Italy Knitting Experience: Made in Tuscany

A Tuscany knitting tour exploring Italy’s textile heritage, artisan traditions and culture of making.

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Spend a little time in Tuscany, with good food, beautiful places, interesting people and plenty of knitting.

Italy

Knit in Italy!

Tour Dates and Pricing

Prato & Chianti

2027 Oct 31 - Nov 9

10 Days

from $5,695

Tour Details

Settle into the rhythms of Tuscany among hill towns, vineyard-covered landscapes, beautiful food, centuries of craftsmanship, and time to slow down and enjoy where you are.

We’ll knit together, wander stone villages, spend time with artisans and fiber producers, share memorable meals, and move through the countryside at an unhurried pace. Some mornings are made for workshops; some afternoons are meant for wandering, lingering over lunch or finding a quiet place to knit.

Along the way, we’ll discover a side of Tuscany many travelers never see. In Prato, one of the world’s great textile centers, centuries of wool knowledge meet contemporary production, innovative design, and a remarkable culture of reuse and reinvention. It adds a fascinating contrast to the softer rhythm of Chianti and deepens the connection between materials, place and the people who make things here.

Knitting remains at the heart of our time together, including a special Mystery Knit-Along, but it becomes part of something larger: a shared experience of creativity, craftsmanship, connection and the simple pleasure of being in Tuscany.

For those who want to continue, Made in Florence adds three nights in the city, with two artisan-focused days exploring carefully selected workshops and studios with Hailey, along with time to enjoy Florence at your own pace.

Tour Highlights

The Italy Knitting Experience: Made in Tuscany

Knit together in the heart of Tuscany while exploring its rich traditions of textiles, craftsmanship and making.
Discover Prato, one of the world’s great textile centers, where centuries of expertise meet contemporary production, design and innovation.
Go behind the scenes of yarn and textile production and explore Italy’s remarkable culture of reuse and reinvention.
Meet weavers, fiber producers, artisans and other makers who keep Tuscan traditions alive.
Enjoy hands-on knitting workshops and a special Mystery Knit-Along inspired by the journey.
Experience the landscapes and villages of Chianti, with time in Siena, Castellina and the surrounding countryside.
Savor Tuscan food and wine through carefully chosen meals, a cooking experience and encounters with local producers.
Enjoy an unhurried balance of creative experiences, cultural discovery, knitting and time to simply enjoy being in Tuscany.
Connect with fellow knitters and share an experience shaped by curiosity, creativity and a love of making.

Tips for Travelers

Companions welcome! Non-knitters can join as observers or enjoy free time exploring.
Save room in your suitcase—you’ll want to bring home yarny treasures!
We handle the details so you can focus on knitting, culture, and connection.
Every skill level is welcome—whether you’re a seasoned knitter or just learning.

Made in Florence Optional Extension

Two Additional Days of Artisans, Workshops & Creative Florence

Why stop when there’s more to discover? Continue your Italy Knitting Experience with Made in Florence, a three-night extension with a smaller group that takes the spirit of making from the Tuscan countryside into the heart of Florence.

With Hailey, we’ll spend two days stepping inside a carefully selected collection of artisan workshops and studios, meeting the people behind the work and seeing traditional skills practiced, adapted and carried forward today. Rather than rushing between Florence’s famous sights, we’ll focus on smaller, more personal encounters with the makers who continue to shape the city’s creative identity.

There’s also time to enjoy Florence independently, whether you’re drawn to museums, shopping, food, wandering its historic streets or simply settling into the rhythm of the city.

3 additional nights in Florence • Two curated artisan-focused days • Two specially selected Florentine meals

Meet Your Hosts

Hailey Hodge

Hailey’s creative practice brings together painting, drawing, printmaking, knitting, and crochet. A studio art professor based in Florence, Italy, she was raised in the United States and now calls Tuscany home, where she works and teaches in both English and Italian.

Her love of fiber arts began at age seven and has grown into a passion for taking complex patterns and transforming them into simple, wearable pieces of art. Living in Italy has also deepened her appreciation for the country’s rich textile heritage and the traditions that continue to shape contemporary making.

When she isn’t teaching or working on her own creative projects, Hailey enjoys spending time in nature and traveling throughout Italy, discovering the regional dishes and local character that make each place distinct.

Resonate Tours

Alex Hay and William Kyle in straw fedoras and sunglasses, with the sea in the distance.

William Kyle and Alex Hay founded Resonate Tours based on their shared passion for European culture and travel.

William lived in Florence, Italy while studying architecture in college. He fell in love with the urban lifestyle steeped in history, a contrast with his life growing up in the suburbs of Los Angeles. Over the two years he lived in Florence, he learned to speak fluent Italian and developed deep friendships that he's maintained ever since. He has since visited Italy dozens of times, and has other favorite haunts across Europe. In addition to his Italian, William does quite well in Portuguese and not as well in Spanish.

