PÄRNU is a gem on Estonian western coast. It is a lively and joyful resort town, full of relaxed people vacationing. It has been that way for over a century already. The history of Pärnu resort can be tracked down to the year 1838 when the bathing house by the sea offered warm sea baths in the summer and hot sauna in the winter. The resort started to develop rapidly in the 1890s.
Ten wonderful people gatthered today to discover sights and crafts of Pärnu and Pärnu County. The trip will also take us to Ruhu Island. Today we had a guided walking tour along the gorgeous villas. After delicious dinner we went for a swim. Pärnu is famous for its wide white sandy beach.

TORI is famos for its horses, but the nearby SOOMAA is famous for its 5th season – the spring floods, which turn the meadows into lakes and you can canoe where you can usually cut hay. It is also a meeting point of three big rivers: Pärnu, Navest and Halliste and in between there are large bogs. Our main focus for the day was to discover RIISA BOG and learn some drawn thread embroidery techniques. For both activities we had the best people. Algis Martsoo guided us through the bog, on the beautiful board walk he helped to make almost 30 years ago. His knowledge about the nature and the way he talked about it was so very enjoyable.
But first, he had to take us to the other side. Namely, we arrived at Ruukeli Farm, where we later had delicous lunch and workshop by Juta Pertel. But the bog was on the other side of the river, so we started our hike with a short row boat ride over Navesti River.
After lunch, Juta Pertel demonstrated us all the hand made traditional clothing elements she had knitted and woved and embroidered. She has studied museum items collected from Tori region and has made copies of most of the traditional woman’s clothes.

SIGASTE, ALLIKUKIVI, JÄÄRJA and KILINGI-NÕMME were our destinations today. The goal was to meet local crafters and go see how they live. Artist and handicarft master Merike Bakhoff welcomed us with her sons in Vaike Farm. They have a charming country living with beautiful garden, lots of animals and the creativity with no limits.
Allikukivi Wine Manor House is famous for their berry wines made mostly from rhubarb, black current, rasberry and lingonberry. They have their own plantation and a catering service. We degustated several of their wines and a sweet quince liqoir. After tasty lunch we continued to Sossemetsa Farm, where the whole family were welcoming us. They grow sheep and make wool yarn. Handicraft master Maili Kreevs had set up a beautiful display of local crafts and the older daughter made us a thorough presentation of their farm. We were also served some honey and herbal tea, and visited her craft studio.
The last stop was Kilingi-Nõmme’s crafting center, where we could admire and buy some fine crafts made by local masters.

We visited Pärnu Museum today and spend some great time there with textile artist Kadri Rebane.

There was some wonder on every step on RUHNU ISLAND. We started our research with the churches. There are two churches on Ruhnu Island, although some old maps show that there must have been four chapels at some point.
The old wooden church is the oldest wooden building in Baltic region. The new one was built in 1912 because the congregation grew and they didn’t fit into the smaller church.
Both of them are in a very good condition right now because they got new steeples and were freshly tarred.
Our next stop was the local museum. The history and main focus points of the island are really nicely displayed there. Part of the museum is also the only remained longhouse Korsi talu.
After delicious lunch, we continued to the social house where local craft teacher Külli Uustal Gave us a wonderful presentation of local traditional clothing. Two of us were put festive clothes on, and we heard a lot of interesting details about the items.
A truck was waiting for us to take us to a little sightseeing tour in a rather exotic manner. The local little trails in the forest are rather bumpy, but it was a very joyful ride.

Our last morning on RUHNU ISLAND was spent very well. First we had a knitting class on Ruhnu style socks. Local school teacher and handicraft master Külli Uustal walked us through the wonders and tricks of Ruhnu sock making. Beautiful braid, elegant traveling stitch pattern followed by some colorwork: we were ready to get to work. Then we had an opportunity to buy some local sheep yarn, which was so soft and nice to touch and knit with.

Today was a full day of WORKSHOPS at Maarja-Magdaleena Guild in Pärnu. They have a beautiful and airconditioned classroom upstairs of their marvellous carft studios.
The morning class was taught by Tiina Laiva, a master weaver and knitter. She found a colorful men’s sock from Häädemeeste area for us to copy. We started with an intricate and very decorative leg part.
After some tasty asian lunch we had a class by Eve Napp, who brought us back 50 years, when macrame was very popular and eveybody made some plant pot decorations. It was a fun workshop.

Our final day on this wonderful tour started with another very educational and interesting workshop. Master Signe Taremaa taught us how to bind a book. I was very happy that we spent all day together learning something new.
Then we took all our things and left the beautiful Pärnu. We had a few more activities planned: visited Kirna Manor, where we also had lunch and then in Türi – the famous Saara Publishing house, always surprising crafters behind with fabulous traditional clothes’ books.
We had such a great group of people, fun, talented, and warm hearted. Thank you for coming to Estonia and allowing me to show you the best parts of my beautiful country.

Come tour with us! Please write us at info@nordicknitters.com for some info and registration.