When going away I like to buy at least one piece of fabric or some yarn from a place, so I can make for myself a wearable souvenir. So how fortunate that fabric shopping in Scandinavia is fantastic!!
Our first stop; Copenhagen. I didn't find much by way fabric stores online, but I had read about a leather shop and paid it a visit.
Well.
It. Was. AWESOME.
Here can be found a lot of leathers and suedes in a variety of colours, leather needles and other working tools, and a good range of metal bits and bobs such as purse frames and handles; and buckles, snap latches and hooks used for finishing handbags and luggage. Stunned by the fabulosity within I conservatively bought only three pieces of leather. Later on I realised I had been way toooooo conservative and planned a return visit on our last day. Biggest mistake ever. My advice: buy stuff when you're there, on the spot. Because you may find, like I did, that your last shopping day in a place is unexpectedly a public holiday and the shop is shut. *silent scream* a la Edvard Munch
oh well.
Next stop; Stockholm...
and Craig's reflection in the window, wearing a shirt that I made for him too, hehe...
So I didn't buy any yarns, but do have to say something about Icelandic yarns though. Knitted items are part and parcel of Iceland. Icelandics are serious about their wool, maybe even more so than Aussies. Once you get out of the city sheep are everywhere you look and traditional Icelandic knitted items are sold and worn everywhere. It seems like everyone has and wears an Icelandic jumper, and I can't tell you how much I loved seeing this. Even regular guys pumping petrol into their monster trucks, kiddies riding their bikes, women shopping in the supermarket. Everyone rocking their Icelandic jumpers. I just loved the regional cohesiveness, and it seemed to me a really nice thing, and sorta quietly patriotic.
Speaking of supermarkets, even the supermarkets sell wool and knitting patterns. That's pretty impressive. How much do I wish we still had that here in Australia?? so much! Browsing through a knitting pattern book in one little supermarket I even found patterns for knitted wedding dresses. Consider my jaw officially dropped. Seriously, how lovely! Seeing this just made me love Iceland even more :)
Our first stop; Copenhagen. I didn't find much by way fabric stores online, but I had read about a leather shop and paid it a visit.
Well.
It. Was. AWESOME.
Skindhuset
oh well.
Next stop; Stockholm...
and Craig's reflection in the window, wearing a shirt that I made for him too, hehe...
Svenskt Tenn AB
Tygverket - Tyger i Stockholm
Ohlssons Tyger & Stuvar AB
Rainbow Tekstil AS
Nordic Store ehf.
So I didn't buy any yarns, but do have to say something about Icelandic yarns though. Knitted items are part and parcel of Iceland. Icelandics are serious about their wool, maybe even more so than Aussies. Once you get out of the city sheep are everywhere you look and traditional Icelandic knitted items are sold and worn everywhere. It seems like everyone has and wears an Icelandic jumper, and I can't tell you how much I loved seeing this. Even regular guys pumping petrol into their monster trucks, kiddies riding their bikes, women shopping in the supermarket. Everyone rocking their Icelandic jumpers. I just loved the regional cohesiveness, and it seemed to me a really nice thing, and sorta quietly patriotic.
Speaking of supermarkets, even the supermarkets sell wool and knitting patterns. That's pretty impressive. How much do I wish we still had that here in Australia?? so much! Browsing through a knitting pattern book in one little supermarket I even found patterns for knitted wedding dresses. Consider my jaw officially dropped. Seriously, how lovely! Seeing this just made me love Iceland even more :)
So no, I didn't buy any yarn, sadly not enough space in the suitcase... but yes! I did buy an Icelandic knitting book! Expect some Icelandic-style cosiness to pop up here, at some stage ;)