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January 7, 2006
Yarn expedition
Yesterday, I took the train to Alkmaar, and from there the bus to Bergen (NH). Bergen is a small village on the coast of the Netherlands. It's a nice village, lots of beautiful architecture from the beginning of the 20th century. No doubt it is worth a stroll through its interesting streets and the dunes surrounding it, but first of all: it was terribly cold yesterday, and second: I was on a mission.
I was going a yarn shop which I had heard of many times for many years, but had never visited, because Bergen is so very far from any direction I usually go. But since I had the whole week off, I decided to go for it. (And it wasn't that far, 2.5 hrs from my door to the shop door). So, was it worth it?
It definately was. This is what the shop looks like:
Finlandia Import
Kleine Dorpsstraat 26
1861 KN Bergen NH
The Netherlands
072 - 589 46 42
It's quite small, but chock full with yarn. I was completely overwhelmed.
It was very difficult to take pictures of the shops interior, but these will give you an impression. On the left picture, the left wall which you almost can't see is full of Rowan yarns and special Finnish yarns which the shop imports. I don't remember what the yarns in the back are, but they were all natural yarns.
On the picture on the right, you can see some of the other yarns this shop sells. Right next to the embroidery floss stand, there is a whole closet full of Shetland 2-ply jumper wool from Jamieson & Smith. The other yarns are all put in the closets according to their color. I wish I had taken more pictures, but this will have to do. If you ever find yourself in the neighbourhood, don't hesitate to visit this shop!
So did I buy anything?
After two hours of petting yarn, taking it outside to look at it in natural light, I found myself drawn to the Shetland 2-ply. This is what I bought:
It was very difficult to pick out the colors. I plan on using them for mittens, Estonian, Latvian, Norwegian etc... And I can always order more, because now I am the proud owner of a Jamieson & Smith Shetland 2-ply jumper wool shade card:
And of course, I had to start a new project with this yarn:
I'm making a pair of Herringbone gloves. I've done these before, but the colors I used don't really go with my wintercoat. These will!
In the meantime, Mermaid is doing okay. She's slowly growing.
But right now, I'm putting everything on hold to knit a baby hat for my cousin's new-born daughter.
Posted by saartje at January 7, 2006 11:04 AM
Comments
nice yarn you bought!
I made a little hat too, and casted on 62 st.with needles 2mm. The color was white and I basted a pink lace through small holes I made in the knitting. I was very satisfied by the result.
Posted by: marie josé at January 7, 2006 12:29 PM
Oh I'm so jealous. You only spent two hours in there?? I would have stayed until they kicked me out. Too bad it's so far away.
I love the colors for your new gloves. You are really enticing me to make some myself.
Posted by: Kimberly at January 7, 2006 2:29 PM
I visited Netherlands, the area around Alkmaar 1 1/2 years ago I wish I knew about this shop then! Your new yarns look lovely! And the gloves will be so beautiful. I tried the link but it was all in japanese - and the english button didn't function! Do you read japanese?! ;)
Posted by: karen at January 7, 2006 3:28 PM
What a wonderful shop! I was in The Netherlands 3 1/2 years ago and wish I was into yarn shops back then. At the time, I was looking for patchwork shops and found only 2 in the area I was in (Amsterdam and Haarlem). I'll have to talk my husband into a return visit for yarn .
Your gloves are lovely! I can't wait to see them in a finished state.
Posted by: Dene at January 7, 2006 4:56 PM
That place looks like heaven on earth! And yet you escaped with just a few skeins of yarn. You have discipline. :-)
I really like those herringbone gloves, but just looking at the Japanese instructions gives me a headache.
Posted by: Beth S. at January 7, 2006 5:35 PM
OMG, I can dream of being in that shop and feel I've gone to heaven. Here in Hawaii, there are very few yarn shops and very little great wools, AND, they all closed for several days during the holidays.
Those gloves are great colors.
Posted by: Barb at January 7, 2006 8:08 PM
Wow! What a beautiful shop! And I can't wait to see those gloves.
Posted by: Laura at January 7, 2006 10:47 PM
Hallo Saartje,
Waanzinnige site, heel inspirerend, ben meteen aan het breien geslagen.
Wat ik mij afvroeg is of jij het patroon hebt van die ontzettend leuke trui uit interweave knits Fall 2005, de trui die ook op jouw site staan en zo ja, hoe kan ik daaraan komen?
Groet, Simone
Posted by: Simone at January 8, 2006 5:52 PM
Wow, what a shop! And lots of natural yarns, you say? Feltable? I've got to move!!
I love your picture posts :-)
Posted by: Tatjana at January 8, 2006 6:31 PM
Je hebt de juiste keuze gemaakt. Lijkt me erg moeilijk om tussen al die bollen de goede te kiezen.
Het staat nog steeds op mijn lijstje om eens naar Bergen te gaan. Ligt niet naast de deur voor mij. Maar wie weet, komt het er nog eens van.
Posted by: Berthi at January 8, 2006 7:21 PM
That's a nice little shop you visited there! I'm curious: what is the proper etiquette for taking photographs inside a shop? I've been to a number of unique yarn shops, but have been hesitant about taking photos inside without permission. I was a bit shy about asking... at the same time, I don't want to snap a quick photo when their backs are turned. Or does it matter? What do you usually do?
Posted by: Yuki at January 9, 2006 1:47 AM
hier nog een adres voor hele mooie wol:
De Schapekop
Carina v.d. Ham
Hoogstraat 30
2965 AL Nieuwpoort
tel.: 0184-602678
fax: 0184-600789
e-mail: info@deschapekop.nl
www.deschapekop.nl
Posted by: arjanne at January 9, 2006 8:41 AM
Hoi Saartje,
Een vriendin wijst mij daarnet op jouw site, gevonden in 'Landleven' en nu denk ik dat ik jou in de wolwinkel Finlandia in Bergen heb ontmoet afgelopen week. ik vond het zo leuk om te horen dat je speciaal voor deze winkel kwam. je handschoenen worden prachtig en wat is dit een leuke site. ga nog even rondneuzen. groetjes marion (van die poncho).
Posted by: marion at January 11, 2006 3:23 PM
Hello, I really like your knitting website! Thank you for the good information about the yarn shop in the Netherlands. I am going to try and go there. I am going to Brussels and Amsterdam for a week. Do you know any other good yarn shops in Brussels and Amsterdam? Thanks so much!
Posted by: Jenny at May 13, 2007 3:17 PM
Mama is ON-LINE!!!!
WWW.FINLANDIAIMPORT.NL
KOM KIJKEN!
GR LOBKE
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