Una hepatitis – agrega – me iba a retener en cama durante ochos meses. Yo no podia quedar inactiva, ya que cantar ni tocar la guitarra me estaba permitido. Un día tome un trozo de arpillera y un poco de lana y bordé. No dió nada interestante. Días mas tarde volví a comenzar con nuevas ideas. Quise hacer un jarrón y salió una botella. Un ingeniero que lo vió, dijo que mi tapiz era arte, y confiado en su afirmación proseguí mi labor.

(A bout of hepatitis kept me in bed for eight months. I was not permitted to sing or play the guitar, but I was not about to remain inactive. One day I took a piece of burlap and a little bit of yarn and I embroidered. I didn't produce anything interesting. Days later, I returned to start with new ideas. I wanted to make a vase and what emerged was a bottle. An engineer who saw it said that my tapestry was art, and relying on his affirmation, I pursued my work.)

MADELEINE BRUMAGNE: But you knew how to embroider, didn't you?

VIOLETA PARRA: No, I didn't know anything. The stitch I use for embroidery is the simplest. I don't know how to draw.

MADELEINE BRUMAGNE: Then you have invented it all anew?

VIOLETA PARRA: Yes, but everyone can invent; it isn't a specialty of mine alone.