Iceland Knitting Tour: Why Choose a Guided Tour Over D.I.Y for the Full Experience

Why an Iceland Knitting Tour

When I told people I was organizing and leading a knitting tour in Iceland, the first question was always, “Do you knit?”

No, I don’t knit. Well, there was that one time I made a hat years ago that I never finished. But knitting? It’s not really my thing. I’m more of an adventure seeker, drawn to outdoor challenges that push me outside my comfort zone. For years, Iceland has been my playground for these adventures.

Iceland, Women, and Wool

Since 2016, I’ve led women’s multi-sport and hiking adventures across Iceland, sharing its dramatic beauty through activities like hiking, kayaking, and horseback riding. But each year I became more and more familiar with the people and culture and I wanted to experience Iceland more intimately. The countryside, dotted with free-roaming sheep from April to September, has a deep connection to Iceland’s history—one intricately woven with sheep’s wool, a resource traditionally managed by women. At one point, cloth made by women was so valuable that it was used as currency, as precious as silver and gold.

In August 2023, I mentioned my desire to create a knitting tour to my Icelandic friend and guide, Inga. She had already been hosting knitting trips for Icelandic women with her friend, Bergrós, a renowned knitting designer. Together, they set to work creating an itinerary that blended Iceland’s natural beauty with its deep-rooted textile traditions.

As I researched more, I discovered that weaving was also linked to sorcery in Norse mythology. In the book The Valkyries’ Loom, the idea of turning a single thread into something from nothing was like magic. This sparked an idea: what if I combined my love for Icelandic landscapes, history, and folklore into a knitting tour?

And so Iceland’s Magic Yarn Knitting & Northern Lights Tour was born in partnership with Becoming an Outdoors Woman.

A D.I.Y Knitting Tour in Iceland: Tempting, But Lacking Depth

In September 2024, The New York Times published an article called “Looking for a New Way to See Iceland? Bring Your Knitting Needles.” It was a guide to creating your own D.I.Y wool journey in Iceland, outlining how to plan an Iceland Knitting Vacation with a list of stops. Sure, the author got access to some unique experiences—factory visits, co-ops, and workshops—but the itinerary missed something crucial: the heart of the experience.

On paper, a D.I.Y tour might seem like the more affordable option. You could save on guide fees, plan your own schedule, and maybe even meet some locals. But without someone who truly knows the ins and outs of Iceland’s wool and textile community, the experience lacks the richness that makes a trip truly authentic. What the New York Times article didn’t cover is the exclusivity you get on a guided tour, like ours, where personal connections turn visits into deeply personal experiences.

On our tour, Inga, my Icelandic guide, opened doors that would have remained closed to the average traveler. She welcomed us into the homes of local knitting designers and introduced us to people in the wool industry who shared their stories. These personal moments—knitting in someone’s living room, sipping coffee with artisans, or joining a traditional rettir (sheep roundup)—are what made the trip extraordinary. Each day, Inga guided us through the landscapes, and we were also joined by a renowned knitting designer who led our morning workshops, adding depth and expertise to the experience.

What Was Each Day Like?

Each morning, from 9 AM to 12:30 PM, we gathered at the hotel meeting room for relaxed knitting workshops. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, as Bergros, our knitting instructor, shared stories of Icelandic folklore, and how her mother influenced her as a knitter. While the experienced participants worked on intricate shawl designs, Bergros guided us through different techniques, offering both practical instruction and read exerpts from her book Shawls of Myth & Magic. It was a calm and supportive space, where we not only learned but also connected through shared stories and skills.

Afternoons were for exploring Iceland’s natural and cultural wonders. Here are some highlights:

• A guided tour of the National Museum, and Textile Museum where we saw wool artifacts from the 16th century.
• A visit to the Istex Wool Factory, where both Inga and Bergrós started their early careers. We learned firsthand about the process of Icelandic wool production.
• A stop at a nature spa, where we soaked in hot springs by the ocean.
• An informative experience at a goat farm to meet with and learn about Icelandic goats. We learned about how these goats almost became extinct, and the products like cheese & cashmere produced at the farm.
• Various guided walks through charming fishing villages, historical sites, and craters, all while knitting on the go.
• Shopping at a women’s handcraft cooperative where we purchased hand-spun, hand-woven, and hand-dyed wool products. 
• Visit to the workshop of a woman who dyes wool using traditional methods with plants and lichen. 
• Relaxing in hot tubs each night at country hotels.
• Late nights gazing up watching the northern lights dance across the night sky.

