Hiking and knitting with the Flying sheep, September 12 –18, 2024

ITINERARY

Day 1 (2024, September 12): Knitters arrive to Iceland from all over the world at various time during the day. They will be spending their first night at a guesthouse in Reykjavík close to the Icelandic Handknitting Association of Iceland, full of lopi sweaters and wool.

Day 2 (2024, September 13): Hélène will pick us up at our guesthouse in the morning and we will head on a knitting adventure to the beautiful and peaceful west of Iceland. The drive will be punctuated by interesting woolly stops and visit to crafters. Before we reach the comfortable country lodge where we will spend the next 4 nights, we will dip ourselves in a truly charming natural geothermal pool. Picnic lunch en route. Dinner on the premises.

Day 3 (2024, September 14): Today will be a fun and active day where we will participate in the old and traditional way of Icelandic sheep round up. In Hélène´s humble opinion, those are the most beautiful sheep in Iceland! In September, the sheep are herded from the mountains where they grazed freely during the summer and are gathered in réttir – round-up – where they are sorted out between the farmers from the area. Families and friends usually take part in the round-up and wear their lopi sweaters. Lunch and dinner on premises.

Hike gathering the sheep: 2 hours. Distance: about 3 km / 2 miles.
Uneven terrain.

Day 4 (2024, September 15): Today will be spent on an exciting knitting workshop with Hélène, punctuated by a refreshing hike in the surroundings. Evening chasing Northern lights if the weather allows! Delicious lunch and dinner on premises.

Hike: 2-3 hours. Distance: about 5 km / 3 miles.
Uneven terrain.

Day 5 (2024, September 16): The morning is dedicated to knitting with Hélène. In the afternoon, we will visit the local Museum and learn more about the rich history of the Dalir area and the old ways of living. More knitting in the late afternoon. Lunch and dinner on the premises.

Day 6 (2024, September 17):  it is now time to say good bye to the peaceful West and head back to Reykjavik. En route we will visit more inspiring crafters and artisans. When we arrive in Reykjavik, we’ll check in at the guesthouse located downtown, then gather at Hélène’s inspiring knitting studio in the old Reykjavík. The rest of the afternoon and the evening are free in the vibrant city.

Day 7 (2024, September 18): Departure.

KNITTING WORKSHOP

TRADITIONAL ICELANDIC SHAWLS

The workshops will focus on the traditional Icelandic shawls. Simple shawls in garter stitch, long shawls, triangular lace shawls, the finest were so fine they could be drawn through a golden ring.

A bit of history:  Hélène will tell us about the rich Icelandic tradition from the moment it came to Iceland in the 16th century to our modern times. She will tell us especially about the lace tradition and more specifically about the klukka and her meeting with Aðalbjörg Jónsdóttir (1916-2018). She will show us a few samples and will share with us stories from the past.

Icelandic wool workshop: Hélène will tell us about the Icelandic wool, from the very fine handspun lace yarns made of thel to the highly breakable unspun lopi. She will tell us especially about the extra soft lace yarns, Love Story and Gilitrutt, she has developed to recreate the lightness and finesse of the Old lace designs. We will experience the feeling of knitting with such different yarns.

Traditional Icelandic shawl workshop: we will look at the different types of everyday shawls in Iceland, usually in garter stitch with decorative elements, and will knit a doll sample, exploring different constructions and easy ways that were used to embellish those simple shawls.

Icelandic lace shawl workshop:  we will look at the characteristics of the traditional Icelandic lace, seen in the Old long shawls and triangular shawls. We’ll see how designs and patterning evolved and how the unique characteristics of the Icelandic wool played an important role. We will knit a doll size triangular lace shawl and learn the most used stitch patterns and all the techniques necessary to make a full sized one, from casting on to blocking.