Knit & Crochet in Finland
This tour will take us on a journey from Finland’s capital, Helsinki, north to Vaasa and Korsnas, home of the Korsnas sweater. On route we’ll meet and have workshops with local craft experts and enjoy three half day workshops with one of our Stitchtopia experts.
Your Tour Includes
- 6 nights bed & breakfast accommodation in centrally located 4-star hotels
- 3 dinners
- Travel by train in standard class from Helsinki to Vaasa
- Finnair flights London to Helsinki and Vaasa to London via Helsinki in economy class with 1 piece of checked luggage
- Three half day workshops with your expert
- Services of an Arena Travel Tour Manager throughout the tour
Anna Nikipirowicz
Anna is a crochet and knit designer, tutor and author of several crochet books. Her designs are regularly featured in craft magazines such as Inside Crochet and she also is a regular on Yarn Lane TV where she shares her designs and techniques. She works closely with West Yorkshire Spinners, LoveCrafts and other yarn brands.
Anna attributes her love of knitting and crochet to her very talented mother whose stranded colourwork jumpers and hats were legendary. Even though she admits herself she really didn’t appreciate the skills in her childhood.
She is an experienced tutor who started her knit and crochet career as a Rowan Design Consultant. She teaches regularly at John Lewis Partnership and independent yarns stores, and also virtually. Anna constantly explores new techniques and incorporates them in her classes. Confidence and skill-building is very important to her, she wants everyone who takes her class to learn something new and leave with feeling self-assured that they have unlocked their creative potential with new skills.
Carol Meldrum
Carol Meldrum is a textile designer, workshop tutor and author of many popular knitting and crochet titles. She is also the creative force behind the fashion accessories label Beatknit. She has worked within the textile industry as a designer for many High Street fashion outlets as well as internationally renowned hand knit label Rowan. Carol is also a successful workshop tutor teaching all aspects of knit and crochet on an informal basis to both groups and individuals.
Itinerary
To use our NEW itinerary, simply click a day below and a detailed overview will appear.
Overview
Meet your expert and your Arena Travel Tour Manager at London Heathrow airport for your flight to Helsinki. We will be met by our coach and driver and transfer to our hotel. Helsinki, the capital of Finland, is a vibrant seaside city of beautiful islands and green parks. Design, architecture, culture and shopping can all be found alongside forest, lakes and the coastline. Dinner is included this evening.
Includes Dinner
Overview
This morning we’ll enjoy a three-hour sightseeing tour of Helsinki with our local guide. Our tour will include a visit to Sibelius Monument & Park. This seaside park was named after Finland's greatest composer Jean Sibelius on his 80th birthday in 1945. The park reflects the rugged natural beauty of Finland which inspired Sibelius's music. The highlight of the park is the Sibelius Monument, designed by Eila Hiltunen and unveiled in 1967. Next we will see the Temppeliaukio Rock Church, a Lutheran church built directly into solid rock, designed by architects Timo and Tuomo Suomalainen and opened in 1969. Explore Senate Square designed by Carl Ludvig Engel, and its surroundings which make up the oldest part of central Helsinki. Landmarks and famous buildings surrounding the square include Helsinki Cathedral, the Government Palace, University of Helsinki, and Sederholm House the oldest building of central Helsinki dating from 1757. End your morning with a guided tour of the Fortress of Suomenlinna, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Learn about the colourful past of the fortress giving an interesting perspective on Finnish and Northern European history. This afternoon we return to our hotel for our first workshop.
Includes Breakfast
Included Highlights
Overview
We’ll spend this morning at Craft Corner, a meeting place for crafters in Helsinki, where we’ll enjoy a knitted wrist-bands workshop, using Finnish and Nordic knitting techniques. This afternoon is free for personal sightseeing (or yarn shopping!)
