wool adventure in
iceland
APRIL 3-10, 2027
September 18-25, 2027
$5,250 USD per person
double room 3 nights + triple room 3 nights
$5,650 usd per person | double room
$7,250 usd per person | private room
Join us as we traverse the southern and western coasts of Iceland, meeting fiber artists and the iconic sheep of the region, and knitting in Iceland’s scenic landscapes.
In the world of wool, Icelandic sheep are renowned for their great diversity and quality. Sheep are believed to have been brought to Iceland by Viking settlers in the ninth century. Due to the island’s remote location, Iceland’s sheep have evolved in isolation for over 1,000 years, creating a unique breed. The sheep are dual-coated with both inner and outer fibers, ranging in over 30 natural colors including black, rust brown, and yellow.
During our Icelandic textile adventure, guests will participate in a natural dye workshop, spinning demo, and multi-day knitting excursions in scenic rural settings. We’ll have the opportunity to visit hot springs, ride horses, and enjoy the breathtaking rural landscapes that surround us.
We will provide guests with a knitting project for the trip, with kits ranging in difficulty level from easy (simple hat), medium (gloves) to difficult (a top-down Icelandic sweater).
an unforgettable craft experience
in scenic Iceland
knitting teacher,
helga thoroddsen
Helga Thoroddsen is a passionate knitwear designer as well an enthusiast about everything that has to do with creating beautiful and unique textiles.
She has a M.Sc. degree in textile science from Colorado State University as well as a B.Ed degree from Iceland University of Education with emphasis on textiles and crafts.
Sweaters are a special passion as is sample knitting and figuring out the most stubborn knitting patterns to the point of losing sleep when things do not work out. You can find her knitting patterns for sale on Ravelry.
Helga will provide 2-3 Icelandic knitting patterns for guests to choose from for their knitting project during this trip.
cohost,
hannah haworth
Hannah Haworth has been interested in textile making since she was a child, fortunate to grow up in a small indigenous village in the Philippines with a very rich weaving culture. As a teenager she returned to her native Scotland and she became more and more interested in knitting and its ancestral practices there. She studied sculpture at Edinburgh College of Art where she knitted several large-scale sculptures of animals and other natural forms, which she continued to produce and exhibit throughout her 20s when she moved the US. At that time she began working in design in NYC and started really enjoying making (mostly knitted) garments for herself and friends whilst learning more about clothes.
In 2016, she moved upstate to the Catskill mountains and founded her textile company ‘Handa’ where she currently offers a small range of knitting patterns that she designs in partnership with small farms/yarn producers that work with minimally processed and naturally dyed wool. Handa also offers handmade textiles from all over the world, beginning with the textiles of the village she grew up in.
itinerary
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Guests arrive to Reykjavik. We will share our suggestion list of our favorite things to do in the city.
Group welcome dinner and trip orientation.
Overnight in Reykjavik *Accommodation not included.
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Natural dyes workshop using local plant materials.
Farm-to-table lunch at a rural farm restaurant.
Afternoon to enjoy the nearby scenery in southern Iceland.
Overnight Selfoss Hotel.
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Morning site seeing excursion.
Group lunch.
Afternoon visit to Uppspuni fiber mill, with spinning demo and wool discussion.
Overnight Selfoss Hotel.
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Optional horseback ride to a waterfall.
Lunch and knitting at the waterfall.
Overnight Selfoss Hotel.
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Spend the day enjoying the hotsprings at our new accommodation.
Overnight Hvammsvik Hotsprings.
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Scenic knitting along the western coast.
Overnight Hvammsvik Hotsprings.
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Scenic knitting and a beautiful hike in western Iceland.
Overnight Hvammsvik Hotsprings.
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Visit a favorite yarn shop to purchase supplies to take home.
Return to Reykjavik.
TRIP
DETAILS
GROUP
This trip is limited to 13 guests, who will accompanied by 2 Thread Caravan trip facilitators and our Icelandic hosts.
PRICING + PAYMENT
$5,250 USD per person - shared double room with separate beds 3 nights and triple room with separate beds 3 nights
$5,650 USD per person - shared double room with separate beds
$7,250 USD per person - private room for the duration of the trip
A non-refundable deposit of $2,050 usd is required in order to reserve your space on the trip. The remaining payment is due at least 2 months prior to the trip start date.
ACCOMMODATION
During this trip we will spend the first three nights in Hotel Selfoss in the town of Selfoss. This is a large hotel, centrally located in town, with on site restaurant and spa. We’ve chosen this location because it offers proximity to all of our Icelandic textile partners in the south. During the first three days of the trip while we’re staying here, we’ll focus on learning from local teachers, visiting their studios and wool mills.
