Muhu Slippers with Bobbinwork Embroidery

Teachers: Mari Pukk and Alliki Oidekivi

Image

Mari Pukk (b 1968) graduated from the Olustvere School of Service and Rural Economics in 2010, specialising in native textile crafts and has later worked at the same school as a teacher of textile crafts. She has also worked as an editor for the magazine Käsitöö, edited handicraft textbooks and conducted handicraft training courses. In 2019, she graduated from the UT Viljandi Culture Academy with a degree in Estonian Native Textiles. Based on her research on printed fabrics, she has established a small textile design company HYLDA, which aims to reproduce old patterns and create new ones for use in traditional clothing.

Image

Alliki Oidekivi (b 1967) graduated from the Tallinn Technical School of Light Industry in 1987 as a sewing industry technologist and in 2014 from the UT Viljandi Culture Academy with a degree in Estonian Native Textiles, specializing in the making of folk costumes and traditional leatherwork. Her works have been exhibited in shows and exhibitions (OmaMood, 2013 and 2014; Ajast Aega Ajatu, 2014; Ajatus, 2018), and she has participated in contests (Eesti-oma-märss, 2007; Eesti-maa-villane, 2013). Alliki's instructions have been published in the book „Loo, koo, rõõmusta“ („Create, Knit, Rejoice“) and in the magazine „Käsitöö“ („Handicraft“). Since 2015, she has conducted handicraft training courses: sewing, knitting, crochet, tablet weaving and the making of Muhu slippers. The focus of these courses is to learn and use traditional handicraft methods. In 2020, Alliki graduated from a two-year-long course in the Folk Costume Courses in Saaremaa.

Image

Textile footwear was worn in the 19th century, mainly on the islands of Western Estonia and in Eastern and Southeastern Estonia. 'Muhu pätid' or Muhu slippers, the richly embroidered textile slippers which are famous even today, evolved from simple everyday footwear.

During the period before World War I, when leather shoes were expensive, people began to embellish everyday slippers, initially with cross-stitch embroidery and monograms, leather or broadcloth bindings and rick rack trims, to give them a more festive look. In the 1910s and 1920s, they began to be decorated with elaborate satin stitch floral embroidery. The slippers were also decorated with bobbinwork embroidery using a sewing machine.

Image

During this two-day workshop, a pair of slippers decorated with bobbinwork embroidery will be made using traditional slipper-making techniques from Muhu Island. On the first day, we will make the slipper pattern with a suitable embroidery design, decorate the uppers with bobbinwork embroidery, finish with beads and sew the uppers to the lining. On the second day, we will stretch the uppers on the shoe lasts, sew the soles and finish the slippers.

The participation fee includes all necessary materials for making one pair of slippers. The shoe sizes will be confirmed with the participants before the course. The workshop is somewhat physically demanding. This workshop is suitable for advanced participants who have prior experience in sewing.

Image

Image

Image