Includes Breakfast
Included Highlights
Overview
This morning we’ll travel by train to Vaasa. (Journey time approx. 4 hours). Vaasa is statistically the sunniest city in Finland and is bilingual with 69.8% of the population speaking Finnish as their first language and 24.8% speaking Swedish. On arrival we’ll be met by our driver and local guide for a city sightseeing tour, ending at our hotel. This afternoon we’ll enjoy a workshop at The House of Crafts. Dinner is included this evening
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Included Highlights
Overview
We start the day with an excursion to Korsnäs to visit their Local History Museum. In the mid-1950s, a teacher started collecting rural antiquities from the district. For this purpose, he got permission to use the empty hired hand’s cottage on the parsonage premises. The museum premises today include the old hired hand’s cottage, the windmill, the forge, three rooms in the loft building, and the parish granary across the road. The beautiful museum yard serves as a place for festivities, demonstrations of handicrafts, and games. In the cottage we’ll see an extensive collection of woven throws and bed textiles. Everything related to the traditional dress, such as skirts, vests, and scarves, are richly represented, showing the variety of colour in weaving art in Korsnäs. Also on display are different tools necessary for the textile craft, such as spinning wheels and carding brushes. The Korsnäs sweater, a sweater made and used in Korsnäs during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, is a unique piece of clothing, mainly because it has both crocheted and knitted sections in bright colors, and was originally mostly worn by men on special occasions. The sweater was made under the supervision of knowledgeable master craftswomen. The knitted parts of the sweater were frequently knitted by three women simultaneously. The museum holds a collection of several Korsnäs sweaters, the oldest is from 1864. In the afternoon we’ll return to the hotel for our second workshop.
Includes Breakfast
Included Highlights
Overview
This morning we’ll drive to Korsholm to visit the Stundars Museum & Cultural Centre, a large open-air museum and a centre of culture and art. The museum will give us a fascinating insight into life in the Ostrobothnian countryside a hundred years ago. The museum workers will be dressed in traditional costume and will recount the history of textiles in this area. In the afternoon we’ll return to the hotel for our third and final workshop. Dinner is included this evening.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Included Highlights
Overview
Transfer to Vaasa airport for our return flight to London, via Helsinki.
Includes Breakfast
Knitting Holidays
Specially designed for knitters, this Stitchtopia knitting holiday is the ideal opportunity to meet like-minded knitters and indulge in your favourite hobby. Our talented knitting expert will be on hand throughout the holiday and host inspirational workshops with a beautifully designed project to get those needles clicking!
Accommodation
In July, you will be staying at the 4-star Scandic Grand Marina in Helsinki for 3 nights, and the 4-star Original Sokos Hotel Vaakuna in Vaasa for 3 nights.
In August, you will be staying at the 4-star Scandic Park Helsinki for 3 nights, and the 4-star Original Sokos Hotel Vaakuna in Vaasa for 3 nights.
Original Sokos Hotel Vaakuna
The Original Sokos Hotel Vaakuna is located in the centre of Rovaniemi with shopping amenities close by. Rovaniemi, is known as the official home of Santa Claus, and is active all year round.Hotel Facilities
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General
- 3 Star
- English Speaking Staff
- Guest Lounge
- Bar
- Restaurant
- Central Location
- Sauna or Steam Room
Room
- TV
- Tea and Coffee Making Facilities
- Hairdryer
- Extra Pillows and Blankets
- Air Conditioning
- Fridge
- Non-Smoking Rooms Available
- Shower
- Telephone
- Free Wifi
- Iron or Trouser Press
Service
- Safe Box in Reception
- Room Service Available
- 24 Hour Front Desk
- Laundry Service
Food & Drink
- Vegetarian Meals
- Gluten Free Menu
- Lactose or Dairy Free Menu
- Vegan Menu
Accessibility
- Lift
- Wheelchair Access
Transport
- Bus Stop Nearby
Hotel
- English Speaking Staff
- Guest Lounge
- Bar
- Restaurant
- Lift
- WiFi Available
