Shetland Wool Week 2020 went virtual

We are so pleased that we were able to bring a taste of Shetland Wool Week to you this year – thank you to everyone who joined our online event and made it so special. We have received so many lovely messages from all over the world and have been blown away by your generous donations.

We have left our online programme live for you to scroll through and replay your favourite videos. You can also subscribe to our YouTube Channel and check out the SWW Playlist to keep up-to-date with any new releases.  

If you enjoyed our free online event then please consider making a donation to help support us and the future of Shetland Wool Week.

Thank you The Shetland Wool Week Team, Shetland Amenity Trust, a Registered Charity

Saturday 26 September

• 9:30am – Shetland Wool Week Welcome – WATCH AGAIN … from some familiar faces.  A short video.
• 10am – Launch of our virtual SWW Makers’ Market
• 12noon – Live Shetland Flock Book Sale, this sale has ended
• 1pm – Daily Tour: A timelapse tour of Lerwick WATCH AGAIN – a short film with Island Vista
• 4pm – Shetland Wool Adventures will ‘Go Live’ with a Q&A on Instagram – watch again on IGTV
• 5pm – In conversation with Wilma Malcolmson, our 2020 Patron, and Terri Laura WATCH AGAIN – a short film
• 7pm – Donna Smith will ‘Go Live’ on her Instagram speaking about her Langsoond Yarn and Online Shop – watch again on IGTV

Sunday 27 September

• 7am – ‘Fair Isle through a lens’ with Rachel Challoner of Barkland Croft, featuring the Fair Isle Knitwear Collection in the island’s George Waterston Museum – Watch again
• 10am – Jamieson & Smith’s ‘A Woolbroker Portrait’ short film – Watch again
• 11am – Daily Tour with Island Vista: Lerwick – on their Instagram and Facebook
• 2pm – Premiere: ‘Mastering 2 colour Rib’ – a free video tutorial with Elizabeth Johnston – Watch again
  
• 4pm – Wilma Malcolmson and Terri Malcolmson will host a ‘Live Q&A’ – Watch again
• Patchwork blanket work in progress – adding squares to knitted patchwork blanket without sewing with Uradale Yarn. – Watch again 

Monday 28 September

• 9.30am – Welcome to Garths Croft, Bressay WATCH AGAIN – Chris Dyer takes you on a tour of his mix croft smallholding to meet his animals, farming systems, and on-going projects
• 10am – Oliver Henry Sorting and Grading Shetland Wool – WATCH AGAIN
  Join Oliver Henry, as he shows you behind the green Woolstore doors. A woolman for over 50 years this video breaks down Sorting and Grading of Shetland Wool and why they do it at Jamieson & Smith.
• 11am – Daily Tour with Island Vista: Tingwall Valley & Timelapse Film – on their Instagram and Facebook
• 1.30pm – 3.30pm, Knit Your Own Bangles with Helen Robertson (BOOKING REQUIRED)
  A chance to create 3 gorgeous knitted bangles while learning three new techniques; Shetland Lace, Fair Isle and Slip Stitch. The class includes a personalised bangle kit with 100g Spindrift and 3 wooden bangles. As well as access to instructional films shot outside in the Shetland Landscape we will get together through 6 Zoom meetings ensuring that you enjoy a taste of knitting in a group and that your project is completed!
• 6pm – A ‘Conversation on Carding’ with Elizabeth Johnston and Niela Kalra WATCH AGAIN of Hoswick Wool Week: a short film.
• 7pm – 9pm – ‘Let’s Swatch’ workshop with Terri Laura (SOLD OUT)
• Caain the Uradale rams on a beautiful spring day – WATCH AGAIN. See Jakob, Jak and Cloud caa (Shetland dialect for gather) in the colourful native Shetland Uradale rams on this beautiful spring day.

Tuesday 29 September

• 7am – ‘Shetland with Laurie’ Podcast – LISTEN AGAIN – New episode out now featuring Terri Laura. On the show, they chat about Terri’s work, her classes, her inspiration and the amazing benefits of wool.
• 9am – Chris Dyer of Garths Croft Bressay will host a ‘Live Q&A’ – WATCH AGAIN ON IGTV
• 10am ‘Yarn at Jamieson and Smith’ – WATCH AGAIN. Join Ella Gordon as she takes you through all the yarn ranges produced by J&S in this short video.
• 11am – Daily Tour with Island Vista: Scalloway – on their Instagram and Facebook
• 1pm – Jamieson’s Of Shetland – A Virtual Tour  (no longer available to view) – Garry Jamieson will take you through each step of the mill, explaining the processes along the way!
• 4pm – Elizabeth Johnston and Niela Kalra will ‘Go Live on Carding’ on Instagram together WATCH AGAIN – it’s bound to be a lively session!
• 7pm – 8.30pm –  ‘Design A Crown’ workshop with Terri Laura (SOLD OUT)
• 8pm – ‘Of a Hoswick Sea’ – Launch of Handspun Yarns Dyed in a Natural Indigo Vat by Niela Nell Kalra, of nielanell. Find out more on the Niela Nell website.
• The name Uradale – WACTH AGAIN. Join us for a walk up one of the burns to the Uradale smithy pool, while pondering Shetland place names.

