'I love the sheep and the people' - Knitters flock to Shetland's wool week - BBC News
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'I love the sheep and the people' - Knitters flock to Shetland's wool week
Shetland Wool Week draw visitors from Scotland and further afield
By John Johnston
BBC Scotland News
Reporting from Lerwick, Shetland
Published 30 September 2026
Updated 8 hours ago
Almost 1,000 people have gathered in Shetland for the island's annual celebration of wool, knitting and textiles. The week-long event marks its 17th year featuring classes, workshops, talks, tours and social activities.
Shetland Wool Week draws enthusiasts from around the world, including the US and Japan. This year’s patron, knitwear designer Helen Robertson, said:
"I think wool week is just such a fantastic organisation and festival, and it's really brought Shetland textiles to life."
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Nancy Woodhouse, a knitter from Arizona in the US, brought some of her creations, including a woolly hat inspired by the crime drama Shetland.
"I love the show," she said. Describing the head wear, Woodhouse said:
"We start on the hat with detective Jimmy Perez of course and Tosh who's taken over as the lead detective, then we have the ever helpful Sandy and Ruth Calder, and this is the chalk outline of the victim."
Satoko Nagakubo has flown from Tokyo for the festival.
"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, said:
"I think the fact that you can chill, you can knit, meet people, buy wool and sit on your suitcase until it forces all the wool in before you take it home."
She noted the event allowed her to see the sheep the wool she uses for knitting come from. Randles added:
"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."
From Fair Isle knitting to spinning, fleece preparation, weaving, lace knitting to wool skirting, there is a huge range for visitors to discover. It is an event that stretches far beyond the classroom, with activities taking place from Unst to the south mainland. Local communities are at the heart of the week, with community halls, crofts and businesses, makers and musicians all helping to create the unique experience for the wool enthusiasts.
Patron Helen Robertson designed the much-anticipated wool week hat - the Birsie Beanny. "It's such a joyful and happy week," she said.
The star attraction are Shetland's native sheep and the earthy shades of cream, brown and black of their wool. Ronnie Eunson runs Uradale Farm.