Jump in the Armchair and Let’s Go

Dear Ann,

There’s nothing like armchair travel. For one thing, you can knit while doing it. Also: no security lines, no passport control, and no packing.

The idea of a series of knitter-guided tours to interesting destinations, with stops for yarn and other things that make life interesting and delicious, was one of the first things we jotted down on the endless legal-pad lists we made before re-launching MDK in 2016.

The idea had legs. We’ve taken fantastic tours of places we’ve (mostly) never been, guided by intrepid knitters with local knowledge, who know how to take a picture.

Up top is a slideshow that is the equivalent of spilling a Kodak Carousel on the table. For context, click on the links to the articles below.

Let’s retrace our virtual 2017 footsteps.

Melanie Falick took us to workshops for makers in a heavenly French crafteau (get it?), and also to visit artisans in India.

With Dianna Walla, we went arctic, with three Norwegian adventures: to Norway’s wool festivals and also to the cities of Bergen and Oslo.

Liz Kaplan took us to the enchanting Fiber Farm in Tennessee.

Albina McLaughlin gave us an in-depth look at Ireland’s County Donegal, home of the mills that spin Donegal’s legendary tweed yarns.

Max Daniels took a break from life coaching to take us on a day trip to Salem, Massachusetts.

(In this photo, Gale is not in Israel or New Haven. She’s in Monteagle, Tennessee, taking Christmas photos in July, with two young models who look familiar.)

Gale Zucker, who started this series in 2016, led us to two very different places that are dear to her heart: Israel and New Haven, Connecticut.

My feet are tired, but my heart is full of gratitude for the curiosity, sense of adventure, and storytelling eye of each of our contributors.

Let’s take a winter’s nap, and rest up for more travels with knitters in 2018.

Love,

Kay