Inspiration for this illustration came from Muhu Tekk, ( Muhu Blanket in English), which is a traditional wool blanket of Muhu Island in Estonia. It is usually in dark colors, black or dark green, sometimes maroon red.
It is always embellished with voluminous hand embroidered flower motifs, which flow over and cover most of this big sized handcrafted blanket. As the name says it is a speciality of Muhu women to create these beautiful blankets. Skills are learned from grandmothers and mothers to their grandkids and kids and luckily there are still makers who nowadays do these blankets as their handcraft.
A Muhu blanket is used for covering a bed as a day blanket, or used as a wall décor, by hanging it on the wall. It is truly a piece of art made with vibrant colored embroidery yarns, giving each flower petal and leaf its 3D dimensions. Popular motifs next to flowers are also wild strawberries and its blooms. Doing this extra large embroidery can take its maker many months to finish and that is why these blankets are cherished and kept as something special…and special they truly are!
