Knit & Ride an Icelandic horse, 17-24 June 2023
ISK2.578
Knit & Ride highlights: the tölt and flying pace, the special gaits of the Icelandic horse, beautiful landscape, knitting a riding lopi sweater in the midnight sun
Departure: 2023, June 17th-24th
The Knit & Ride an Icelandic horse tour is a fabulous combination of Icelandic knitting, wondrous horse rides in the Icelandic nature, through rough lava fields or delicate summer flowers. We will knit in the midnight sun enjoying one of the most expansive views of Iceland. All the way, Hélène will give us an insight into the Icelandic knitting traditions and we’ll learn new and old techniques. She will tell us especially about the handknits used for riding in the old days. We will knit a riding lopi sweater under her guidance and learn all about ridings socks.
Delicious food. Accommodation in mountain huts as well as in a picturesque country guesthouse with a grass roof and a sauna.
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 riding experience and 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: 2023, June 17-24, 7 nights
Group size: 12
Price: 380.000 ISK
Single room supplement (only in Reykjavik): 15.000 ISK
Not included in price: flights to and from Keflavík International. Wool for knitting a full-size riding lopi sweater and riding socks are not included in the price.
Included in price:
- 1 guide/knitting instructor
- 1 guide/horseriding instructor
- 2 nights at a guesthouse in Reykjavík, twin room, dressed beds, shared facilities, breakfast included. Possibility of single room.
- 2 nights in a picturesque country guesthouse, dormitory style, sleeping bag, shared facilities. Sauna.
- 2 nights in a mountain hut, dormitory style, sleeping bag accommodation.
- Full board from Day 2 to Day 6, breakfast and lunch on Day 7, breakfast on Day 8
- Horses, saddlery, tack, rain gear and helmet are provided
- All transfers as per itinerary, knitting as per itinerary
- Yarn for knitting swatches during the workshops
- Our guides will prepares all meals during the trip. Participants ́ help with washing dishes is highly appreciated.
Because participants come from all over the world, the tours are operated in English but Hélène and Anita are bilingual in French. A lexical of knitting terms in German/English/French/Icelandic is available during the tour.
Fitness et riding level: This ride is suitable for intermediate riders: participants should be able to ride for up to 5 hours in uneven terrain and not be afraid. Accessible to all those in good health, who are doing some sport regularly. Experience of riding is a prerequisite.
We reserve the right to reject any rider for reasons of riding inability or behaviour endangering the safety or welfare of the riders or horses. No refund will be made to any rider who is rejected for any such reason, nor can refund be made to any rider who is unable to complete a ride or the tour.
ITINERARY
Day 1 (June 17th, 2023): 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 Icelandic yarns.
Day 2 (June 18th, 2023): In the morning, we set out on a knitting adventure and stop on the way to interesting places for knitters such as the Þingborg Wool centre where local women produce soft unspun lopi, as well as at the Uppspuni minimill. We arrive to our picturesque guesthouse in the afternoon. Meet and greet with our horses and the lovely and higly skilled Anita who will guide the riding part of our tour. Picnic lunch enroute. Sleeping bag accommodations, dormitory style.
Day 3 (June 19th, 2023): Today, we ride from Austvaðsholt to Foss. We will cross the relatively deep river Rangá, one of the finest salmon river in Iceland, and ride pass the old lava field from the famous Hekla, one of Iceland most active volcano. Hekla also means crochet in Icelandic! Late afternoon and evening will be spent knitting in the Foss mountain hut where we will spent the next 2 nights. Picnic lunch, dinner on premises. Sleeping bag accommodations, dormitory style.
Ride: about 5 hours on the saddle.
Day 4 (June 20th, 2023): Today we will ride to the beautiful Waterfall of the Thieves, then back to Foss. On the way, we will stop to explore the Red Nose Cave. We will be riding following sheep trails most of the time but on our way back we will ride through an very old lava field all outgrown with moss and vegetation. The rest of the day and evening will be spent knitting. Picnic lunch, dinner on premises. Sleeping bag accommodations, dormitory style.
Ride: about 2-3 hours on the saddle.
Day 5 (June 21st, 2023): Taking another route, we ride back to the country guesthouse in Austvaðsholt. On the way we will stop at Frægarð (the seeds´ garden) to learn more about the land reclamation that has taken place in the area we rode through. Sleeping bag accommodations, dormitory style.Picnic lunch, dinner on premises.
Ride: about 4-5 hours on the saddle.
Day 6 (June 22nd, 2023): Relaxing day at our country farmhouse, knitting and enjoying the sauna. Lunch and delicious dinner on premises. Sleeping bag accommodations, dormitory style.
Day 7 (June 23rd, 2023): Today we say goodbye to the horses and slowly head back to Reykjavík with many interesting stops: we will for example visit an Icelandic turf farm and see what an old stable looked like in the old days. When in Reykjavík, we will gather at Hélène’s workspace, full with her yarns and design knitting samples. It will then be time to say farewell and enjoy a free evening in the city.
Day 8 (June 24th, 2023): Departure
KNITTING WORKSHOP
TRADITIONAL RIDING SOCKS AND RIDING LOPI SWEATER
A bit of history: Hélène will tell us about the Icelandic knitting traditions with a focus on the knits traditionally used for riding. Special attention will be given to the old riding socks and the Icelandic lopi yoke sweater. This last that one is a fairly recent invention probably dating back to the 50’s that became immensely popular in the 70’s. It became right away the working sweater in Iceland and is used ever since by farmers, fishermen and horse riding people.
The Icelandic wool: Hélène will tell us about the different types of Icelandic wool and the genesis of the famous unspun lopi and we will experience the feeling of knitting with this highly breakable yarn.
Traditional Icelandic lopi sweater: On Day 2, we will pick up some lopi yarn at Þingborg wool canter in the colors of our choice and start knitting a full size riding lopi sweater during the tour. We will knit it after one of Hélène´s designs. There will be a choice of different patterns, both sweaters and cardigans, all included a horse motif in the yoke of course! Hélène will guide us through the process and special techniques. Note that the wool for knitting the sweater is not included in the price of the tour.
The Icelandic steek: lopi sweaters are knitted in the round then simply steeked (that is cut into the finished knitting) to make them into cardigans. We will try our hands at the traditional Icelandic way on a swatch so that, if applicable, you feel confident steeking your riding lopi sweater once it is finished.
Traditional riding socks: there are various types of socks in Iceland. Hélène will tell us especially about the many different types of socks that were used for riding. She will teach us all the techniques necessary to knit them. We will make tiny samples but won´t knit a full-size sock. Sock kits with Katla Sokkaband, Hélène´s Icelandic sock yarn, will be available at Hélène´s studio that we will visit on Day 7.
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