Norway Knitting Retreat

2 September 2022

8 days from £2,275pp

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.

Enjoy inspirational knitting workshops with Anna Nikipirowicz
Explore the ‘city of the seven mountains’ in a guided walking tour of Bergen
Visit to Lyngheisenteret Healthland Centre with guided tour and film
Learn about the authentic wool process at Hillesvåg Wool Spinning Mill
Explore Norway’s knitting heritage with a guided tour of the Museum of Norwegian Knitting Industry
Discover more about traditional Norweigan crafts at the Osteroy museum and Oleana factory

Description
Itinerary
What's Included
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Dates & Prices

Norway Knitting Retreat

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 to the modern and vibrant colours at Oleana’s knitwear factory. 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 Anna Nikipirowicz to create the perfect balance of discovery and relaxation, Norwegian style! – Alison White, Head of Craft Holidays

DAY 1: London-Bergen
Meet Anna and your Arena Travel Tour Manager at London Gatwick airport for your flight to Bergen. We will be met by our driver and transfer by coach to our hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 2: Bergen
This morning we’ll take a guided walking tour of Bergen with a local guide. Bergen is the second largest city in Norway and is surrounded by mountains, hence the name ‘city of the seven mountains’. the city was founded in 1070 by king Olav and was named Bjørgvin, 'the green meadow among the mountains’. In the thirteenth century it served as Norway’s capital and then at the end of the thirteenth century became a trading post of the Hanseatic League, a commercial and defensive confederation of merchant guilds and market towns in Northwestern and Central Europe. 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. In the afternoon we’ll enjoy our first workshop back at the hotel with Anna.
DAY 3: Lygra
We’ll 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. Here we’ll learn about how the coastal heathlands are managed and enjoy the amazing views over fjord and mountains whilst we enjoy a lunch made with locally sourced ingredients. In the afternoon we’ll enjoy our second workshop here with Anna.
DAY 4: Bergen
Full day workshop with Anna, at our hotel.
DAY 5: Bergen
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 and machine knitting, hand weaving and crochet and also carded wool for felt making.

This afternoon we’ll visit the Museum of Norwegian Knitting Industry. Through our guided tour of the former Salhaus Knitting Factory (1858-1989) we’ll learn about the history and importance of the textile industry in Norway. We’ll be taken step-by-step through the different production processes from carding and spinning to winding, knitting and sewing and, from a film about the history of Salhaus, learn about working life in the factory town.

Lunch at the Knitting Museum is included today
DAY 6: Bergen
Full day workshop with Anna, at our hotel.
DAY 7: Osteroy & Oleana
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 17^th century buildings and introduce us to some of the crafts and costumes.

We continue to Oleana for a factory visit. Oleana is a family-owned company, founded in 1992, with the aim of creating new jobs in the Norwegian textile industry. By that time most of Western Europe’s production had moved to countries with cheaper labour. Oleana wanted to preserve Norway’s long and rich tradition of textile production and pattered knitwear. Our journey through the factory will take us through the production process from yarn to finished product.

Lunch at Oleana is included today
DAY 8: Bergen - London
Say farewell to our fellow knitters and transfer to Bergen airport for our return flight to London

Included in our package:

Return international flights from London to Bergen with 1 piece of hold luggage
Airport transfers
7 nights in 4* accommodation on a half board basis
Complimentary tea/coffee with pastries on workshop afternoons
Guided walking tour of Bergen
Excursion to Lyngheisenteret Healthland Centre with guided tour, film and lunch
Excursion to Hillesvåg Wool Spinning Mill and Museum of Norwegian Knitting Industry, lunch and guided tour at both venues included
Excursion to Osteroy and Oleana, lunch and guided tour at both venues included
Two full day and two half day knitting workshops with Anna Nikipirowicz

Anna Nikipirowicz

Anna is a crochet and knit designer, tutor and author of several crochet books. Her designs are regularly featured in craft magazines such as Inside Crochet and she also is a regular on Yarn Lane TV where she shares her designs and techniques. She works closely with West Yorkshire Spinners, LoveCrafts and other yarn brands.

Anna attributes her love of knitting and crochet to her very talented mother whose stranded colourwork jumpers and hats were legendary. Even though she admits herself she really didn’t appreciate the skills in her childhood.

She is an experienced tutor who started her knit and crochet career as a Rowan Design Consultant. She teaches regularly at John Lewis Partnership and independent yarns stores, and also virtually. Anna constantly explores new techniques and incorporates them in her classes. Confidence and skill-building is very important to her, she wants everyone who takes her class to learn something new and leave with feeling self-assured that they have unlocked their creative potential with new skills.

Dates:

2nd September 2022: 8 days

Prices:

All holiday prices are per person

Double room to share: £2275

Double room for sole use: £2860

Superior room supplement: £335 per room for 7 nights (on request basis)

Deluxe room supplement: £505 per room for 7 nights (on request basis)

Note - Twin room to share available in Superior category only

Non-crafter discount: £50

Deposit: £350

Our 'Stitch Together' Programme

Our ‘Stitch Together' Programme helps our guests with the costs of a single occupancy room. If you are a single traveller but would be willing to share a room with a fellow crafter, please let us know and we will get in touch if anyone else joins the programme for the same tour.

Overview

Newly renovated in 2019, this 4-star hotel occupies a fantastic location in the middle of Bryggen in Bergen. With its grand architecture, full of Baroque and Rococo designs, the hotels address on Slottgaten has been considered one of Bergen’s most exclusive streets since the eighteenth century.

Hotel Facilities & Amenities

You can enjoy a delicious breakfast with many organic products; includes eggs, fruit and vegetables, orange juice, cereals, breads and jams. Afternoon tea is also included every day between 3pm and 6pm - tea and coffee are served with pastries.

The hotel also has a Gym, Sauna & steam room and free Wifi.

Room Facilities & Amenities

Standard room
Standard rooms are 18 sqm come equipped with safe, mini bar, ironing board & iron and kettle. They also have a bathroom with shower and are located at the rear of the property. Standard rooms are available as a double to share or for sole use.

Superior room
Superior rooms are 23 sqm and are equipped with safe, mini bar, ironing board & iron and coffee machine. They also have a bathroom with a shower or bath and either a city view or rear balcony. Superior rooms are available as a double to share or for sole use. Please note these rooms are on a request basis, please call us to enquire.

Deluxe room
Deluxe rooms are equipped with safe, mini bar, ironing board & iron and coffee machine. They also have a bathroom with bath. Deluxe rooms are available as a double (23 sqm and have a city view) or a twin (30 sqm at the rear of the property) to share or for sole use. Please note these rooms are on a request basis, please call us to enquire.