Peasant Shoes, "pastlad"

Teacher: Inna Raud

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Inna Raud obtained a higher education in handicraft in the specialisation of native textile at the UT Viljandi Culture Academy and completed her Master’s studies in heritage technology. She specialises in researching and making Estonian folk costumes and one of her favourite areas is fabric weaving. Since 2014, she has worked as a lecturer at the UT Viljandi Culture Academy and as a mentor instructor at the Estonian Folk Art and Craft Union. She has also written books on the subject, including “Vändra kihelkonna rahvarõivad” (Folk Costumes of Vändra Parish), “Pastelde tegemine” (Making Peasant Shoes) and “Pärnumaa rahvarõivad” (Folk Costumes of Pärnu County). Inna will have an assistant in the workshop who helps to translate the instructions into English.

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Peasant shoes, “pastlad” are soft shoes without a heel, made of a rectangular piece of leather - the toe part can be pointy or round, heel-piece frilled or connected with seams. The peasant shoes are worn with Estonian national costumes, and they are made according to different patterns in different regions. In general, “pastlad” are fastened around the leg with braided cords of either linen or woollen yarn, but leather straps have also been used historically.

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In the workshop, we will make peasant shoes with a blunt toe part and a leather strap over the foot. First, we adjust the size of the pattern according to the foot, then prepare the pieces of leather according to the pattern, sew the pieces together and, lastly, finish the shoes by waxing, sewing the buttons, and doing final detailing. In addition, there is an opportunity to learn more about the types of peasant shoes worn in Estonia and their patterns.

Each participant can use the tools on site and will receive the materials necessary for making a pair of shoes (leather, pattern paper, wax, buttons, etc.). The basic participation fee includes only a part of the materials, an extra fee of 20€ will be added to the invoice for the participants who choose this workshop.

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During the course it’s recommended to wear an apron, and at some point, work gloves. The shoe sizes will be confirmed with the participants before the course - it’s also possible to make shoes for children. If you wish, you can bring your own two buttons with a diameter of 5-10 mm for the straps. The course is suitable for beginners, no prior leatherwork experience needed.