Wool - Norwegian Fjords or Iceland

[swimfin]

Hi! We are hoping to find some nice authentic wool items on our trip this summer. (Cruising out of Copenhagen for the Norwegian Fjords cruise then we have a two day layover in Iceland) Any advice, names of stores, ports etc that you have for buying wool products? We are looking at hats, sweaters, gloves, blankets etc. Online, I saw Alafoss in Iceland and loved their puffin knit hats, yet I wanted to be prepared for possibly buying in Norway if that was better? Thanks! Cheers!

 

[Pens Fan]

We did very little shopping outside of the port stores in Norway and Iceland because we were so busy doing other things. However, we picked up a couple of things for our son in the Reykjavik store right at the port (the one you walked through on the way back to the ship. I see you aren't sailing there, but I did see their products other places). Both were https://www.icewear.is/us/ brand. He loved them. Since then we have purchased numerous things from them online. My son's college is within sight of Lake Erie which means the wind never stops blowing (bone chilling wind chills) and it snows all winter long. We bought him a lot of the Icewear items for Christmas and he swears by them. They also sell items from Norway on their website. I can't help you with the Iceland/Norway debate as to which country has the best wools, but I will say the my Icewear hat is the best snow shoveling hat I've ever owned. So warm!!

 

[aggiedog]

The Reykjavik Handknitting Association has a store at Skólavörðustígur 19, 101 Reykjavík. It's all one of a kind, hand made sweaters, etc.

Icewear is a national brand. If you go to Vik on a south coast tour, you can stop at their factory. FYI, Icelandic wool is very scratchy. All wool is a bit scratchy, but theirs is on the high end. It is quite warm, though.

 

[Anisum]

I really like the Reykjavik Handknitting Association store for wool products as well. Most of the ports in Norway I felt sold things more in line with Icewear. They all had the same few big brands. I will say that while I love the handknitted look, I went with a bigger brand because they put lining in to prevent the wool from rubbing directly against my skin.

Edit: I also forgot to add that Disney has one of the larger brands in Sea Treasures on the Norwegian Fjords cruise.

 

[ImprovGal]

Norwegian wool knitting is typically done with a skinny twisted yarn knit with fine colorwork patterns. Icelandic wool knitting is done with a bulkier untwisted yarn (many yarn shops in the states carry it -- Lopi yarn).

 

[DahliaRW]

I don't know if you port on Stavanger, but there was a really neat yarn shop there. I'm not sure if they sold knit things. If it's your port, just google. It was walking distance from the port.

 

[swimfin]

Norwegian wool knitting is typically done with a skinny twisted yarn knit with fine colorwork patterns. Icelandic wool knitting is done with a bulkier untwisted yarn (many yarn shops in the states carry it -- Lopi yarn).

WOW!!!!! THANK YOU!!!! Never knew!!!!

 

[swimfin]

We did very little shopping outside of the port stores in Norway and Iceland because we were so busy doing other things. However, we picked up a couple of things for our son in the Reykjavik store right at the port (the one you walked through on the way back to the ship. I see you aren't sailing there, but I did see their products other places). Both were https://www.icewear.is/us/ brand. He loved them. Since then we have purchased numerous things from them online. My son's college is within sight of Lake Erie which means the wind never stops blowing (bone chilling wind chills) and it snows all winter long. We bought him a lot of the Icewear items for Christmas and he swears by them. They also sell items from Norway on their website. I can't help you with the Iceland/Norway debate as to which country has the best wools, but I will say the my Icewear hat is the best snow shoveling hat I've ever owned. So warm!!

THANK YOU!!! Great to know!!!

 

[swimfin]

The Reykjavik Handknitting Association has a store at Skólavörðustígur 19, 101 Reykjavík. It's all one of a kind, hand made sweaters, etc.

Icewear is a national brand. If you go to Vik on a south coast tour, you can stop at their factory. FYI, Icelandic wool is very scratchy. All wool is a bit scratchy, but theirs is on the high end. It is quite warm, though.