Wednesday 30 September

• 10am – Jamieson and Smith ‘Knitting A Fair Isle Bookmark’ video tutorial
  Join Shetland’s Hazel Tindall and uncover the techniques of Fair Isle knitting. In this class you will learn the techniques of two colour knitting and steeking as well as gaining tips from one of Shetland’s most well-known knitters.
• 11am – Native Shetland Sheep – a short film with Ronnie Eunson of Uradale Farm WATCH AGAIN 
• 11:30am – Daily Tour with Island Vista: South Mainland – on their Instagram and Facebook
• 2.00pm – Shawl Pin Whittle demonstration – WATCH AGAIN – A live 2-hour demonstration tutorial from Cecil Tait of Paparwark. Join Cecil’s popular whittling class where he will demonstrate the skills and techniques used in handcrafting a shawl pin or brooch.
• 2.15pm – Garry Jamieson of Jamieson’s of Shetland hosts a ‘Live Q&A’ – WATCH AGAIN 
• 5.00pm – ‘The Origins of Shetland Knitting’, a 20 minutes PODCAST with Shetland Museum curator, Carol Christiansen – LISTEN AGAIN.
• Ebb & Flow – WATCH AGAIN. Join Uradale Farm for a ponder on the role of the sea for the knitting industry in Shetland.

Thursday 1 October

• 10am ‘How to Knit Fair Isle Cuffs with Alison Rendall’: a free video tutorial from Jamieson and Smith – WATCH AGAIN
  Join Alison Rendall, Shetlander and Fair Isle knitting enthusiast on this class which takes you through the technique of knitting a Fair Isle cuff for gloves or mittens. It can be added to any pattern and gives another layer of wool around the wrists but still includes the stretchability of ribbing around the cuff.
• 11am – Daily Tour with Island Vista: North Mainland – on their Instagram and Facebook
• 1.30pm – Online Drop Spindle Spinning for beginners with Deborah Gray and Jamieson and Smith: workshop – FULLY BOOKED
• ‘All About Mitts’ with Terri Laura – SOLD OUT
• 2pm: Live tour of West Lynne Croft and Gallery – WATCH AGAIN
  Come on a virtual tour of a traditional Shetland croft overlooking the stunning St Ninian’s Isle. Peek inside the Paparwark Gallery too.
• 3pm – Ronnie Eunson will ‘Go Live’ on Uradale Yarn Instagram answering all your crofting, sheep and wool-related questions – WATCH AGAIN
• 5pm – Premiere: ‘How to knit perfect fingers’ a video tutorial with Elizabeth Johnston WATCH AGAIN 
• 7pm – Hazel Tindall and Janette Budge discuss Fair Isle Knitting  WATCH AGAIN
  Hazel started knitting Fair Isle about 12 years before Janette was born. Here they speak about how they started, what other people were knitting at that time, and how practices have changed over the years.
• Haar rolling in over Uradale – WATCH AGAIN. Watch the haar rolling in over the Uradale hills, while pondering language endangerment and diversity.

Friday 2 October

It is Shetland Wool Week Fair Isle Friday.  Remember to wear your finest Fair Isle and share your photos on social media using #SWWFairIsleFriday

• 9.30am – Rachel Challoner of Barkland Croft gives us an insight to life and crofting on Fair Isle – WATCH AGAIN 
• 10.00am – ‘West Yorkshire Spinners’: a short film from Sarah Hatton – WATCH AGAIN. Join knitwear designer Sarah Hatton as she takes you through her designs in the West Yorkshire Spinners Croft range which is produced with Real Shetland Wool from Jamieson & Smith.
• 11am – Daily Tour with Island Vista: Island Hopping – on their Instagram and Facebook
• 2pm – Jumperboard making demonstration video with Cecil Tait of Paparwark – WATCH AGAIN
• 3pm – Rani Knitwear Collection Video with Nielanell – Niela describes the design concept behind her new knitwear collection. She explores themes of “Home” with reference to her own personal history combined with the culture of Fair Isle and Lace knitting in Shetland. View on her Instagram and Facebook pages.
• 4pm – Rachel Challoner of Barkland Croft will host a live Q&A on her instagram – WATCH AGAIN – find out about her life crofting and knitting from the beautiful island of Fair Isle
• 5pm – ‘The Origins of Shetland Sheep’, a 20 minutes PODCAST with Shetland Museum curator, Carol Christiansen – LISTEN AGAIN.
• 7pm – 9pm – Introduction to FISS Knitting with Helen Robertson (BOOKING REQUIRED)
  FISS knitting is an exciting new technique which Helen developed to allow three colours in one row while only knitting with 1 or 2 at a time. It was featured in Fruity Knitting episode 79 and described by Juliet Bernard as “Absolute Genius! Such an innovative idea, superbly explained.” For this class you will receive 75g Spindrift in your choice colour. Video instruction and 3 Zoom Meetings. You will knit wristlets and a cowl using this technique.
• 8pm – Live Q&A session, with Janette Budge and Hazel Tindall – WATCH AGAIN 
• Da muckle Sooth Lee caa – WATCH AGAIN Come along with us while we gather in the South Lee sheep for the shearing on a very breezy summer’s day while reflecting on the native Shetland sheep breed and why they epitomise a sustainable system.

