Keeping the community alive in Grindavík

Sisters Marta and Lilja Karlsdóttir, owners of the knitting shop Prjónasystur, are determined to maintain their craft community despite the challenges posed by volcanic activity in Grindavík, Iceland. They established their shop in Grindavík eight years ago with the primary goal of fostering a local handcraft community, an idea that emerged when a previous knitting store was slated for closure.

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The main purpose was to maintain a handcraft community in Grindavík.

Following the evacuation of Grindavík in November 2023 due to volcanic eruptions, the sisters faced the immediate task of relocating their inventory. Marta, who lived in Grindavík with her family, was fortunate that their house was not damaged. They managed to retrieve their stock in stages. Initially, the entire inventory was moved to Lilja's home in Njarðvík, creating a temporary, albeit crowded, storage space.

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We were incredibly lucky to have such good support; otherwise, this would never have worked out.

"We were incredibly lucky to have such good support; otherwise, this would never have worked out," Marta stated, crediting a friend, Piotr Jakubek, owner of Mini Market in Reykjanesbær, for allowing them to store their remaining stock and even personal belongings in his nearly empty laundry room. "I think Piotr genuinely saved the shop, and me too, as I could store my belongings with him."

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I think Piotr genuinely saved the shop, and me too, as I could store my belongings with him.

Prjónasystur's online store resumed operations once the inventory was secured. While their customers were understanding, the sisters acknowledge that their focus has shifted. "We will not return to Grindavík as things stand now," Marta said. "Neither of us lives there anymore, and few of our customers are going back, so we don't see the conditions for it right now." However, she added, "I would never say never."

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We will not return to Grindavík as things stand now.