Vatnses Farm: A Day At Ingas’ Home 

The most intimate experience was spending a day at Inga’s farmhouse. We knitted in her living room, enjoyed traditional homemade meat soup from her kitchen, and met her sheep. Her husband, a polar explorer, took a few of us up the mountain behind the house for short hike. As her little Icelandic sheepdog bounded around the yard, we sat together in chairs under the sun, gazing at the white mountains across the fjord. It didn’t feel like a typical tourist activity—it felt like stopping by a friend’s house for the afternoon.

The Rettir: An Icelandic Tradition

The pinnacle of our trip was participating in the rettir, a centuries-old tradition where sheep are herded down from the mountains after summer grazing. Our group traveled to the Vatnsnes Peninsula, where we watched in awe as hundreds of sheep poured down the hills, guided by locals on foot, horseback, and ATVs.

The rettir wasn’t just a show for tourists—it was an authentic cultural event. We even helped sort the sheep into pens, shoulder to shoulder with Icelandic farmers and their families. Even kids join in the fun. The sense of community was palpable as we wrapped up the day with waffles and hot chocolate made by a local community of women’s cooperative, our fingers still tingling from the work and the cold air.

What Did I Learn?

Knitting became much more than a skill or craft. It was a way to connect—across generations, across cultures, and across experiences. The women who taught us carried centuries of tradition in their hands, and each stitch held a story of resilience, creativity, and community.

As our journey came to an end, I began to see knitting as a metaphor for travel itself: slow, deliberate, and layered with meaning. The satisfaction of creating something from nothing mirrored my personal growth on the trip. I didn’t finish the shawl I started, but I wasn’t disappointed. Instead, I shifted my focus to a scarf—a project more suited to my abilities. On my last day in Iceland, I asked Inga if I could take my knitting needles on the plane, unsure if security would let them through. 

Inga, ever encouraging, said, “Get ready, people are going to start asking you what you are knitting, now that you are a knitter.” I laughed, because my scarf resembled a dishrag.

I packed my yarn and needles in my carry on for the flight home.

Two hours into the flight, I took them out again. As I began knitting, my hands felt steadier than they had nine days ago. I smiled, thinking of the women on my tour, and their encouragement. I was deep in thought when the woman sitting next to me tapped my shoulder.

“What are you knitting?” she asked with a curious smile.

“A scarf,” I replied. “I’m knitting a scarf.”

Why Choose a Guided Iceland Knitting Tour Over D.I.Y?

A D.I.Y Iceland Knitting tour might save you money, but it lacks the depth and exclusive access that a guided tour provides. When you travel with local experts, you gain more than just entry into tourist sites—you’re welcomed into the homes, traditions, and stories of a community. On our knitting tour, we didn’t just see Iceland; we lived it, breathed it, and wove ourselves into its fabric.

So, the next time you plan a trip to Iceland (or anywhere else), ask yourself: Do you want a map, or do you want a guide who can open doors to experiences that go far beyond the pages of a travel article? For me, the choice is clear.

Join our next Icelandic knitting tour in 2025 and experience the magic for yourself! If you want to organize a private group trip with 10-12 of your knitting friends we can do that too. Email me at tara@3.17.200.177 to learn more

Available Now! Iceland Knitting Tours 2025

Click on the links below to check tour availability, prices, and to download brochures.

• September 7-15, 2025: Magic Yarn Iceland Knitting Tour & Northern Lights with Réttir Sheep Roundup
• September 19-26, 2025:  West Fjords Lopapeysa Sweater Knitting Tour

Visit our Women’s Adventures Tours page for all tour options.

About the Author:

Tara Short is the CEO of Green Edventures Tours. Here