THE COURSE IS FULL, WE ARE ACCEPTING REGISTRATIONS FOR RESERVE PLACES
On this course, you can make warm sheepskin rugs for yourself from sheepskins. From one or two skins, you can make either a small rug for the sofa, a sleeping bag for a baby, or a rocking chair mat. Three skins make a nice throw blanket, and 4–6 skins are enough for full-sized rugs. We traditionally sew the rugs by hand with a leather needle and waxed linen thread. The finished rugs are decorated by printing, or alternatively, wool fabric can be attached to the leather side, for example. If you have your own skins or acquire them yourself, pay attention to the softness of the leather and the cleanliness of the leather side. Skins and other materials (leather needles, linen thread, thimble, scissors) can be purchased from the teacher. A material fee of 30 euros is charged for printing. You have access to nearly 200 wooden stamps (fjellform.no), colors, and all other materials needed for printing. A more detailed course letter will be sent to registered participants. You can learn more about the rugs, for example, in the Facebook group Lammasvällyt. Instructor is shepherd and rug maker Anu Pentti.
Epassi mobile app can be used as a payment method on this course.
Saturday 22.08.2026
Arrival and accommodation
13:00 Lunch at the cafe-restaurant Trapesa buffet
14:00–17:00 Course introduction, a little history and theory of sheepskin rugs. Planning personal works, measuring and cutting skins.
18:00 Vigil, Great Vespers, Polyeleos Matins and First Hour /Main Church
19:30 Supper
Opportunity for self-directed work
Sunnuntai 23.08.2026
07:30 Breakfast.
09:00 Second Hour. Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom. Panagia / Main Church
11:00 Practical work: beginning to sew sheepskin rugs.
12:00 Moleben or prayer service to Venerable Sergius and Herman of Valamo / Winter Church
12:30 Lunch
13:30 Practical work
15:00–15:30 Break, opportunity to buy coffee, tea or a snack from Trapesa
15:30–17:00 Practical work
18:00 Ninth Hour, Vespers, Small Compline and Akathist to Venerable John of Valamo / Main Church
19:30 Supper
Opportunity for self-directed work
Maanantai 24.08.2026
06:00 Midnight Office and Matins. First Hour /Main Church
07:30 Breakfast
09:00–12:00 Sewing continues. Simultaneously, planning the patterning of the sheepskin rugs begins.
12:00 Moleben /Main Church
12:30 Lunch
13:30–15:00 Sewing
15:00–15:30 Break, opportunity to buy coffee, tea or a snack from Trapesa
15:30–17:00 Sewing
18:00 Ninth Hour. Vespers. Small Compline and pravilo / Main Church
19:30 Supper
Opportunity for self-directed work
Tuesday 25.08.2026
06:00 Midnight Office and Matins. Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom /Main Church
07:30 Breakfast
09:00–12:00 Practical work: continuing sewing and gradually beginning to decorate the sheepskin rugs by printing.
12:00 Moleben /Main Church
12:30 Lunch
13:30–15:00 Practical work
15:00–15:30 Break, opportunity to buy coffee, tea or a snack from Trapesa
15:30–18:00 Practical work
18:00 Ninth Hour. Vespers. Small Compline and pravilo / Main Church
19:30 Supper
Opportunity for self-directed work
Wednesday 26.08.2026
06:00 Midnight Office and Matins. First Hour /Main Church
07:30 Breakfast
09:00–12:00 Practical work. Today everyone will be patterning sheepskin rugs.
12:00 Moleben /Main Church
12:30 Lunch
13:30–15:00 Practical work: printing and finishing the edges.
15:00-15:30 Break, opportunity to buy coffee, tea or a snack from Trapesa
15:30–17:00 Practical work. All sheepskin rugs will be completed during the afternoon.
18:00 Ninth Hour. Vespers. Small Compline and pravilo / Main Church.
19:30 Supper
Opportunity for self-directed work
Thursday 27.08.2026
06:00 Midnight Office and Matins, Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom /Main Church
07:30 Breakfast
09:00 Admiration and review of finished works, brainstorming new ideas. Course feedback
12:00 Room checkout, lunch
Upon arrival at the monastery, please report to reception, where you will receive your room key and course card. Course participants are requested to keep their course card visible, especially when visiting the cafe-restaurant Trapesa and the souvenir shop Tuohus.
Meals are served at the times indicated in the program at the Trapesa buffet. In addition, meals, snacks, refreshments, and coffee can be purchased from Trapesa at daily prices. It is advisable to mention any dietary restrictions upon registration.
Rooms are available from 16:00 on the day of arrival. On the day of departure, rooms must be vacated by 12:00. The room key should be returned to the monastery reception.
The course price is 465 € for a single room in the guesthouse. The available room option will be confirmed upon registration according to availability.
The course price includes instruction (38 hours), accommodation, and meals as per the program. The material fee is 30 €.
Registrations via the website form by 07.08.2026 valamo.fi/opisto
Inquiries:
salesservice@valamo.fi
tel. +358 17 570 1810
The monastery brotherhood warmly welcomes course participants to the monastery services.
Please come to the course fragrance-free.
