It has been a busy few months in our SWW headquarters pulling together the 2024 programme and preparing for the ticket launch. Now that things have settled down slightly we’re delighted to say that there is still a good range of classes, talks, tours and experiences available during Shetland Wool Week.
For those of you who would still like to take part or perhaps add something a bit different to your schedules, have a browse through our Box Office or look through our listings below.
Classes
There’s still spaces on lace and Fair Isle classes, colourwork and heritage craft workshops as well as arts & craft sessions. Have a look, we hope you find something that will tempt you.
Knit a Moebius Cowl – BOOK
Additional spaces are now available!
Date: 30 Sept, 1.30 – 4.30pm | Cost: £50
Knit the famous (infamous?) impossible shape – the Moebius – an infinite loop where the top edge is also the bottom edge, the inside and outside are continuous. Join tutor Deborah Gray and learn the unusual cast-on, which is the secret to creating this seemingly impossible shape.
Long Tassel Scarf with Ruth Robinson – BOOK
Dates: 29 Sept, 10am – 1pm and 1 October, 10am – 1pm
Cost: £70 includes handspun yarn
Join Ruth on this fun class looking at colour and texture of yarn – you will knit your own unique long tassel scarf by mixing your favourite colours and yarns, including hand spun yarn, chunky yarn and silks.
Your Colour in Knitting / Tassel Scarf with Ruth Robinson – BOOK
Dates: 30 Sept, 10am – 5pm and 2 October, 10am – 5pm
Cost: £130 includes handspun yarn
Colour is generally divided into a WARM or COOL category. It is interesting and fun to work out each student’s colour category and then place them into one of four seasons. From what we learn here, you will be taking yarn provided by Jamieson’s of Shetland and knitting up your own unique scarf which will incorporate your colours.
Join Tania of TJ Frog on her Dorest Buttons workshops, learn about the heritage of this craft and use the traditional techniques of casting, slicking, laying and rounding to make your designs.
Dorset Buttons Brooch – BOOK
Dates: 30 September 2 – 5pm | Cost: £60
You will use a 67mm ring and Shetland natural coloured wool to make your brooch – a great way to use up those odd ends of yarn to add a personal finishing touch to embellish your handmade projects.
Dorset Buttons Wall Hanging – BOOK
Dates: 3 October 10am – 5pm | Cost: £120
Explore a variety of stitches then design and make a 5-inch Dorset Button wall hanging with Shetland natural coloured wool.
Multi-Wooling with Susanne Schmid – BOOK
Dates: 2 October 2 – 5pm | Cost: £60
Donˋt be depressed if you lost a knitted stitch, lost a mistake or used the wrong yarn. Turn it into a creative process and let yourself be inspired by a small piece of felted wool. You can create your individual one-of-a-kind-piece (cushion, neck-warmer, pullover…) by combining different techniques, materials and yarns. All wool addicts welcome!
Wrist Warmers: 5 Needles – BOOK
Dates: 3 October 10am – 1pm | Cost: £60
Knitting with five needles is a very simple skill and enables beginners to knit every size in rounds. The class will begin using one colour of yarn but more experienced knitters can use more than one colour. In this half day class we start with wrist warmers; at home you can expand to leg warmers, pullovers for teddy bears or round-scarves. It is very easy to create colourful patterns opening a big space of individual inspiration.
BROWSE OUR BOX OFFICE LISTINGS
Talks
We have a fantastic programme of talks lined up this year, hear from both local and visiting speakers on topics ranging from their inspiration to research projects. Learn more about the history of knitting in Shetland and the industry as it is today. An evening talk is the perfect way to wind down after a busy day while learning something new.
Shetland Lace: Prettiest Imitation of the Fantasy of Nature with Carol Christiansen – BOOK
Date: 2 Oct, 7.30 – 9pm | Cost: £12
Join Carol Christiansen, Textiles Curator at Shetland Museum and Archives, in a discussion of Shetland lace: its history, design progression, and continued popularity, along with a visual tour of some of Shetland Museum’s unique collection, the largest collection of Shetland lace in the world.
Folk Symbolism – Taatit Rug design & use with Carol Christiansen – BOOK
Date: 3 Oct, 7.30 – 9pm | Cost £10
Join Carol Christiansen, Textiles Curator at Shetland Museum, as she presents new research into Shetland folklore and practice related to darkness, nighttime, and the hand-made, colourful Shetland woollen bed covers known as taatit rugs. The significance of taatit rugs to the important life events of marriage and birth, the connections to Nordic folk practice and the uniqueness of these textiles within the Shetland tradition of textile-making will be highlighted.
A Talk with the Doulls, SWW Patrons – BOOK
Date: 30 Sept, 7.30 – 9pm | Cost: £12
Join this year’s patrons, the Doull Family, as they premiere a special film capturing their year-round family journey. The short film celebrates their deep roots with the Shetland Flock Book Society, showcasing lambing, clipping, and judging prize-winning fleeces at agricultural shows. The talk will conclude with a Q&A offering a unique opportunity to engage with Addie, Margaret and Anne.
10 Years of Shetland Peerie Makkers – BOOK
Date: 1 Oct, 4.30 – 6pm | Cost £8
Join Shetland Peerie Makkers tutors and coordinator for a reflection on the 10 years of sharing knitting techniques in Shetland’s schools. They will also look ahead to the future of the charity.
