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Danube Christmas Market

Knit Retreat 2025

Nuremberg, Germany to Budapest, Hungary

29 November - 06 December, 2025

Our Special Guests

Mary Jane Mucklestone -  Knit Designer, Knit Instructor & Author - USA

Patty Lyons - Knit Designer, Knit Instructor & Author - USA

Along with many knitting and crochet experiences onboard AMALea, you will travel back through centuries as you walk along cobblestone streets through grand cities and historic towns bedecked with twinkling Christmas trees and lined with wooden huts gleaming with handcrafted treasures. Iconic Christmas markets are plentiful and are on full display for your pleasure. Nuremberg’s festive Christkindlesmarkt, the largest and oldest Christmas market in Germany; Regensburg’s Christmas market at Thurn and Taxis Castle, considered one of Bavaria’s most beautiful and romantic; Vienna with its impressive Christmas markets that seem to majestically appear around every corner; and Budapest’s Vörösmarty Square, where products sold in the market are traditionally handmade are yours to explore. Sparkling lights; the festive sounds of children dressed as angels singing carols; enticing smells of hot-mulled wine, roasted chestnuts, sausages and sweet treats of every kind; and timeless wonders are a feast for all your senses.

PATTY LYONS

Knit Designer, Knit Instructor &  Author

PATTY LYONS is a recognized knitting teacher and technique expert from America who is known for teaching the “why” not just the “how” in her pursuit of training the “mindful knitter”. She specializes in sweater design and sharing her love of the much-maligned subjects of gauge and blocking.

Patty teaches nationally at guilds, shops, and knitting shows around the country as well as hosting her own retreats. Her popular classes can also be found on DVD and online on her education site. This Christmas Market Knit Retreat will be Patty's second appearance with SPJ Retreats.

MARY JANE MUCKLESTONE

Knit Instructor, Knit Designer & Author

MARY JANE MUCKLESTONE is a knitwear designer, teacher, and author of six knitting books specializing in stranded colorwork. Her volumes, 200 Fair Isle Motifs and 150 Scandinavian Motifs, sit on thousands of knitter's bookshelves worldwide. Endlessly inspired by traditional knitting, she likes to apply vintage ideas to modern knits.

Mary Jane teaches internationally, specializing in lively informative classes where history, craft, fashion, and location meet. She loves to teach, offering lots of personal attention, with the aim of giving students the courage to trust themselves and try something new!

STEPHANIE EARP &

NAOMI ENDICOTT

Espace Tricot, Montreal PQ

Espace Tricot is a LYS in Montreal, Quebec.  Whether you're new to this delightful craft, or an experienced stitcher, or anything in between our wide selection of natural-breed specific fibres and hand-dyed beauties cater for knitters of all skill levels.  Owners Stephanie and Naomi are longtime knitters and teachers who love a challenge, thrive on intricate colour work and offbeat sweater constructions - but there's always a simple stockinette project lurking in the background!

DEB MCDONALD &

JANINE SMITH

Skein Sisters, Sydney, Australia

Deb and Janine met while working at the Foundation & Friends of the Botanic Gardens in the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. They soon discovered their mutual love of yarn. 
Becoming frustrated at not being able to find the yarns they wanted in Australia plus the cost and difficulty of ordering overseas, the idea of Skein Sisters was born. Deb and Janine are both so grateful that Skein Sisters has found its place at the heart of Australia's crafting community.

AMALea Deck Plan