Motanka Doll Making Workshop

Date: Thursday, February 5th

Time: 11.30am-1.30pm

Location: Ranelagh Arts Centre

Sign up for our Motanka Doll Making Workshop. This will be led by our Ukrainian friends who are specialists in the art of Motanka.

More info: info.ranelagharts@gmail.com

What is Motanka?

Motanka doll making is a traditional Ukrainian folk craft. A Motanka is a handmade cloth doll created by wrapping and tying fabric, never sewing or using needles.

The practice is deeply symbolic rather than decorative:

• No face – the doll has no facial features, representing universality and protection from negative spirits.

• No cutting or stitching – fabric is torn by hand and wrapped, symbolizing continuity of life and fate.

• Protective amulet – Motanka dolls were made to bring health, fertility, protection, or harmony to a home or person.

• Ritual and intention – each doll is created with a specific purpose in mind, often accompanied by focused thought or quiet ritual.

Traditionally, Motanka dolls were made by women and passed down through generations, acting as guardians of family memory, ancestry, and spiritual balance. Today, the practice is often revived as a form of cultural preservation, mindfulness, and intentional handcrafting, blending history with contemporary meaning