Saturday 3 October

• 10am – Premiere: ‘Grafting Made Simple’ a free video tutorial with Elizabeth Johnston – WATCH AGAIN
• 11am – Daily Tour with Island Vista: West Mainland – on their Instagram and Facebook
• 11:30am – Video: Shetland Tweed with Andy Ross – WATCH AGAIN of Global Yell.  A brief look at the tweed industry with photographs of cloths, past advertisements, publicity shots and sample books.
• 2pm – ‘What’s in the Suitcase’ with Donna Smith – Donna will ‘Go Live’ on her Instagram with a knitting show and tell where she will show samples that she would usually take to classes – WATCH AGAIN ON IGTV
• Clippin by hand – WATCH AGAIN: see Ronnie clip (shear) Peerie Moutie’s mother, our very own ewe Diva at Uradale Farm.
• Music from Jenny Sturgeon – Chill out and relax to music from Shetland-based Jenny Sturgeon, our model for this year’s SWW Annual, and also a very talented singer song writer. There are two tracks from her album, ‘The Living Mountain’ which is due to be released on 16 October. Click on the following to listen: Being and Air and Light.
• 5pm – Live Q&A with Andy Ross of the Shetland Tweed Company, Global Yell on his Instagram – WATCH AGAIN

Sunday 4 October

• 10am – Reflections on Shetland and Hoswick Wool Week from Niela Kalra and Elizabeth Johnston – WATCH AGAIN a short film
• Anytime – A Sunday Morning Read Searching for Sheep – Place names in Shetland with a woolly connection.  Shetland place names expert Eileen Brooke-Freeman at the Shetland Amenity Trust has done extensive work gathering information on our local place names and their origins Her latest blog is all about place names with a connection to sheep.
• A celebration of Shetland Sunday Teas – make your own at home with a special recipe from Taste of Shetland
• 3pm – Live Q&A: Planning your trip to Shetland for Wool Week – WATCH AGAIN – join local expert, tour guide, and Wool Week enthusiast Jolene Garriock of Island Vista as she answers your questions about Shetland, from how to get here to how to get around, where to stay, what to do and how to get the most out of wool week whilst you are here.
• Quiz champion announced on our social media along with the correct answers – good luck! Check out the SWW 2020 Quiz answers here!
• All day – LAST CHANCE to buy in our virtual SWW Makers’ Market 

Later in the month

Monday 5 October
Design a Crown with Terri Malcolmson
BOOK HERE
An online design workshop on designing a traditional crown for a skull kep.
We will be discussing the motif, placement, charting, placing colours and much more. This class has been taught in person at yarn festivals and was enjoyed by participants, I have had a few requests to cover this with my online classes as well. Cost: £35.00

Tuesday 6 October
All About Mitts with Terri Malcolmson
BOOK HERE
Terri covers every single detail of glove knitting, complete with video tutorials for you to look back on anytime after class. Cost £35.00

Thursday 8 October
Let’s Swatch with Terri Malcolmson
BOOK HERE
A fun online design workshop all about how to work with the colours you already have at home and how to try them out without wasting yarn! Cost £35.00

 

KNITSONIK SYSTEM with Felicity Ford

7 October – 13 November
(Course enrolment is open until 30 September)

The KNITSONIK System is a rich, immersive course which brings the concepts from KNITSONIK books and classes to life in the ideal context of online learning. Creative swatching lies at the heart of The KNITSONIK System. This course will lead you through a tried and tested method of beginning with an inspiration source taken from daily life, and using it as a basis for exploring palettes, patterns and shading schemes. You will use these ideas to produce a beautiful and instructive swatch containing stranded colourwork ideas of your own design. Your swatch will document your creative journey in Shetland wool. At the end, you will be given a choice of templates and accessory patterns to which you may apply the palettes, patterns and shading schemes discovered through swatching, to make an accessory as a joyous and wearable record of this course.

The course cost of £115 covers:

• several hours’ worth of inspiring and informative pre-recorded content to which enrolled students will have lifelong access.
• downloadable/printable worksheets to accompany each section.
• access to supplementary live sessions delivered over Zoom (see dates and times below)
• a 10% discount code to put towards yarn purchases made at J&S (Jamieson & Smith / The Shetland Woolbrokers) for this course.Jamieson & Smith / Shetland Woolbrokers are the official yarn sponsors of this course (thank you to friends at the Woolbrokers!)10% of ticket sales will be donated to the Shetland Amenity Trust in thanks for the incredible support that Shetland Wool Week has consistently shown to KNITSONIK

We really hope you have enjoyed our online event  – now more than ever we need your support.   Please consider making a donation to help support us and the future of Shetland Wool Week.

Thank you The Shetland Wool Week Team, Shetland Amenity Trust, a Registered Charity