---
okf_version: "0.2"
type: "Article"
title: "The blue aprons of South Tyrol’s Sarntal"
description: "On our day excursion to the Sarntal Valley, the “blue apron” artisans welcomed us in their workshops and let us look over their shoulders."
resource: "https://travelmemo.com/italy/sarntal-south-tyrol-blue-apron"
language: en
author: "Letizia Lorenzetti"
publisher: "Travelmemo"
photo_count: 8
tags: ["Culture", "Rural", "Italy"]
entities:
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/italy"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/suedtirol"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/culture"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/rural-tourism"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/excursion-tips"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/luxury-travel"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/organizations/swiss-international-air-lines"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/organizations/booking-com"
generated: { by: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/lorenzettil", at: 2026-07-04T14:17:44+00:00 }
sources:
  - id: photos
    resource: sarntal-south-tyrol-blue-apron.md#photos
    title: "Original photography by Walter Schärer"
    author: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/walter-schaerer"
    last_modified: 2017-11-09
timestamp: 2026-07-04T14:17:44+00:00
---

# The blue aprons of South Tyrol’s Sarntal

> The Sarntal Valley in South Tyrol, Italy, is home to a cluster of traditional artisans—quill embroiderers, wood turners, and hand weavers—who continue centuries-old craft techniques under the shared 'Sarner Gschick' quality brand.

## What to see
- **Thaler Quill Embroidery (Federkielstickerei Thaler)** — Third-generation workshop where peacock feather quills are split and used to embroider leather in decorative motifs, including traditional Sarntal costume belts.
- **Fritz Wood Turnery (Drechslerei Fritz)** — Swiss pine workshop offering hands-on wood-turning and burning; stools made here were used at EXPO 2015 Milano.
- **Unterweger Handweaving (Handweberei Unterweger)** — Family workshop using an old loom and antique carding machine to sort, hand-wash, and weave sheep's wool into high-quality textile products.

## What to do
- **Watch quill embroidery in progress** — Observe artisans splitting peacock feather quills and embroidering leather; single pieces can take up to three months to complete.
- **Try wood turning and burning** — Visitors can turn Swiss pine plates and use a wood-burning tool to decorate them with a traditional Sarntal hat motif.
- **Explore the Sarner Gschick brand** — Browse wares from valley craftspeople united under the 'Sarner Gschick' (Sarn style) label, representing the region's traditional manufacturing heritage.

## Good to know
Sarnthein (Sarentino) is the main village of the Sarntal Valley in South Tyrol, Italy. The Sarner Gschick collective brand (www.sarner-gschick.com) unites local artisans. Peacock feathers are sourced from nearby farmers each July when peacocks naturally shed their plumage.

## Photos

```yaml
photos:
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/loungers-parasol-Long-Beach-Mauritius.jpg"
    caption: "Loungers at Long Beach"
    keywords: ["Indian Ocean", "Long Beach", "beach", "lounger", "parasol", "shadow", "travelmemo.com", "tree"]
    geo: {latitude: -20.1697, longitude: 57.7715}
    credit: "Walter Schärer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Walter-Schaerer-Jean-Marc-Ma-Poon-Long-Beach-Second-Chapter.jpg"
    caption: "Long Beach GM Jean-Marc shows Walter the Second Chapter"
    keywords: ["Jean-Marc Ma-Poon", "Long Beach", "Mauritius", "Walter Schärer", "travelmemo.com"]
    captured: 2017-11-07
    credit: "Walter Schärer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/busy-Port-Louis-street.jpg"
    caption: "Busy street life"
    keywords: ["Mauritius", "Port Louis", "shops", "street life", "travelmemo.com"]
    geo: {latitude: -20.162, longitude: 57.5045}
    credit: "Walter Schärer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/street-life-Port-Louis-Mauritius.jpg"
    caption: "Street life near Port Louis waterfront"
    keywords: ["Port Louis", "travelmemo.com"]
    geo: {latitude: -20.1607, longitude: 57.5018}
    credit: "Walter Schärer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Chamarel-waterfall-7-coloured-earth.jpg"
    caption: "Chamarel waterfall near 7 coloured earth"
    keywords: ["7 coloured earth", "Chamarel", "Mauritius", "travelmemo.com", "waterfall"]
    captured: 2017-11-09
    credit: "Walter Schärer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Tamarina-golf-Mont-du-Rempart.jpg"
    caption: "Tamarina Golf and view of Mont du Rempart"
    keywords: ["Mont du Rempart", "Tamarina", "golf course", "travelmemo.com"]
    captured: 2006-12-05
    credit: "Walter Schärer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/reef-diving-Mauritius.jpg"
    caption: "Underwater reef"
    keywords: ["Mauritius", "diving", "reef", "travelmemo.com"]
    captured: 2006-12-06
    credit: "Walter Schärer"
```