ETHNO-IMPRESSIONS
Cieszyn pattern-making

How many cows made up a dowry in a wealthy Cieszyn household? What did the Cieszyn folk costume look like? What were the hoczki on Cieszyn bodices? The people who came to my Ethno-Impressions workshops, designed for the Historical Museum in the Sułkowski Castle in Bielsko-Biała, found the answers. The inspiration was a wonderful culture and the richest folk costume in Poland — the Cieszyn costume. Its beautiful jewellery and rich ornament still delight me. The session began with an introduction in theory. I talked about what the Cieszyn costume looked like and how hoczki — the clasps on the żywotki, the bodices — used to be made. In the practical part everyone could be creative: using stamps I had cut by hand with hoczki patterns, participants printed their own compositions onto textiles — linen bags, napkins, kitchen aprons and T-shirts.

Would you like to organise a workshop like this? I welcome cultural institutions, organisations and schools. I would be glad to talk about what you need. Let’s make something creative together.