In this course, you can make yourself warm fur quilts from sheepskins. From one or two skins, you can make either a small quilt 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 quilts. We traditionally sew the quilts by hand with a leather needle and waxed linen thread. The finished quilts are decorated by printing; alternatively, you can attach, for example, wool fabric to the leather side. 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 will have access to nearly 200 wooden stamps (fjellform.no), paints, and all other materials needed for printing. A more detailed course letter will be sent to registered participants. You can view the quilts, for example, in the Facebook Sheep Fur Quilts group. The teacher is shepherd and quilt maker Anu Pentti.
On this course, the Epassi mobile application is accepted as a payment method.
Thursday, July 16, 2026
Arrival and accommodation
1:00 PM Lunch at the buffet of Cafe-Restaurant Trapesa
2:00 PM–5:00 PM Course introduction, a brief history and theory of traditional covers. Designing individual works, measuring and cutting materials.
6:00 PM Ninth Hour. Vespers. Small post-Vespers service and pravilo/Main Church
7:30 PM Supper
Opportunity for independent work
Friday, July 17, 2026
6:00 AM Midnight and Morning Service. First Hour / Main Church
7:30 AM Breakfast.
9:00 AM Practical work: begin sewing materials.
12:00 PM Moleben or Prayer Service / Main Church
12:30 PM Lunch
1:30 PM Practical work
3:00 PM–3:30 PM Break, opportunity to buy coffee, tea or snacks from Restaurant Trapesa
3:30 PM–5:00 PM Practical work
6:00 PM Ninth Hour, Vespers, small post-Vespers service and Triple Canon / Old Church
7:30 PM Supper
Opportunity for independent work
Saturday, July 18, 2026
6:00 AM Midnight and Morning Service. Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom / Old Church
7:30 AM Breakfast
9:00 AM–12:00 PM Sewing continues. At the same time, we begin designing patterns for the traditional covers.
12:00 PM Moleben to all Saints of Valamo /Old Church
12:30 PM Lunch
1:30 PM–3:00 PM Sewing
3:00 PM–3:30 PM Break, opportunity to buy coffee, tea or snacks from Restaurant Trapesa
3:30 PM–5:00 PM Sewing
6:00 PM Vigil (Great Vespers, Polyeleos and Matins and First Hour) / Main Church
7:30 PM Supper
Opportunity for independent work
Sunday, July 19, 2026
7:30 AM Breakfast
9:00 AM /Second Hour. Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom. Panagia./ Main Church
11:00 AM–12:00 PM Practical work: continue sewing and gradually begin decorating the traditional covers by printing.
12:00 PM Small Water Blessing / Chapel of St. Seraphim of Sarov/Moleben is not performed
12:30 PM Lunch
1:30 PM–3:00 PM Practical work
3:00 PM–3:30 PM Break, opportunity to buy coffee, tea or snacks from Restaurant Trapesa
3:30 PM–6:00 PM Practical work
6:00 PM Ninth Hour. Vespers. Small post-Vespers service and Akathist / Main Church
7:30 PM Supper
Opportunity for independent work
Monday, July 20, 2026
6:00 AM Midnight and Morning Service. First Hour /Main Church
7:30 AM Breakfast
9:00 AM–12:00 PM Practical work. Today everyone will be decorating the traditional covers.
12:00 PM Moleben to Prophet Elijah /Main Church
12:30 PM Lunch
1:30 PM–3:00 PM Practical work: printing and finishing the edges.
3:00 PM–3:30 PM Break, opportunity to buy coffee, tea or snacks from Restaurant Trapesa
3:30 PM–5:00 PM Practical work. All traditional covers will be completed during the afternoon.
6:00 PM Ninth Hour. Vespers. Small post-Vespers service and Akathist to St. Seraphim of Sarov / Main Church.
7:30 PM Supper
Opportunity for independent work
Tuesday, July 21, 2026
6:00 AM Midnight and Morning Service, Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom /Main Church
7:30 AM Breakfast
9:00 AM Admiring and reviewing finished works, brainstorming new ideas. Course feedback
12:00 PM Room check-out, lunch
Upon arrival at the monastery, please check in at the reception, where you will receive your room key and course card. Course participants are requested to keep their course card visible, especially when visiting Cafe-Restaurant Trapesa and the souvenir shop Tuohus.
Meals are served at the times indicated in the program at Restaurant Trapesa's buffet. Additionally, you can purchase meals, snacks, refreshments, and coffee from Restaurant Trapesa at daily prices. It is advisable to mention any dietary restrictions upon registration.
Rooms are available from 4:00 PM on the arrival day. On the departure day, rooms must be vacated by 12:00 PM. 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, subject to availability.
The course price includes tuition (38 hours), accommodation, and meals as per the program. The material fee is €30.
Registrations via the website form by July 8, 2026 at valamo.fi/opisto
Inquiries:
salesservice@valamo.fi
tel. +358 17 570 1810
The monastic brotherhood warmly welcomes course participants to the monastery's services.
Please attend the course fragrance-free.