Similarly, Alex studied abroad in Spain not once, but twice! Adapting to a foreign culture and learning a new language fascinated him and he developed a lifelong passion for travel and exploring new cultures. He's visited more than 20 countries across Europe, Latin America and Asia. He speaks Portuguese and Spanish, decent Italian and about thirty words of Mandarin Chinese.

A life of living in various cities in multiple countries has led William and Alex to reside in Lisbon, Portugal, a 21st-century intersection of world cultures.

What's Included

Our tours offer the perfect mix of guided activities and free time to explore at your own pace. Some days are busier than others, but most include at least one group activity and a shared meal to bring everyone together.

Price Includes

MAIN TOUR

9 nights in 4-star accommodations, chosen for comfort, character and a welcoming place to relax or knit at the end of the day.
Knitting workshops and textile experiences designed to inspire creativity and deepen your connection to the places we visit.
Cultural and artisan experiences that bring Tuscany’s history, traditions and contemporary making culture to life.
European breakfast each morning at the hotel.
One curated lunch or dinner each day, highlighting local food, regional specialties and shared time around the table.
Group transportation throughout the experience, except when we’re exploring on foot.
All entrance fees for included group activities and experiences, so you can simply enjoy the journey.

FLORENCE EXTENSION

Maximum 12 guests for a personalized experience.
3 nights in 4-star accommodations.
2 days of artisan visits with possible interactive demonstrations and workshops, to be customized after registration.
European breakfast each morning at the hotel.
One curated lunch each day, highlighting Florentine specialties.
Group transportation by minivan.
All entrance fees for included group activities and experiences.

Not Included

Airfare to/from Italy.
Transfers from airport to the first group hotel.
Transfers from the final drop-off point in Florence.

Available Extras (additional cost)

Made in Florence 3-night artisan extension.
View rooms in both Prato and Castellina in Chianti hotels.
Airport/hotel pick-up and drop-off.
Upgrade to Single Occupancy.
Additional meals and drinks.

Other Information

All prices are in US Dollars.
Group size: minimum 14, maximum 18
The tour begins in Prato and ends in Florence.
Best arrival and departure airport is Florence Peretola (FLR).
Alternatives are Pisa Galileo Galilei (PSA) or Bologna Guglielmo Marconi (BLQ).
Standard price is based on two people sharing a room.
Initial deposit is US$795 followed by three installments.

Typical Itinerary

This itinerary gives you a great snapshot of what’s in store, but a few details might shuffle as we lock in bookings. If your tour ends up a day longer or shorter, we’ll tweak things to keep the adventure seamless. Whatever changes come, you can count on the same level of amazing experiences and unforgettable vibes!

Day 1

Prato Cathedral with the bright blue night sky in the background

Welcome to Tuscany

History & Textile Heritage

Arrive in Prato and settle into the city before joining a local guide for an introductory walk through the historic center. Along the way, begin to discover how wool, trade and textile production helped shape Prato into one of the world’s great textile centers. We’ll gather afterward for our welcome and orientation, followed by dinner together.

Day 2

Cones of brightly colored yarn in an artesinal shop in Chianti

Prato

Yarn Production & Contemporary Textiles

Go behind the scenes at a working yarn producer to see contemporary textile production in action and begin our Mystery Knit-Along with a direct connection to Prato’s textile industry. After lunch, we shift from production to experimentation with a visit focused on contemporary textile design, materials and creative practice. Together, the two experiences reveal just how broad Prato’s textile story has become.

Day 3

Multi-colored fiber sandwiched between corrugated cardboard to make a newly-fashioned chair

Prato

Textile History, Recycling & Reinvention

Explore Prato’s textile heritage with a guided visit to the Museo del Tessuto (Textile Museum), tracing the city’s evolution from historic wool production to one of the world’s leading textile centers. Later, we look at another defining part of Prato’s story: the culture of recycling, reuse and reinvention that continues to shape how textiles are produced here today.

Day 4

Happy and hungry people preparing a Tuscan lunch with a local chef

Chianti

Cooking, Countryside & a Change of Pace

Leaving Prato behind, we head into the Tuscan countryside for a hands-on cooking experience followed by lunch together. From there, we continue through the rolling hills and villages of Chianti, slowing the pace as we make our way to Castellina in Chianti, our home for the next six nights.

Day 5

Castellina in Chianti

Knitting, Weaving & Time to Unwind

Settle into the slower rhythm of Chianti with a morning knitting workshop and time to work on our Mystery Knit-Along together. The afternoon is yours to wander Castellina, browse its shops, relax or simply find a favorite spot to knit. Later, we visit a local weaving studio before gathering for dinner together.

Day 6

Siena

Knitting, History & Independent Discovery

Spend the day in Siena, beginning with a visit to a local yarn shop and a short introduction to the city’s history and character. From there, enjoy time to explore independently, whether that means wandering medieval streets, visiting a museum, shopping, lingering over lunch or simply taking in the rhythm of one of Tuscany’s most distinctive cities.

