And here we are, nearly at the end of the year. Amidst the rush that comes with finishing up projects and getting organised for the holidays we wanted to send you a final newsletter for 2024.
As we countdown to Christmas, we reflect on another busy 12 months and catch up with some familiar SWW names and hear about their winter projects.
Winter Projects
A busy season at Islesburgh Farm with the Doulls
Huge thanks to the whole family for being such inspirational SWW patrons and shining a spotlight on the full process from lambing the sheep through to producing prize-winning fleeces and knitting exceptional garments. Their ‘Sheep House Social’, which took place during SWW was a wonderful celebration of their work and experience, where they generously opened up the doors to their farm and treated us to an afternoon of music, sheep, chat, displays, Vikings (of course!) and generous hospitality!
We caught up with Anne to hear what’s been going on since SWW ended.
“As Wool Week came to a close one of the most significant events in our farming calendar took place: the Flock Book Show and Sale. Addie was honoured with 1st Prize for Wool on the Hoof for a Coloured Ram Lamb, judged by Oliver Henry. He also secured 2nd Prize for Wool on the Hoof for a White Ram, with Alan taking 3rd place.
Addie with his prize-winning ram – photo by Caitlin McKearney.
Following the excitement of Wool Week, it was straight back to work, gathering the last of the lambs. Some were brought home for selling directly from our croft a few miles from the farm, while others were collected from one of the islands where we keep sheep. We were fortunate to have transported the lambs from the more remote islands the weekend before Wool Week.
In addition to sheep, we also have to gather the cattle in as it was time for the 2024 calves to go to market at the end of October. The cattle are moved to different pastures during the autumn before coming closer to home and eventually into the byre for winter at the end of November.
Mid-October also brought a few days of gathering sheep for necessary drenches and treatments in preparation for Tupping Time.
The Flock Book Open Day was held on the island of Yell amidst cold and blustery weather. However, the warm welcome from the Nicholson family at Breckon and the Odie family at Burravoe made it a memorable day. We enjoyed informative presentations from Karis Johnson, Lauren Innes, Osla Fraser, and Aiden Bennett, alongside impressive displays of Shetland sheep. The day was rounded off with a super meal provided by the Burravoe Hall committee and volunteers.
Back at home, Margaret has been making wraps for gifts and is now working on baby blankets for new arrivals expected in the new year – always a welcome gift for a newborn to keep them cosy. She also caught up with friends and attended three local Makkin Nights.
I’ve been busy finishing up some Islesburgh Toories and exploring adaptations of the pattern for other accessories. Inspired by the beautiful display of Zena Thomson’s fine lace and Fair Isle designs, I’ve started Zena’s Zig Zag Lace Scarf, a pattern featured in ‘A Legacy of Shetland Lace’ by the Shetland Guild of Spinners, Knitters, Weavers and Dyers. I’ve also enjoyed volunteering with the Peerie Makkers at Brae Primary School.
The first weekend of December saw the annual gathering and sorting of sheep in preparation for slipping the rams on 5th December. So all hands were required for caain’ and sorting and getting the sheep to the various locations.
Finally, Addie and Kenny delivered the 2024 wool clip to Jamieson’s of Shetland in Sandness for sorting, grading, and processing into yarn.
It’s been some year!”
Uradale Yarns, Viveka explained how she brings some Swedish traditions to the farm: “While the winter is still mild we trim trees that have cracked in storms or otherwise need a bit of attention. We use the trimmed bits to make living fences, Scandinavian style, with cuttings braided together to form a living, budding, growing and constantly evolving mesh. We also keep sticking in new cuttings around the valley. And some of it gets cut up for firewood to keep us warm and cosy during the stugsittardagar (Swedish for ‘cottage sitting days’) of the dark, rough weather season.”
Indoors Viveka is making the most of the winter nights, cosied up in front of the fire where she is currently working on a simple Fair Isle cowl knitted in the round, which will be one of the teaching props for their upcoming tours next year.
Jamieson’s of Shetland’s doesn’t get much rest at this time of year
Louise explained: “At this time of year we are usually working on developing new colourways for our knitwear and spinning yarn for a big customer in Japan. We’ve recently expanded the colourways available on some designs that only had three or four to pick from. One of these was a new pattern we introduced in 2023. Some patterns have up to 30 different variations but others have only a few. Altering the colours can completely change a design, giving customers greater range of choice without the hundreds of hours needed to programme entirely new designs each year.
Back in the factory, we’ve recently installed a new cleaning system, which is essentially a giant ‘hoover’ for the carding machines. Fettling is the process of cleaning the carding rollers by hand with a comb, it’s a hard, dirty job. This machine cuts the fettling time down from 2-3 days to 4-5 hours and cleans the machine completely, making for a faster process and hopefully better yarn too!
And of course one of the highlights is designing the shop window on Commercial Street – this year we’ve gone for a truly festive theme with our version of Santa having a snooze in his Fair Isle gansey, dreaming of an Oo-ey White Christmas.”
Jamieson and Smith – Ella describes what’s happening in the Woolbrokers Shop: “During the winter months, our online shop is bustling with people preparing their seasonal projects and gifts. It’s the perfect time to take on a new skill or enjoy the meditative nature of knitting during the long, dark evenings. Our newest release, the Wista Hat, is a festive pattern designed by J&S staff member Sandra Manson. It showcases classic Shetland motifs and techniques, offering two brim options – a fold-over brim or corrugated rib – paired with a beautifully swirled crown.”
And many of you have been busy too. We’ve spotted these knits from around the world using patterns from the 2024 SWW Annual.
Helen Robertson’s Flying Flock pattern knitted by Nellie Dale
Nellie shared this lovely photo of her newly completed Flying Flock Garland. The pattern inspired wonderful memories of Nellie’s Auntie who raised sheep on a farm in Ontario for generations and she knitted it in a tribute to her.
Ella Gordon’s Vegr Vest has proved popular – just look at these spectacular knits, each so distinct in their different colourways.
We’re loving these versions by Miriam Taylor, Rachel Millington and Hadewych van der Werf.
Chris Morphet Allover exhibition extended
For those of you who were in Shetland during SWW, you’ll have had the chance to see the Shetland Museum and Archives’ ‘Allover’ exhibition which captures the vibe of 1970s Shetland through Morphet’s photography of islanders and their knitwear. It’s been described by some as ‘the best exhibition of Fair Isle knitwear they’ve seen.’
Originally scheduled to close at the end of December, SMAA have just announced that, due to popular demand, they’re extending it until 2 February 2025.
The exhibition has certainly resonated with locals and visitors alike. Who knew that such connections would emerge some 50 years after that spontaneous decision by Morphet to travel to Shetland as a young man in his twenties, knock on doors and ask people to be photographed going about their everyday lives wearing their Fair Isle knitwear?
A small gift of warmth
And a lovely feel-good story to end this year’s newsletter showing that the community spirit is alive and well.
Our friends at Shetland Library hosted a weekly knitting group from late summer, with the aim of creating a special ‘Toorie Tree’. They explained that inspiration for the project came from a member of staff who had seen a similar project down in England – with over 100 hats being distributed to local charities. There are a number of reasons why people need to feel a little extra warmth this winter – particularly in Shetland – and people have been able to take a hat without having to demonstrate need or ask for permission.
Incredibly around 180 hats were generously hand-knitted and donated and they are already being shared.
Yarn was kindly donated by the community, Jamieson’s, J&S and Loose Ends.
Photo by Shetland Library.
On that note, we would like to wish you and yours good health, fabulous woolly projects and a creative 2025!
