Manual felting

Wool felting is a special kind of peasant craft that turns unspun wool into felt. Most often, sheep or goat wool was used as a material. Loose fibers are fragile in themselves, when felting wool, they interlock with each other and intertwine until a canvas is obtained.

Russian Siberians felted primarily pima — valenki (valenki from the word "felting"). In fact, valenki are felt boots for cold weather. Frosts can be below forty degrees, you can’t walk in boots in such cold. There is an opinion that until the first half of the 19th century, felt boots were shoes that only rich people could afford. However, in Siberia, everyone wore felt boots: both rich and poor. Each village had its own pimokats. Manual labor was painstaking, felt boots were made for a long time.

When industrial production was imposed, felt boots became widespread. At present, felt boots are popular again. They are made in many localities, for example, in the village of Golyshmanovo in the Tyumen region.

Valenki (Felt boots)

Felt boots are felt shoes made of sheep’s wool. They are made soft (for other shoes) or hard, then they are worn in winter instead of boots. In different places in Russia, these shoes were called differently: in Tver — valenets, in Orel — valenukhs, in Veliky Novgorod — valezhki, in Nizhny Novgorod — valens. They were called "wire rods" and "combs". In Siberia, felt boots were called "pimas".

People in the production of felt boots are traditionally called pimokats (rollers, felt spreaders for shoe shapes). Felt boots in Siberia were sewn with felt or made a trace of old ones. The sole was stitched for strength, but not everyone was able to do it. Rubber was not used in winter, as it froze and slipped.

Numerous proverbs, sayings, and riddles are dedicated to Valenki. Proverbs about valenki: "From a smart man to a fool, valenki", "Prepare sleds and valenki from the summer", "Simple as a Siberian valenok", "Whoever got up earlier put on valenki".

Riddles about felt boots: "Everything is in wool, but there is no skin", "They are burned and boiled, not eaten", "They are ruffled, rolled, and dragged in frosts".