Day 7

Loom in an artesanal weaving studio in Chianti

Colle di Val d’Elsa & Monteriggioni

Textile Making & Medieval Tuscany

Explore another side of Tuscan making with a textile-focused visit in the Colle di Val d’Elsa area, followed by a second hands-on or machine-based fiber experience. Later, enjoy time in Monteriggioni, where the preserved medieval walls and compact village offer a striking contrast to the day’s creative encounters.

Day 8

Fashionable young knitwear designer holding a day-old cashmere goat

Chianti

Cashmere, Wine & the Tuscan Landscape

Spend the day closer to the source with a visit focused on cashmere, the animals, fiber and people behind it, and the connection between textile production and the Tuscan landscape. Later, we stop with a small local wine producer for a relaxed tasting before returning to Castellina, bringing together fiber, agriculture and the flavors of Chianti.

Day 9

Castellina in Chianti

Knitting, Free Time & Farewell

Return to the needles with a second knitting workshop and time to bring our Mystery Knit-Along together. The afternoon is left open for one last relaxed stretch in Castellina before we gather again for an informal MKAL happy hour and farewell dinner, celebrating the people, places and making traditions that have shaped our time in Tuscany.

Day 10

Florence

Onward Travel & Optional Extension

Enjoy a relaxed final morning in Castellina before traveling together to Florence, where the Made in Tuscany experience comes to a close. Continue your travels independently, extend your stay in Florence, or join our optional 3-night Made in Florence extension for a deeper look at the city’s artisan traditions and workshops.

EXTENSION

Guests learning traditional Tuscan ceramic painting techniques around a workshop table with brushes, pigments and hand-painted pottery.

Florence Extension

Artisans, Workshops & Time in the City

Continue your journey with three additional nights in Florence. Enjoy two days of carefully selected artisan workshop and studio visits, with time to meet makers, see traditional skills in practice and explore how Florence’s creative traditions continue to evolve today. The extension also includes free time to enjoy the city independently, along with a closing happy hour.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Are transfers available to and from the airport at the start and end of the tour?

Yes! We can arrange transfers to and from the airport from our starting and ending hotels. The current prices appear on the registration page. Transfers can added or removed up to 30 days before the start of the tour, so no need to decide right away.

Do I need to bring knitting needles or supplies?

We’ll provide all materials and tools needed for the Mystery Knit Along (MKAL). If you plan to work on your own projects during the trip, we recommend bringing any supplies you'll want for those. You’ll also have opportunities to pick up beautiful yarns and tools from local shops once you're here.

How much walking and physical activity is required?

Our tours are active and immersive—exploring this country's rich textile heritage means being on your feet! Here’s what to expect:

• Walking on uneven terrain, including cobblestone streets, hills, and some stairs
• Standing/walking for up to three hours during workshops, guided tours, and artisan visits
• Handling your own luggage, including rolling/carrying it over short distances

While we move at a comfortable pace, travelers should be prepared for moderate physical activity and varied weather conditions. If you have concerns about mobility, let us know—we’re happy to help you determine if this tour is a good fit!

What is the itinerary for the trip? How close is the listed itinerary to what we'll actually do?

This tour page includes the general itinerary for the tour. This itinerary will be pretty close to the experience of the actual tour. Of course, since the tours are months away, it's possible some of the details will need to be adjusted or reordered since not all of the activities can be booked so far in advance. So, the general itinerary should give you a very good idea of what kind of experience you can expect, but we cannot guarantee that all of the individual experiences will be as listed or occur on the indicated day. We strive to ensure that if we adjust the itinerary, everything will still be of the same character and quality.

What level of knitter do I have to be to participate? Will it be over my head?

All knitters are welcome—whether you’ve just picked up your first pair of needles or you’ve been knitting for decades. These tours are about connecting with other knitters and enjoying the creative world of fiber arts, not about measuring skill levels. While this is a knitting-focused tour, many of our activities explore fiber arts and cultural traditions more broadly, so there’s plenty to enjoy even when you’re not holding needles.

The only activities that specifically require knitting are our Mystery Knit-Along (MKAL) and the workshop. Both are designed to be approachable. The MKAL can be done at your own pace, with guidance from our tour knitting leader if you’d like extra help. During the workshop, the instructor will be there to support you—or you’re welcome to simply watch, learn, and take the materials home to finish later.

No pressure, no prerequisites—just inspiration, community, and creativity at whatever pace feels right for you.

I don't have a roommate, is it possible to share a room with someone else on the tour?

We typically have travelers looking to share rooms and are happy to introduce potential roommates. Once we have all of the registrations in, we can put you in touch with others that are looking to share, so you can be sure that you'll enjoy your time together. We understand it's a challenge spending so much time with someone you haven't met before!

How many people will be on this tour?

The tour has a minimum number of 14 participants and a maximum of 18.