Then we’ll head north up the western coast of Iceland, to Hvammsvik hotsprings. Here, we’ll spend three more nights in their rural ocean-front cottages just minutes walk from the hotsprings. This area is quite rural and will offer access to more scenic landscapes where we’ll spend our time knitting and enjoying the surrounding nature.
Accommodation in Reykjavik before and after our time together is not included; however, we are happy to share suggestions of hotels in the city.
IMPORTANT NOTES
Knitting Experience: This experience is for beginner to advanced knitters. We do ask that each guest have at least some experience knitting. If you currently have no prior experience, no problem: we suggest getting some yarn and needles from your local yarn shop, and watching a couple Youtube videos to make a simple scarf.
Weather: Iceland weather can change instantly, and its likely that we will experience a range of weather conditions during our trip: sun, rain, high winds and possibly snow. This contributes to both the adventure of the trip, and to the beauty of Iceland’s nature.
As many of our activities will be outdoors, we ask that guests be prepared for these conditions.Mobility: During this trip, activities include hiking and horseback riding. Please let us know prior to booking if you have limited mobility or will require special assistance.
Extra Time in Iceland: This trip will have guests returning to Reykjavik in the late afternoon of our last day together. We suggest booking an evening flight, or staying in Reykjavik for an extra night.
VISA: US citizens may travel in Iceland for up to 90 days without a tourist visa. If you are traveling from another country, please contact us or check visa requirements before reserving a space on this trip.
Passport Validity: Passport must have at least 3 months validity at time of entry as well as at least one empty page.
Trip Preparation: We will send a trip preparation packet to you one month before the trip. It will include an exact itinerary, a suggested pack list, useful country information and more.
COST INCLUDES
Knitting Supplies: We will provide each guests with a knitting kit (yarn and a pattern) to work with for duration of this trip. There will also be the opportunity to purchase additional supplies to use and/or take home.
In-Country Transportation: Private shuttle service.
All Meals: All meals are included and will offer unique dining experiences whenever possible. In some rural locations, food options are limited.
Accommodation: At two comfortable hotels with shared room and private room occupancy options.
Support: Two Thread Caravan trip facilitators will guide this experience in partnership with local guides and hosts. Our team will be available in the months leading up to the trip to help you prepare.
Carbon Emissions Offset: We’ve partnered with Sprout to plant 25 tress on your behalf in order to offset the carbon emissions of your travel to Iceland.
ADDITIONAL EXPENSES
Accommodation in Reykjavik
Airport transfers: We will pick guests up at hotels and/or a central meeting location in Reykjavik.
Airfare: To and from the Reykjavik airport
Personal Travel Insurance: Personal travel insurance is required for this trip. Please find an insurance that covers medical emergencies, theft, and trip cancellations.
Extra Excursions: During our scheduled free time, guests will be responsible for all incurred expenses which may include spa services, and other tour activities.
Personal Expenses: Shopping, medicine, snacks, etc.
Alcoholic Drinks: Thread Caravan does not cover the cost of alcoholic beverages except when noted in the itinerary. Alcohol can be very expensive in Iceland; many people, including locals, choose to buy alcohol in the Duty-Free shop when entering the country
GETTING TO ICELAND
This trip starts and ends in Reykjavik. We ask that guests arrive by 5pm on the trip start day, and depart after 3pm on the trip end date. We would highly suggest spending additional days in Iceland if you are able.
QUESTIONS? CONTACT US.
register here
*Thread Caravan plants trees to restore ecosystems and offset carbon emissions on behalf of each guest who travels with us.
Please note that the deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable, and is required to reserve your space on this trip.
Thread Caravan provides fully-funded artists residencies to our community of indigenous artisan collaborators, as part of our artisan exchange program. To date, we’ve been proud to host Gujarati turban weaver Shamji Vishram Vankar in Oaxaca, as well as Zapotec Oaxacan sisters and weavers Silvia and Dahlia Gutiérrez on our weaving retreat Guatemala. In June 2024 we will host potter Macrina Mateo Martinez from Tlapazola, Oaxaca on our pottery retreat in the Rif mountains of Morocco.
Should our community be interested in contributing to these efforts, there is the option to pay it forward when making a trip reservation. These financial contributions will be used exclusivity towards our artisan exchange program.
Learn more about this program here.
“I recently attended Thread Caravan’s Iceland wool trip, and what a once in a life time experience it was! Caitlin and Johanna did an exceptional job coordinating a unique, well organized, and creative experience for all of us to enjoy! This was such a special trip for me, and I am so grateful I got to really capture the magic, aesthetic, and culture of Iceland with such a well balanced and lovely group of talented people! The forethought and research that goes into planning these trips to give you the absolute most well rounded overall expierence is so impressive! Thank you Caitlin and Johanna for sharing your hard work and passion into creating an avant-garde travel expierence and allowing all of us to be apart! I cannot wait to attend more amazing culturally creative adventures with you all!”
- Ashley A.
