak seasons, Anisha’s efficiency is astounding. She can roll up to 100 kilograms of wool in a single month!

A source of immense pride for Malati Didi is knowing that the wool she has spun by hand travels across the world. The thought of her work reaching distant places and becoming part of beautiful handcrafted products fills her with joy and a sense of global connection. Her wooden wool spinner, though old and bearing the marks of numerous DIY fixes, is a cherished tool. It has been in her family for over a decade, and despite its age, Malati proudly states that "it does its job."

Like any job, Malati Didi work comes with its challenges. The playful antics of her daughter and her friends can sometimes disrupt her concentration, and the occasional stubborn knot in the wool can be frustrating. Yet, these minor inconveniences are overshadowed by her overall happiness and contentment with her role at Aatmiya.

Malati Didi contribution may be small, but nevertheless is valued and celebrated. Through her hands, the wool spun in Lalitpur travels across the world, bringing a part of her with it.