Hiking and knitting with the Flying sheep, September 11 –17, 2025
ISK400.000
Highlights: Dalir, sheep round up, beautiful sheep, hot geothermal pool, traditional Icelandic shawls and lace
Departure: September 11 –17, 2025
This fabulous tour takes us to the enchanting world of wildlife and nature that is the West of Iceland, with a stunning view over the myriad of islands of the Breiðafjörður fjord. Few parts of Iceland are also as rich in history as Dalir where records go back virtually unbroken to the Settlement in the 9th and 10th centuries. In fact, Dalir deserves to be called a stepping-stone into the New World. There, we will experience the Old ways of life, participate in a sheep round up with truly beautiful sheep, hike in the peacefully dazzling and colorful landscape, and knit traditional shawls and delicate lace.
All the way, Hélène will give us a thoughtful insight into the Icelandic knitting heritage and we’ll learn new and ancient techniques during the knitting workshops. The focus will be on traditional Icelandic shawls, from the simplest in garter stitch to the incredibly fine lace shawls decorated with undulating lace patterns in an array of delicate colors. This is a memorable journey that will give us a unique insight in the way of life in Dalir.
Upon booking, you will receive a link to fill up the registration form.
Please read the detailed information below >
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Orders ship from France (VAT from your country, no Customs fees in Europe) / Commandes expédiées depuis la France (TVA de votre pays, pas de frais de douane en Europe)
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Upon booking, and in order to make the trip enjoyable, please make sure you are familiar with the day-to-day itinerary, the fitness condition required, as well as the list of equipment. For any questions, please check our FAQ first (answers to frequently asked questions).
Departure: September 11-17, 2025, 6 nights
Group size: 12
Price: 400.000 ISK
Single room supplement (only in Reykjavik): 15.000 ISK
Not included in price: flights to and from Keflavík International airport
Included in price:
- 1 guide/knitting instructor.
- 2 nights at a guesthouse in Reykjavík, double rooms, dressed beds, shared facilities.
- 4 nights at a country lodge, twin room (possibility of single room), dressed beds, shared facilities.
- Full board from day 2 til lunch day 6, breakfast on day 7.
- All transfers as per itinerary, knitting as per itinerary.
- Yarn for knitting little samples during the workshops
Because participants come from all over the world, the tours are operated mainly in English but Hélène is bilingual in French. A lexical of knitting terms in German/English/French/Icelandic is available during the tour.
Fitness et hiking level: moderate.
Accessible to all those in good health, who are doing some sport regularly, and who are used to all-terrain walks. 2-3 hours walk per day, without carrying much weight, little ascent.
ITINERARY
Day 1 (2025, September 11): 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 (2025, September 12): 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 (2025, September 13): 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 (2025, September 13): 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 (2025, September 15): 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 (2025, September 16): 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 (2025, September 17): 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.
| Túngumál | á ensku, á frönsku, á íslensku |
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