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About this trip
Join our favorite guide in Scandinavia, Andrew Hutter, as we experience historic sites and museums in the Old Town and new Stockholm, including a knitting class with Maria's Garn, before heading north to explore Dalecarlia region known for Carl Larsson birthplace, painted wooden horses, the Anders Zorn Museum, and the Arts & Crafts Sweden Center.
Then, after a tour at the Gudron Sjoden design center and time in their warehouse store, we head through the Stockholm archipelago that contains nearly 24,000 islands enroute to Finland on an overnight dinner cruise. Save room in your bags for a yarn shop crawl through Helsinki in search of locally-sourced and milled Finn wool brands that are hard to get in the US including Myssy Wool and Tuku Yarn. And wrap it all up with a class with Finland’s best known knitwear designer Veera Valimaki.
About our host
Mary Jeanne Packer, the founder of Battenkill Textile Tours LLC, has been leading groups of knitters and fiber enthusiasts on trips around the world (and around the corner) since 2006 when she put a small ad in the national knitting magazines to see if anyone might want to come and spend a few days knitting, wine tasting, and visiting fiber farms in the Finger Lakes; and 20 people signed up! Those first 20 said they would "like to go to Ireland sometime"; and the rest is history. Mary Jeanne is the founder and co-owner of Battenkill Fibers Carding and Spinning Mill in Greenwich, NY.
What’s included
- Tour guide/manager
- Luxury coach with driver
- 3 -4 Star hotels
- Porterage service
- Daily breakfast
- Seven dinners
- Three lunches
- Overnight cruiseIncludes dinner and drinks
- Three WorkshopsAs listed in the itinerary
- Museum admissionsAs listed in itinerary
- GratuitiesFor tour director, bus driver, group meals, and porter service
What’s not included
- AirfareFor travel to and from Scotland
- TransfersTo and from airport
- Room service
- Alcoholic beverages
- Personal itemsIncluding phone calls, snacks, etc.
Available Packages
Price per person for two people sharing one room with two standard beds or sofa beds and private bathroom
One room with one bed and private bathroom.
Available options
One extra night plus breakfast for early arrivals. Price per person for a double room with two beds. No other tour services are offered this day. Please make your own arrangements for activities.
One extra night in a single room with private bath, includes breakfast. No other tour services are offered - please make your own arrangements for activities.
Itinerary
Day 1: Friday, September 26: Stockholm: AT Six Hotel (B,D)
Make your way to the trendy At Six Hotel, with a great location between the old town (Gamla Stan) and the shopping district. After checking into your Superior class rooms, you’ll have time to explore the nearby sights. The whole group will meet for a welcome dinner at the hotel.
Day 2: Saturday, September 27: Stockholm: AT Six Hotel (B)
After enjoying a sumptuous buffet breakfast, we’ll meet in the lobby for a stroll through Gamla Stan. While walking the narrow medieval streets we’ll pass the Royal Palace, Parliament, churches and scenic buildings. We’ll end up at the ferry to Djurgården which we’ll take as a group and visit the Nordiska Museum. After your visit there, you’ll have free time to choose among the many museums in Djurgården, including the Vasa Ship Museum, the Skansen open air folk museum and the Abba Museum. You can of course use this day to shop as well and visit museums tomorrow. Lunch and dinner are on your own.
Day 3: Sunday, September 28, Stockholm AT SIX (B,D)
Today we’ll divide into two small groups for a half day Floral Stripes workshop with Maria Gustafsson from Maria’s Garn. Half the group will be with her in the morning and half in the afternoon, which gives you time to visit the museums you’d like to see.In the evening, we all meet for dinner at a nearby restaurant.
Day 4: Monday , September 29, Dalecarlia Hotel & Spa (B,L,D)
This morning we leave Stockholm for a three day stay in Dalecarlia, the heart of Sweden’s rural folk area. On the way, we’ll make a stop at home of one Sweden’s most famous artists, Carl Larsson. His home, much of which is adorned with his paintings, had a huge influence on Swedish interior design and family life and, through Ikea, has impacted families all around the world. We include a Swedish Smörgås (open faced sandwich) for lunch here. We then continue on for an early afternoon arrival to the Dalecarlia Hotel & Spa. After checking into our Deluxe rooms with a lake view, you’ll have time to visit the spa or get a treatment before our group dinner.
Day 5: Tuesday, September 30, Dalecarlia Hotel & Spa (B,D)
Today we visit Nusnæs where they make the Dala Horses, which has become the symbol of Sweden. You can watch a demonstration of the horses being made. After that we’ll drive along Lake Siljan to Mora, the capital of Dalecarlia and the site of the Vasaloppet, the world’s biggest cross-country ski race. After lunch on your own, we’ll visit the lovely Mora Hemslöjd Craft Shop for inspiration, shopping and embroidery kits; and then head to the Anders Zorn Museum and home, dedicated to Sweden’s most famous painter. Arrive back at Hotel & Spa in time for afternoon spa treatments. Group dinner at the hotel.
Day 6: Wednesday, October 1, Dalecarlia Hotel & Spa (B,L,D)
Today, you’ll enjoy a full day Workshop in Band Weaving and a lecture on Swedish traditional dress with Kristi Mann at Art & Crafts Sweden. We’ll have lunch and a Swedish Fika break at the workshop. Arrive back at Hotel & Spa in time for afternoon spa treatments. Group dinner at the hotel.
Day 7: Thursday, October 2, Drive to Silja Line cruise to Helsinki (B,L,D)
This morning we leave Dalecarlia and after making a stop at the Gudrun Sjøden’s outlet tour for a talk with a designer, a light lunch and time to shop, we’ll visit Millesgård the home and sculpture park of Sweden’s most famous sculptor, Carl Milles. After that, we board our overnight cruise to Helsinki. Departing Stockholm, our cruise ship will weave through thousands of small islands. Dinner with drinks is included this evening.
Day 8: Friday, October 3: Helsinki, Solo Sokos Helsinki of Hobo hotel (B)
After breakfast on our ship, we’ll disembark mid-morning in Helsinki and transfer to our central hotel. We’ll then go on an orientation walk showing you all the nearby sites and shops and end up at the Market Square, where you can have lunch on your own at one of the many stalls serving seafood, the nearby food hall or a café. The rest of the day is free for a yarn crawl, shopping or visiting other museums before a possible visit from designer Anna Makila and group dinner at the hotel.
Day 9: Saturday, October 4: Helsinki, Solo Sokos Helsinki or Hobo hotel (B,D)
This morning we’ll have a color planning workshop including using short rows in intarsia with Veera Vilamaki You’ll have the afternoon free before a possible last night reception and pop up with Laurel Knits, a hand dyer known for her vibrant, saturated colorways. We will all meet for a group farewell dinner at a nearby restaurant.
Day 10: Sunday, October 5 (B)
Tour ends after breakfast.