Nidwalden knitting festival draws around 40 people

Around 40 people gathered in Stansstad in Nidwalden for the first regional knitting and crochet festival, SRF reported. Organiser Elena Kaiser said she had not known whether two people or 100 would attend, and called the turnout a success.

The participants made a wide range of items, including wrist warmers, sweaters and a dress for a godchild. Many were women, but several men also joined the gathering.

Some attendees were customers of Kaiser, who runs a wool shop in Stans. Others travelled from farther away. One woman from Zurich arrived by boat and said she runs her own knitting group, which meets every Thursday.

The event was called Knitwalden, a name combining the English word to knit with Nidwalden. Participants worked on hand towels, scarves and other projects while exchanging tips and conversation. One woman was making a glittery poncho and said she usually had about 20 projects in progress at the same time.

Social media has increased visibility

Knitting festivals have existed in Switzerland for some time, particularly in urban areas. Kaiser said, however, that the enthusiasm for knitting was not new and had involved both women and men for decades.

Social media had given the craft greater visibility, she said. It made it easier for people to exchange ideas and discover knitting projects from other countries. One participant was trying to recreate a Japanese wave pattern on a scarf after watching a Japanese-language YouTube video.

Kaiser welcomes the inspiration available online but prefers to keep the craft simple and rooted in everyday life. She said she did not follow Instagram trends involving knitting designers or buy expensive wool online.

She deliberately kept the festival’s setup basic, with a few beer-table sets, camping chairs and a tent in case of rain. The event was intended to be informal and relaxed. Unlike larger festivals, it had no admission fee and did not judge participants. Beginners were as welcome as experienced knitters.

Kaiser said she had received positive feedback and been encouraged to repeat the event. The first Knitwalden therefore looks set to continue.