Day 25 - Sewing and Hand Stitching

Read full story and photos here.

This morning, Mum and I arrived early at Craft Camp for a fascinating lecture on hair jewellery, something I’d never heard of but was once popular in Swedish culture and early Estonian history. Afterward, we returned to our pocket-making project from yesterday. Using my woven patch, I learned to hand-stitch the sides and backing, opting for simple block colours. Hand stitching was a new skill for me, but I enjoyed the process, even when I had to unpick and redo sections.

The part I’d been most looking forward to was making the ties through finger weaving. Guided by masters, I measured 2.8m plus extra for shrinkage, chose colours to match my pocket, and warped the threads between looms. The weaving process felt natural and meditative, at one point, the room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. During this, we were interviewed by the local paper Sakala, which featured photos from camp.

Later, we toured a local craft hub. The first business repurposed old materials into banners and sets, creatively upcycling while facing the challenge of making it profitable. A glassblower with over a decade of experience showed us her constantly running furnace, creating a delicate piece that popped mid-demo. In the jewellery studio, three makers demonstrated their intricate process, including painting multiple pieces at once to reduce waste.

The day ended with dinner at the “craft café” with fellow campers, including our leader Katlin. Conversations turned to the path into Viljandi Academy, rigorous interviews, skills tests, and more. While it’s tempting, I might stick to the two-year folk costume course if I ever take it further.

It was a full, inspiring day, capped off with a short walk home and anticipation for tomorrow’s trip to Kihnu.