On April 8, 2025, the knitting travel format Stricken & Meer officially announced its winter journey to Finland, taking place from January 17 to 23, 2026. Christine Birkel-Ryynänen will join the tour as cultural expert and accompanying speaker.
The group will travel by coach from Frankfurt or Hamburg – or individually to Travemünde – before crossing the Baltic Sea by ferry with Finnlines to Helsinki and continuing to Nurmes in North Karelia. The stay will be based at the spa hotel Bomba, located in the snowy lake district of eastern Finland.
The programme combines textile craft, regional culture and winter experiences. Planned activities include visits to a Karelian sheep farm and local craft studios, opportunities to purchase regional yarns, and excursions to husky and reindeer farms. Evenings will feature lectures, readings and shared knitting sessions, alongside Finnish culinary specialities and – weather permitting – the northern lights.
Christine Birkel-Ryynänen will contribute cultural insights and contextual knowledge on Finnish traditions, everyday life and contemporary craft culture, complementing the creative programme curated by the Stricken & Meer team.
The journey is open to knitters of all levels and is conceived as an immersive experience combining textile creativity with Nordic winter landscapes and regional heritage.
Travel period: January 17–23, 2026
Destination: Nurmes, North Karelia, Finland
Organiser: Stricken & Meer