Knitting Traditions of Estonia

Meet Aleks Byrd and your tour manager at a London airport for your flight to Estonia. On arrival in Tallinn, we will transfer direct to the hotel.

With our join direct package, make your way to the Nordic Forum Hotel independently to meet the group.

This morning, we will tour Tallinn Old Town on foot. The Old Town is divided into two areas, the Lower Town and the Upper Town. During our exploration of the Upper Town, we will visit the St. Alexander Nevsky Orthodox Cathedral, Toompea Castle and the Dome Church, Tallinn’s oldest church, before soaking up spectacular panoramic views from the Kohtuotsa viewing platform.

In the Lower Town, we will see the Danish King’s Garden, the Town Hall Square, the picturesque Viru Gates and the famous Katarina Guild with open studios and shops of local crafts women. We will also visit the Estonian Handicrafts House, where folk traditions exist alongside more contemporary items, and you will be able to purchase authentic Estonian handicrafts.

This afternoon, enjoy your first workshop with Aleks Byrd in the hotel before dining together.

Today we will visit the Estonian Ethnographic Open-Air Museum, which showcases Estonia’s rural architecture and way of life. During our guided tour, you will be able to explore farmsteads, fishing and inland villages, churches, windmills and the schoolhouse, all of which represent how families lived in the 18th to 20th centuries. There will be handicrafts to view and traditional Estonian dishes available to try at the Kolu Inn.

We will then visit the Lõng ja Lõngad yarn shop and nearby Karnaluks before returning to the hotel for a second workshop.

Today will begin with a workshop in the hotel with Aleks.

The afternoon is at leisure. You might like to explore Tallinn independently, go shopping or simply relax in the surroundings of your hotel.

After breakfast, we will leave Tallinn and drive to Haapsalu, located on the west coast of Estonia. Haapsalu is the birthplace of Estonian lace knitting and, during our visit to this small coastal town, we will visit the Pitsikeskus (Lace Centre Museum) where we will be able to hear about and see traditional lace knitting being done by master lace knitters. Lunch is included today.

We will then continue to Pärnu where we will check into our beachfront hotel and dine together.

Early departure from the hotel for our full-day visit to the unique island of Kihnu – often referred to as the ‘women's island’, as there are very few men.

After making the one-hour ferry crossing, we will travel around this tiny UNESCO-listed island by open-top truck, taking in the sights including the Kihnu Museum, learning about the unique culture and traditional textiles and knitwear. We will also meet master knitter, Elly Karjam, who specializes in the unique Kihnu fisherman’s sweater called a ‘troi’ that is knit with unique knitted braids and colourwork.

Lunch is included today. There will be time to meet other local master knitters as well as shop for local yarns, knitwear and textiles before returning to the mainland by ferry late afternoon.

Today we will spend the day in the parish of Tõstamaa – home to Roosimine inlay knitting.

We will visit the Tõstamaa Handicraft Centre and meet with master knitter and traditional folk costume expert, Anu Randmaa, who is responsible for bringing back the forgotten Roosimine inlay knitting technique. Whilst at the centre, we will participate in a traditional Roosimine knitting workshop with master knitters to make a small pin cushion before returning to the hotel. Lunch and dinner are included today.

This morning will be at leisure for some last-minute shopping and sightseeing in Pärnu, before returning to Tallinn Airport for your return flight to the UK.

Those who booked our join direct package will leave the group in Tallinn.