Together Through Makkin
Buffeted by gale force winds at the intersection of the North Sea and the Norwegian Sea, Shetland Islanders are a hardy bunch. While the human world is in lockdown, the seasonal life of nature continues.
Traditionally making their living from sheep and the rich fisheries of the North Sea banks, Shetlanders have given their home’s moniker to its hardy, indigenous ponies and sheep. Shetland’s ponies and sheep evolved over thousands of years to survive and thrive on this wind-driven landscape.
A dozen years ago, several like-minded textile artists gathered and hatched the idea of Shetland Wool Week. From its early beginning, the wool week has expanded into a destination event that includes exhibits, demonstrations, tours, and workshop intensives.
Already respected for textiles with a long-standing reputation for quality, strength and excellence, Shetland’s Wool Week rocketed the isles into the world’s textile spotlight.
From its early beginnings, the wool week has expanded into a destination event that includes exhibits, demonstrations, tours, and workshop intensives spread out all over the Shetland Isles.
As with many other gatherings around the world, Covid-19 threw a wrench in the 2020 works and the live event was cancelled and went virtual. You can see all the events on their YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfSVvqEMYgTWkkzE44GYeyw . Again in 2021, organizers have wisely cancelled the live event and switched to a virtual event.
Living in rural California with its lack of decent broadband and plethora of mobile dead zones, it’s truly awe inspiring to think that an event that ranges from the southern tip of Shetland’s Mainland Isle to the most northerly isle of Unst (known for its lacework) is going virtual.
Wool Week annuals from previous years are available for purchase online and profile the textile artists and include a number of patterns. Each year also has its own special kep, or cap. 2021’s kep designer is patron Wilma Malcomson. You can find the free pattern here https://shetland-wool-week.s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/SWW21-Da-Crofter-Pattern.pdf and also join the knit-along on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/groups/swwkal21
While we will have to wait until 2022 to experience Wool Week in person, we can plan and dream for when travel opens up again. The Shetland Textile Museum in Lerwick is a fine jumping off point. With its collection of over 700 textile items including fine examples of Fair Isle knitting, famed Shetland Lace, tweeds and Taatit rugs (woven pile bed coverings), you can spend an entire day here. Many of the tools associated with Shetland textile production are on view; and knowing how tactile we knitters and weavers are, the museum has many hand-on items.
North of the “Mainland: island is Yell and home to the old Haa Museum, an amazing collection of historical material culture. Hopping on and off the local car ferries allows visitors to explore these far north islands at leisure.
You can get to Shetland by both sea and air. Once on the islands, buses and rental cars are available, as well as bicycles for the hardier. Accommodations range from fine hotels through https://www.shetland.org/visit/plan/accommodation and self-catering through companies like AirBnB and VRBO.
At the time of publication details on the virtual programs were still being planned. Continue to check back on the Wool Week website for details, and let’s help support these resilient folks.