Nearly 1,000 people have gathered in Shetland for the island's annual celebration of wool, knitting, and textiles. The week-long event, now in its 17th year, features a variety of classes, workshops, talks, tours, and social activities, attracting enthusiasts from as far as the US and Japan.
This year's patron, knitwear designer Helen Robertson, expressed her enthusiasm for the event, stating, "I think wool week is just such a fantastic organisation and festival, and it's really brought Shetland textiles to life." The festival highlights Shetland's native sheep and the natural colors of their wool, including cream, brown, and black.
Nancy Woodhouse, a knitter from Arizona, USA, showcased a woolly hat she created inspired by the crime drama "Shetland." She described the hat as featuring characters from the show, including detectives Jimmy Perez and Tosh, alongside Sandy and Ruth Calder, and even a chalk outline of a victim. "The hat has muted colours so the detectives would shine - it's the crime scene I wear on my head," she explained.
Satoko Nagakubo traveled from Tokyo to attend the festival, citing her love for Shetland's sheep, people, lace knitting, and spinning as reasons for her repeated visits. "I come from Japan many times to Shetland for wool week because I love the sheep and the local people. I love Shetland lace knitting and spinning," she said.
Mary Randles, visiting from Lancashire, praised the event for its relaxed atmosphere, offering opportunities to knit, meet people, and purchase wool. She also highlighted the benefit of seeing the sheep from which the wool originates. "Once you've knitted with it and washed it, it drapes beautifully whereas sometimes when you knitting with synthetic it doesn't drape but this stuff does," Randles commented.
The festival offers a wide range of activities, from Fair Isle knitting and spinning to fleece preparation, weaving, lace knitting, and wool skirting. These events extend across the islands, involving local communities, community halls, crofts, businesses, makers, and musicians.
Helen Robertson designed this year's anticipated wool week hat, the "Birsie Beanny." She described the week as "such a joyful and happy week."
Ronnie Eunson, who runs Uradale Farm, emphasized the unique heritage of Shetland wool. "Shetland wool is a fairly unique commodity. It's the history and heritage that makes it really special. You're looking at a type of fibre that has clothed Shetlanders for thousands of years," he stated. Eunson explained that the native sheep have a double coat, with a finer wool beneath the protective outer layer, which helps them withstand the harsh winter weather.
Donna Smith, owner of Langsoond Yarn in Burra, noted the significant economic impact of the festival. "It's really an amazing event that's the highlight of the year for me at the end of the tourist season. There are so many people coming to visit and so many people coming to buy yarn. It's such an important week in the whole year for the business," she said.
The festival concludes on Saturday, with hundreds of visitors expected to depart with their Shetland wool after a week of celebrating the island's textile traditions.