About

Shetland Wool Week is a world renowned celebration of Britain’s most northerly native sheep, the Shetland textile industry and the rural farming community on these islands. Shetland wool is a world class natural fibre, with a long standing reputation for quality, strength and excellence from the fleece to the textile products. Shetland knitwear has a deserved respect gained from many generations of hard working knitters and crofters producing some of the finest lace and Fair Isle knitwear.

Since its conception fifteenth years ago, Shetland Wool Week has grown into an internationally acclaimed event. Throughout the week there are an extensive range of exhibitions, classes and events, which will cover many different subjects. These usually include; weaving, spinning, dyeing, Fair Isle and lace knitting as well as many other fascinating subject areas. Events take place from the most southern tip of the Shetland, right up to the most northerly island of Unst, famous for its beautiful lacework, with many locations in between.

The dates for Shetland Wool Week 2024 are Sunday 29 September – Saturday  5 October.

2023 Patron – Alison Rendall

Shetland knitter, Alison Rendall, has been named as this year’s Shetland Wool Week Patron.

Shetland born and bred, Alison grew up in the early 1970s surrounded by knitters in pre-oil industry Shetland. She was deeply influenced by the designs and colours of her Nan’s knitting, and has never forgotten the Fair Isle allover and yoke jumpers her mother made for her each year. She learned to knit when very young, and progressed to Fair Isle knitting at school when she was just 8 or 9. She designed and knit her first gansey at age 17 and hasn’t stopped since.

Inspiration for the Buggiflooer Beanie

“After Norse colonisation, Shetlanders spoke their own language which was called Norn. The language has gradually changed over time with Scottish and English influence but many words remain. This is particularly true of place names, bird and plant names. Buggiflooer is the Shetland word for sea campion which, growing in abundance around Shetland’s coast, is the inspiration behind this design. In my designs I like to support Shetland language and culture by using Shetland words keeping them in the forefront of people’s minds.

“My hat pattern has been designed to use either six or two colours, the latter of which I hope will encourage more people to have a go!”

Alison works as a nurse and is privileged to have met many Shetland characters along the way during her career. This year of being Patron coincides with her 40th year of nursing. In her spare time she is passionate about exploring remote areas of Shetland, its hills, coasts and smaller islands even when we get four seasons in one day. She like to get miles away from the road and into wildernesses that remain untouched by progress.

Follow her on Instagram @fair_isle_knitting an inspiring account filled with Shetland landscapes, heritage and knitwear