THANK YOU!!!! Good to know!!!!

 

[swimfin]

I really like the Reykjavik Handknitting Association store for wool products as well. Most of the ports in Norway I felt sold things more in line with Icewear. They all had the same few big brands. I will say that while I love the handknitted look, I went with a bigger brand because they put lining in to prevent the wool from rubbing directly against my skin.

Edit: I also forgot to add that Disney has one of the larger brands in Sea Treasures on the Norwegian Fjords cruise.

THANK YOU!! Good to know!!!!

 

[swimfin]

I don't know if you port on Stavanger, but there was a really neat yarn shop there. I'm not sure if they sold knit things. If it's your port, just google. It was walking distance from the port.

THANK YOU!!!

 

[bibbidibobbidibecky]

I regret not buying something wool while in Iceland a few years ago. It was just all so darn expensive! I couldn't believe the prices on some things. I have not looked, but I hope their prices have come down some since '14. We loved the country, and plan to go back, but the food, gas and souvenirs were through the roof. Most of the tourists sites were free, so it helped balance things. Have fun!

 

[Snyders22000]

I bought a Dales of Norway wool Sweater in one of our Norway ports that I love. Very high quality and I've worn it a lot this winter. Not scratchy and very warm! They were available at most ports in Norway. Disney had a few in their onboard gift shop but they went quickly and were much more expensive than in the ports.

I bought a nice wool blanket in Reykjavik at the handknitting association. It was not cheap but I love it and it reminds me of our trip every time I look at it.

Just be prepared that the nice wool products are expensive but well made!

 

[DahliaRW]

The yarn store in Stavanger is called Magiske Masker Østervågkaien 5 Stavanger 4016. I don't think they sell pre-made things. Their website link goes to a site we aren't allowed to mention here, but if you find it you can contact them and ask and if they don't they can probably point you in the right direction.

All of the ports in Norway I've been to are very walkable. I spent a couple of hours wandering Stavanger when there and there are a ton of shops. You basically are right downtown.

When I sailed the fjords, I found that hand-knit sweaters were significantly more expensive in the tourist shops (for example in the shops on Bryggen in Bergen) then if you could get out to a regular clothing store that the locals would shop at. May be harder as a cruiser, but something to look into and research.

 

[swimfin]

I bought a Dales of Norway wool Sweater in one of our Norway ports that I love. Very high quality and I've worn it a lot this winter. Not scratchy and very warm! They were available at most ports in Norway. Disney had a few in their onboard gift shop but they went quickly and were much more expensive than in the ports.

I bought a nice wool blanket in Reykjavik at the handknitting association. It was not cheap but I love it and it reminds me of our trip every time I look at it.

Just be prepared that the nice wool products are expensive but well made!

THANK YOU!!!! Excellent information!!! Truly APPRECIATE it!!!

 

[swimfin]

The yarn store in Stavanger is called Magiske Masker Østervågkaien 5 Stavanger 4016. I don't think they sell pre-made things. Their website link goes to a site we aren't allowed to mention here, but if you find it you can contact them and ask and if they don't they can probably point you in the right direction.

All of the ports in Norway I've been to are very walkable. I spent a couple of hours wandering Stavanger when there and there are a ton of shops. You basically are right downtown.

When I sailed the fjords, I found that hand-knit sweaters were significantly more expensive in the tourist shops (for example in the shops on Bryggen in Bergen) then if you could get out to a regular clothing store that the locals would shop at. May be harder as a cruiser, but something to look into and research.

THANK YOU for the details!!! Cheers!

 

[SDJEL]

To reiterate what a previous poster said. The wool is very!!! Itchy. I bought a sweater this past winter and I have to wear a long sleeved turtleneck under it just to tolerate it. It is also very warm. Unless it is significantly below freezing I am too hot in it.