Knitting Through the Land of Fire and Ice: A Recap of Our Iceland Fiber Adventure

Iceland offers more than just stunning landscapes and natural wonders. For knitters, crocheters, and weavers, it's also has a HUGE knitting tradition - full of craftsmanship and pride. In April 2026, Christine of PeaceTree Fiber Adventures and I co-hosted a unique knitting tour across this remarkable country. Each day brought new experiences, from exploring yarn factories to soaking in geothermal lagoons, all set against Iceland’s dramatic backdrop. Here is a day-by-day recap of our fiber-filled journey through the land of fire and ice.

Day 1: Arrival and Reykjavik Food Tour

Our adventure began the moment we landed in Reykjavik. We kicked off with a guided food tour that introduced us to Icelandic flavors — fresh seafood, rye bread, and fermented shark! This culinary exploration was the perfect way to connect with Iceland’s culture before diving into the fiber world.

We decided that a visit to Silfa, an Icelandic jewelry shop that specializes in knitting themed jewelry, was in order. During our visit with Anna, we bought necklaces and earrings that hold stitch markers and keep count of our rows. It was a lot of fun!

The day ended with a warm welcome dinner where we got to know one another and share our knitting stories and excitement for the week.

PS - while it wasn't on our formal itinerary, a few of us visited the Icelandic Phallological Museum and really, really enjoyed it. The giggles it gave us throughout the trip were endless.

Day 2: Exploring the Golden Circle and Fridheimar Tomato Farm

Our second day brought us to Iceland’s iconic Golden Circle. This route combines history, geology, and natural beauty in a way few places can match. We visited Þingvellir National Park, where Iceland’s parliament was founded, and admired the rift valley marking the meeting of two tectonic plates.

After exploring some of the Golden Circle, we had lunch at the Fridheimar Tomato Farm. The greenhouse, heated by geothermal energy, grows tomatoes year-round. We enjoyed a light lunch surrounded by lush greenery. After lunch we were treated to a special Icelandic Horse meet-and-greet and gait demonstration.

We then continued exploring the Golden Circle, saw geysers, waterfalls, and so much of the beautiful Icelandic landscape before heading back to Reykjavik for dinner and some knitting time.

Day 3: ISTEX Factory and West Coast Wonders

Day three was a highlight for yarn lovers. We started the day at the Handknitting Guild Association shop in Reykjavik and got to see the impressive hand-knit designs that showcase the country’s deep knitting heritage. We then toured the ISTEX factory, the home of Lopi yarn, famous worldwide for its quality and connection to Icelandic sheep. Seeing the production process up close—from raw wool to finished skeins—gave us a new appreciation for the craftsmanship behind every stitch. Plus, who doesn't LOVE a factory tour?!

As we drove west, we stopped for some yarn shopping at Þingborg Ullarverslun, an amazing yarn shop with stunning hand-dyed Icelandic wools and unique handknit sweaters and accessories. At our hotel that night, we had an after-dinner knitting session. We crocheted Aurora Borealis necklaces and began working on our stranded colorwork hats.

Day 4: Traditional Wool Dyeing and Mini Mill Visit

We started our day with a wonderful tour of the Uppspuni Mini Mill & Yarn Shop, a small-scale facility where raw wool transforms into beautiful yarns and sweaters. There, Hulda dazzled us with a yarn fiber lesson and then let us explore her yarn mill. We bought some amazing yarns from her and then had a delicious lunch nearby.

The afternoon was dedicated to hands-on learning and a phenomenal mid-afternoon snack at Hespa Yarns Iceland with the amazing Gudrun. We took a workshop on traditional Icelandic wool dyeing, using natural dyes derived from local plants. We worked in teams, dying skeins of yarn using all sorts of different dyes. The natural dyeing process was fascinating, and everyone left with a small skein of uniquely colored yarn.

Day 5: Adventures in a Glacial Lagoon!

We explored Iceland's southern coast - touring breathtaking landscapes and geological wonders. We visited Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon, where stunning icebergs drift on serene, deep blue waters. There, we got to see (and hear!) this incredible wonder as we drifted through large pieces of glacial ice. Afterwards, we visited Diamond Beach, a black sand beach where chunks of glacial ice wash up on shore and look like diamonds. It was an incredible day, followed by our stay in the charming coastal town of Vik.

Day 6: Knitting the Icelandic Way

Our sixth day was relaxing in the lovely town of Vik. I taught a workshop in Two-Handed Stranded Colorwork and Christine taught Intarsia techniques. We had a chance to walk around town to shop, a few of us took a hike up to the iconic hilltop church, and one of our travelers even rode an Icelandic horse on the beach! In Vik, there's a lovely yarn shop that also produces a lot of the machine-made knits sold in the gift shops around Iceland. We got to see the knitting machines and finishing process up-close.

Day 7: Taking a Dip in the Sky Lagoon

On our final day of touring, we visited two amazing waterfalls. The first was Skógafoss and it was breathtaking. With nesting birds along the surrounding cliffs, it was a striking vision of nature. The second waterfall we visited was Seljalandsfoss. This 200-foot glacial-fed waterfall has a deep path behind it and visitors are allowed to walk behind the waterfall. Many of us did and it was magnificent.

Just outside of Reykjavik is the Sky Lagoon. We stopped there in the afternoon and relaxed in the geothermically-heated waters and enjoyed their traditional seven-step ritual. It was incredible.

We had our farewell dinner in Reykjavik and my favorite part was asking the travelers how they would describe the trip in one word:

Amazing. Learning. Exploring. Friendship. Adventure. Community. Laughter. Incredible.

With great thanks to my fantastic travel agent, Talya, from Alice Travel. What a wonderful adventure!

See you on the next knitting adventure!