The History of the Knitting Belt with Janette Budge – BOOK
Date: 30 Sept from 4.30 – 5.30pm | Cost £8
Learn about the history of knitting belts in Shetland. See the versions that came before the ones we still use today and hear why they were used. Janette will also discuss their benefits and how they were used to allow walking and knitting.
Perspectives from Jamieson’s Mill with Garry Jamieson & Gudrun Johnston – BOOK Date: 1 Oct, 7.30 – 9pm | Cost: £12
Weaving the Murmuration Tapestries Viewing and Live Talk – BOOK
Date: 1 Oct, 6 – 7.30pm | Cost: £10
Meet the Knitters Who Inspired Me with Hazel Tindall – BOOK
Date: 2 Oct, 4.30 – 6pm | Cost: £8
TOURS
There is a good variety of tours taking you to crofts, farms, heritage centres, and community halls where you can view local knitwear displays and enjoy Shetland’s renowned hospitality with its famed tea and cake.
A Shetland tour could be a lovely addition to your wool week schedule, have a look at what’s on offer:
Shetland Crofting Experience with working Border Collie demos – BOOK
Dates: 30 Sept, 11am – 2pm and 1 Oct 11am – 2pm | Cost: £95
During your tour you will see Shetland coloured sheep and Shetland ponies with ample opportunity to ask questions and take photographs. A demonstration of the Border Collie at work is followed by lunch at a country house hotel – enjoy a traditional meal of Shetland tattie soup made from reestit mutton followed by tea/coffee and biscuits.
Shetland’s South Mainland with Shetland Flock Book Trust and Laurie – BOOK
Date: 30 Sept, 8.30am – 4.15pm | Cost: £100
Visit Shetland’s stunning South Mainland, guided by Laurie Goodlad Pottinger. See sheep dogs at work, visit a Shetland pony stud farm. Have lunch at Sumburgh Hotel, and take a guided tour of ancient Jarlshof.
Saga of Shetland’s Wool & Language
The Saga of Shetland’s Wool and the Fight for Shetland’s Language, with Island Vista
Date: 30 Sept, 9.45am – 2pm and 2 Oct, 9.45am – 2pm | Cost £115
Start outdoors with the saga of the ancient Native Shetland Sheep and how the unique features offer real solutions in a climate crisis. Continue indoors to hear how the central location of Shetland led to a unique language, which has been preserved largely thanks to traditional skills.
A 21st Century Shetland Farm with 5000 year old answers – Uradale Farm, Scalloway
Date: 3 Oct, 9.45am – 1pm | Cost £90
Learn about the Organic Native Shetland Sheep and Kye, brought by the Neolithic settlers, which have over the millennia adapted to live in the harsh environment of this exposed archipelago. Their unique features including the world-famous wool, offer sustainable answers in the current climate crisis.
Exhibition Teas
Exhibition, Teas and Sharing Skills with the Guild of Spinners, Weavers, Knitters and Dyers
28 Sept, 9.30am-12.30pm & 2-5pm and 29 Sept, 1-4pm | Cost £15
Spend some quality time with the Shetland Guild of Spinners, Weavers, Knitters and Dyers – Anne and Margaret Doull are also planning to attend this event. They love to see what you are are “makkin” or currently crafting and will share their work too (bring your spinning wheel if you wish!) An exhibition of the Guild’s work will be on display and refreshments will be provided.
2024 programme
The 2024 programme is available to download from our website – if you haven’t seen it go and take a look. It will give you a good overview of the event – in addition to classes, talks and tours there are plenty of other woolly related activities going on throughout the week including exhibitions, open studios, knitting demonstrations, the makers market and of course the SWW Hub where you can chat and connect with fellow Wool Weekers.
If you’re in Shetland you can pick up a copy from the Shetland Museum or various wool shops.
Agricultural Shows
A highlight in Shetland’s crofting calendar are the agricultural shows that take place during August and September. A lot of work and preparations go into readying livestock for the event in the hope of winning a trophy.
Of course we enjoy the displays of cattle, sheep, ponies, baking, flowers and vegetable art but what we love most, and our first stop at any show, is the knitwear exhibits. Every year we are blown away by the talent of our islands’ knitting community – from intricate lace shawls to beautiful colour blending, exceptional Fair Isle garments to impressive children’s projects – there is always an outstanding display every year – and well worth a visit if you are in Shetland at show time.
Still to go this year are the Unst Show on Saturday 31st August and the Yell Show on Saturday 7th September 2024.
SWW Merchandise Update
Thanks again to everyone who bought our Shetland Wool Week Membership – your support and generosity is important to us and helps us to continue delivering a varied and inspiring event.
We are excited to say that most of your goodies have arrived with us (we are just waiting on one more delivery) and then we will begin packing and shipping your membership packs early next week. You can look forward to some wonderful woolly mail arriving with you soon.
SWW Annual Pre-Orders Launching Soon…
Victoria, our SWW Annual Editor, and her small team are busy putting the finishing touches on this year’s 10th volume of the Shetland Wool Week Annual – we’ve had a sneak peek and it is beautiful – our knitting needles are at the ready! We are hoping to launch pre-orders very soon, so keep an eye on our social media and we’ll also share another newsletter with the announcement.
