Knitting Workshops:

“I enjoyed Helene’s knowledge of Iceland and the knitting. It was nice to have both the information
about Iceland, culture, history, geology, and the knitting information all in one person!”
Knitting Workshops:
In the knitting workshops, Hélène will share her deep and extensive knowledge
of the Icelandic knitting heritage, teach many traditional Icelandic knitting
styles and, show different types of yarn and knitting samples as she shares
stories and interviews she made with old knitters. Hélène’s classes are truly
inspirational and will delight beginners as expert knitters. Yarn is supplied in
the workshops but all other equipment listed in the equipment list for each
knitting tour is required. The knitting workshops vary from 1 to 6 hours and
each tour and workshop has its own theme.
Examples of Knitting Workshops:
Icelandic wool workshop: Hélène will tell us about the unique characteristics of the
Icelandic wool and the genesis of the famous unspun lopi and will show us sample of
artisanal Icelandic yarns. We will knit a little sample in the round with this highly breakable
yarn, using the Magic loop technique, a technique largely adopted in Iceland today.
“Steek with me” workshop: Almost everything is knitted in the round in Iceland, then
cut open or steeked. Purling back seems more intimidating than steeking and Hélène will
tell us funny stories of how knitters found out ways to avoid purling in the past. Beside
the methods traditionally used in Iceland today, we will explore many different steeks and
compare their advantages related to particular projects. We may even dare to steek lace!
Icelandic sweater workshop: We’ll learn about the different sweaters and traditional
costume jackets in Iceland and how the well-known Icelandic lopi sweater emerged a
surprisingly short time ago and how the yoke pattern developed in the inspired hands of
Icelandic women. We’ll go through all the basic knitting techniques and chart reading.
We will knit a little lopi sweater with all the elements of a full-sized one. Hélène will share
designer tips for a better fit and to make the sweater easy knitting and comfortable.
Traditional Icelandic Leaf mittens workshop: Hélène will tell us about the many
different styles of traditional mittens in Iceland, such as the embroidered mittens from
North Iceland, the Nordic style mittens, the two thumbed mittens, etc... She will tell us
especially about the origins and special motifs in the colorful traditional mittens from
the West fjords, called Leaf mittens. We will knit a sample from Hélène’s book.
Traditional Icelandic intarsia workshop: Once commonly seen in knitted inserts
in sheep and fish skin shoes, Icelandic intarsia is a tradition unique to Iceland. We
will knit a tiny insert in four colors with a cross motif and cover all the basic intarsia
techniques as well as the specifics of the Icelandic intarsia. Hélène will also tell us
about yarn management and give us tips for knitting the modern and challenging
designs in her book, Icelandic Color Knitting: using Rose Patterns.
Traditional Icelandic lace workshop: We will look at the characteristics of the
Icelandic lace, seen in the Old long shawls and triangular shawls but also in other
garments, accessories and dresses and explore different constructions methods. We’ll
see how designs and patterning evolved and how the unique characteristics of the
Icelandic wool played an important role.
Icelandic handknits from Textile Museum workshop: The workshop is based
on Hélène’s book, Icelandic Handknits, a collection of heirloom designs from the Textile
Museum in Blönduós (Voyageurs Press, February 2013). Hélène will present the book in
the Museum itself and we will get to knit designs from it under her special guidance.
Bring your companion with you!
Non-knitters are most welcome on all of our knitting tours. They will be able to take
short walks or participate in other local activities during the knitting workshops.
About Héléne Magnússon
Hélène is a knit designer with a degree in textile and fashion. Her research into, and many
publications about, Icelandic knitting traditions have earned her the respect of textile
historians and museum curators throughout Iceland and around the world. Hélène believes
that the best way to preserve traditions is to continue using them, giving them new life.
Her exclusive designs, inspired by tradition but with a modern twist, have been exhibited
widely both in Iceland and elsewhere. She was featured as a significant contemporary
knitwear designer in Iceland in Knitting around the world by Lela Nargi. She is the
author of Icelandic Color Knitting: using Rose Patterns, a colorful book about traditional
Icelandic intarsia and translated into many languages. Her two upcoming books, Icelandic
Handknits, a collection of heirloom designs from the Textile Museum in Blönduós and The
Icelandic lace dresses of Adalbjörg Jónsdóttir are eagerly anticipated by knitting experts
and crafters all over the world, who adore Hélène’s unique style. Hélène is the founder of
The Icelandic Knitter (icelandicknitter.com), the first Icelandic online knitting magazine,
and of Love Story yarns, a range of artisanal yarns that make the best out of the Icelandic
wool. Hélène began her professional life as a lawyer in Paris before she made a complete
life change and moved to Iceland, where she worked as a hired girl in a sheep farm and a
mountain guide. The varied skills she learned in those early years richly inform the amazing
hiking and knitting tours she now passionately guides.
„Héléne is known for her unique knitting designs with strong ties to Iceland
and Icelandic culture but with a modern twist“
www.mountainguides.is
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