Textil-Handwerksmarkt at Dahlem Dorf

Craft stalls in Berlin often have interesting work of high quality. I had seen an advert for a craft market in Dahlem Dorf for this weekend only, so today we took the U-bahn down there. It’s on line U7 which has many interesting stations built in the1920s, and all decorated differently. The U-bahn stationat Dahlem Dorf is thatched with folksy decoration, great wall tiles and very cute!

Here’s the entrance hall to the station.

It is a short walk from the station to Domäne Dahlem where the craft market was, an open-air museum of agrarian history which includes a working farm and boasts the oldest house in Berlin, built in 1560. http://www.berlin.de/orte/museum/freilichtmuseum-domaene-dahlem/index.en.php?lang=en

Felt (Filz) is a big thing in Germany. There were stalls selling all sorts of things hand-made in felt: hats, skirts, cushions, necklaces, badges, flowers, rings, slippers, bags, toys and vases. Weaving, crochet and knitting also featured, as well as some beautiful yarn. The farm buildings are home to a professional potter and a group of weavers and knitters who keep there ample stock of materials there. (Until now I only thought I needed a shed as a studio, now I’m getting grandieuse ideas about a barn!)

Felted knitting

Gorgeous yarns

 

Fine handweaving

 

There were several weavers and felt makers who used different techiques. Some of the felting was done by hand with a needles, some using a machine.

 

Handknitted socks are very popular here

 

 German bookshops and craft shops sell lots of books with sock patterns and instructions for making felt slippers.

 

 

 

 

 

A Christmas Market is held here on the four weekends of Advent. We’ll be back!

 

One of the delightful things about the event was what a lot of workshops there were for children to have a go at crafts. There were tables where you could learn to paint pottery, paint on silk, make beeswax candles, make felt, make paper lanterns or do French knitting.

 

Sign for a felt workshop

  

  

Painting on silk

 

 

A flower made from autumn leaves