Thursday 11 September 2014

Shetland \Wool Week 2014

This year I am going to Shetland Wool Week for the first time - guess whether I am excited!!

SHETLAND WOOL WEEK 2014

ZoomShetland 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.
In this fifth year of Shetland Wool Week, an extensive range of exhibitions, classes and events covers many different subjects including weaving, spinning, dyeing, Fair Isle and lace knitting, and a look at traditional gansey styles. The Foula Froke is the only gansey design to originate in Shetland, with introductory classes on this complementing a contemporary take on Dutch traditional ganseys.
New and exciting venues include classes held on a traditional restored Tall Ship, and at the brand new Sumburgh Head classroom facility at the very tip of mainland Shetland – incorporating an indulgence of natural heritage and stunning views into the creativity of textile work. Events are taking place from this southern tip, right up to the most northerly island of Unst, famous for its beautiful lacework, with many locations in between.  
Hazel Tindall, who has twice held the World’s Fastest Knitter title, will be Patron of 2014 Shetland Wool Week. Hazel grew up in Shetland and learned to knit before she can even remember. Her knitting has been the subject of many articles and book chapters, and her own patterns are eagerly sought by knitters all around the world. Hazel has a real passion for knitting, patterns and Shetland wool and having delivered a number of classes in past years, is an ideal Patron for Wool Week 2014. She will design a special Wool Week pattern which will be made available prior to the event. Details will be posted to this website later in the year.
The Shetland Wool Week Committee bids a very warm welcome to everyone attending Shetland Wool Week 2014.

SHETLAND WOOL

Shetland wool is a world-class natural fibre, and its reputation relies on the islands' native expertise from the crofters who grow it to the talented Shetland women who design and create with it. The legacy of the isles early wool industry has gifted contemporary Shetland with an international reputation for excellence in knitting and textiles.
Wool played a pivotal role in the development of Shetland’s modern history. There are few places in the world where wool has been continuously grown, processed, knitted and sold, for centuries, and a few locations where every stage of production - from sheep right to through to finished sweater - is still locally evident. And certainly there is nowhere to beat Shetland in terms of its sheer wealth of expertise, from internationally-renowned wool experts like Oliver Henry, to Hazel Tindall, the world's fastest knitter. Highlighting the fibre's bright future alongside its important heritage, Shetland Wool Week is a truly time for celebration.