Find your next holiday

Call to book 01473 357 036

Mon - Fri 9am - 5.30pm

Filter Holidays

Need help with your booking call 01473 357 036

Expert: Frederica Patmore Frederica Patmore

Norway Knitting Retreat

This very special tour has been Inspired by our Head of Craft Holidays, Alison White’s own travels around Norway – designed to take you on a discovery of a rich textile heritage and unique culture. Alison White, Head of Craft Holidays, said: "Recently the Norwegian Tourist Board invited me to discover the history and traditions of the knitting industry in Norway. This tour includes all the highlights of my trip, which will take you on a journey from the remote heathlands north of Bergen. On route we’ll discover just how important the textile industry was to Norway and some of the steps that are being taken to recover and preserve these traditions for the future. Finally, we’ve combined all this with workshops with Frederica to create the perfect balance of discovery and relaxation, Norwegian style!"

8 days from £2,635pp Departure Dates

Your Tour Includes

  • Return flights London to Bergen including 1 piece of checked luggage
  • 7 nights half board accommodation
  • 2 full and 2 half-day knitting workshops with Frederica Patmore, kit included
  • Excursions and entrance fees
  • The services of an experienced Arena Travel Tour Manager
Experts
Frederica Patmore

Frederica Patmore

Frederica is a knitting and crochet designer who has been working in the industry for nearly 20 years.

A self-professed sock-knitting addict, it was working as one of Rowan Yarns’ regional workshop tutors that she created the designs for Dorling Kindersley’s series of books. Having grown up with the ability to knit backwards, she loves opening minds to new techniques. After spending three years as a designer and technical editor on the Woman’s Weekly Magazine team before co-founding Love To Knit and Crochet magazine, Frederica created an online knitting shop which later became The Knitting Network.

She regularly creates new patterns and writes and films tutorials for various magazines and books including Prima magazine. Her specialism is in 3-dimensional knit and crochet design with her favourites being socks and toys.

More from Frederica Patmore Read more

Itinerary

Overview

Meet Frederica and your Arena Travel Tour Manager at a London airport for your flight to Bergen. Upon arrival, meet our driver who will transfer us to our hotel for check-in.

Includes Dinner

Overview

Bergen is the second largest city in Norway and is surrounded by mountains, hence its name ‘City of Seven Mountains’. Bergen was the largest city in Norway until the 1830s when it was overtaken by the capital, Christiania (now known as Oslo). What remains of the quays, Bryggen, is now a World Heritage Site. This morning we will take a guided walking tour of the city with a local guide. In the afternoon we will enjoy our first workshop back at the hotel with Frederica.

Includes Breakfast

Includes Dinner

Bergen

Included Highlights

Bergen

Overview

We will spend today at the Heathland Centre, located about 30 miles north of Bergen. The centre is beautifully located with Lurefjorden on one side and the main sea route to and from Bergen on the other. The 5000-year-old heathland surrounding the centre is still maintained by local farmers. Enjoy the amazing views over the fjord and mountains whilst we enjoy a lunch made with locally sourced ingredients. In the afternoon we will enjoy a second workshop with Frederica.

Includes Breakfast

Includes Dinner

Norway

Included Highlights

Heathland Centre

Overview

Full-day workshop with Frederica at our hotel.

Includes Breakfast

Includes Dinner

Generic Stitch Images

Included Highlights

Knitting Workshop

Overview

The first stop on our excursion today is the Hillesvåg Wool Spinning Mill. This family-owned mill was founded in 1898 and has been in the same family for four generations, making it one of Norway’s most long-established wool and yarn producers. Our guided tour will take us through the entire process, from when the wool enters the mill to the finished product. The shop offers yarn for hand machine knitting, hand weaving and crochet and carded wool for felt making. This afternoon we will visit the Museum of Norwegian Knitting Industry. Through our guided tour of the former Salhaus Knitting Factory (1858 –1989) we will learn about the history and importance of the textile industry in Norway.

Includes Breakfast

Includes Lunch

Includes Dinner

Norway

Included Highlights

Hillesvag Wool Spinning Mill

Overview

Full-day workshop with Frederica at our hotel.

Includes Breakfast

Includes Dinner

Generic Stitch Images

Included Highlights

Knitting Workshop

Overview

Our excursion today takes us first to Osteroy, an inland island surrounded by beautiful fjords. The island has a strong history of craftsmanship that is still alive today. Our guided tour of the open-air museum, which has a focus on preserving traditional crafts, will take us around the 17th century buildings and introduce us to some of the crafts and costumes.

Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

Includes Breakfast

Includes Dinner

Norway

Included Highlights

Osteroy Open Air Museum

Overview

Say farewell to our fellow knitters and transfer to Bergen airport for our return flight to London.

Includes Breakfast

Workshop Information: Journey around Norway and explore a variety of knitting techniques over several days with Freddie's custom-designed and exclusive-to-Arena mystery shawl pattern. Using a variety of texture, beading and colourwork techniques, your gorgeous shawl will be inspired by Nordic shades and introduce a new technique, as you embark on a new shawl section, on each of your workshop days. Participants will journey home with a cosy wraparound knit to see you through many winters to come. You will just need to arrive with a good grasp of the basics including casting on and knit and purl stitches.

Tour Notes: You will need to have a reasonable level of fitness to get the most out of this holiday. On excursion days you will need to walk a short distance from the hotel to the coach and you should be able to board the coach unaided. On arrival at the excursion destination, you should be able to alight the coach unaided and there may be a walk between the coach drop off point and the excursion venue. By their nature, walking tours, museum visits etc involve being on your feet for a significant amount of time. Whilst our excursions are taken at a leisurely pace, for the enjoyment of everyone in the group you should be able to keep up with your fellow travellers. 

Your accommodation includes breakfast, a light evening meal and Fika (coffee, tea and pastries) in the afternoons. 

Knitting Holidays

Knitting Holidays

Specially designed for knitters, this Stitchtopia knitting holiday is the ideal opportunity to meet like-minded knitters and indulge in your favourite hobby. Our talented knitting expert will be on hand throughout the holiday and host inspirational workshops with a beautifully designed project to get those needles clicking!

Accommodation

You will be staying at the Clarion Collection Hotel Havnekontoret. 

Clarion Collection Hotel Havnekontoret
More Photos

Clarion Collection Hotel Havnekontoret

Overlooking the Tromsdalstinden mountain, this waterfront hotel offers beautiful views and is located in the heart of Bergen.

Hotel Facilities

Need further information? Fill in our enquiry form and we'll get back to you as soon as we can

General
  • 4 Star
  • Lift
  • Sauna or Steam Room
Room
  • Safe Box
  • Shower
  • Free Wifi
Service
  • Gym
Hotel
  • Lift
  • WiFi Available
Order your FREE brochure today!