a symphony of Shetland shades
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All articles filed in shetland wool
Gudrun Johnston & Mary Jane Mucklestone
One of the best things about working in the field of hand-knit design is that it really is an industry which abounds with good eggs. In my view, two of the very best eggs around are Gudrun Johnston and Mary-Jane Mucklestone: great friends, talented designers, and Shetland enthusiasts. Gudrun spent her early years in Shetland,…
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Helen Robertson
If you’ve read my introduction to The Book of Haps then you’ll already have come across Helen Robertson – a Shetland artist and craftswoman whose work I deeply admire. Working with silver wire and other precious materials, Helen has developed a uniquely thoughtful aesthetic which celebrates, commemorates and reflects upon Shetland’s history and heritage –…
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Lives in oo
So this is the new project we are working on which has (until today) been very much under wraps! It has been on our minds for some time now for Tom to pursue a project exploring the documentary photography he particularly enjoys. . . and what better subject than a place we dearly love, and…
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a Shetland week
Hello! We’ve been away! camping in one of my all-time favourite places . . . exploring some new-to-us spots . . . and meeting some inspiring people. Though we were having fun in Shetland (as we always do) this was a working week, and the inspirational folk were the reason why we were there. We’ve…
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Houlland
Today’s hap is a rather special one. It is the work of Shetland designer, Donna Smith, who you may know as the patron of Shetland Wool Week, 2015, and the creator of the famous Baa-ble hat. Donna’s hap was inspired by her great auntie Emma Isbister, a wonderful knitter, who has been making Shetland haps…
Read MoreTea Jenny
So, no prizes for guessing exactly what I was reminded of when, some months ago, I first opened the package containing seven tasty balls of Magnus and Justyna’s Foula Wool . . . TEA! Maybe I was feeling particularly parched or something, but it really did occur to me just how tea-like the familiar Shetland…
Read MoreFoula Wool
Just in case you hadn’t noticed, it is Shetland Wool Week! I’m very sad not to be there in person this year, but I’ve kept up the tradition I started three years ago of designing a hat in woolly celebration! In 2011, it was Sheep Heid (using Jamieson and Smith Shetland Supreme) ; in 2012…
Read MoreSixareen Cape
While we were in the Highlands, we took the opportunity to photograph a design I’ve had ready for a while: the Sixareen Cape. I started knitting this Fair Isle wrap last October. You may remember that at that time I’d just designed a hat especially for Shetland wool week (The Sixareen Kep) using Jamieson and…
Read Morea taste of Northmavine
Quite a few of you have been asking about the design depicted in my site’s new header. As there’s not long to go now till my book is published, I thought I’d give you a bit more of a taste of it. This is the Northmavine Hap. It uses one of the most familiar and…
Read MoreShetland Wool Week in Pictures: part 3
where we stayed (I would heartily recommend it). And the view from our window. Shetland Times Bookshop, ready for Wool Week. Delicious Fair Isle Cake, at the Heritage Yarn launch Wonderful new yarn from Shetland Organics Projection of Jo Jack’s work at the Bonhoga Gallery Luminous Yarns Jane Outram’s prize-winning tablet weaving at the Shetland…
Read MoreShetland Wool Week in pictures: part 1
Sheep on the hill . . . . . . and at the marts. Some fine boys . . . . . . and my secret favourite. Oliver Henry, Shetland Woolmeister . . . . . . judging fine wool on the hoof . . . . . . and off. straight from the sheep…
Read Morereal shetland competition and offer
Happy Friday, everyone! After the release of the rams & yowes blanket, this week really has been all about Shetland sheep and wool for me. And today I have a bit of Shetand woolly news for you: In support of the Campaign for Wool, my friends at the Real Shetland Company have organised a competition…
Read Moreworn
The best things in my wardrobe are made of wool. Some of these are ‘vintage’ items that have worn incredibly well. I thought I’d show you one of my favourites today. I picked up this hand-knitted cardigan second-hand. From its shape, patterns, buttons, and the kind of worsted- spun Shetland wool that was used to…
Read Morenews &c
A miscellaneous post: First, a reminder that there are only five days remaining for entries in the Wovember competition. You could win some amazing things! One grand woolly winner will be selected by our friends at Jamieson & Smith, and there are other great prizes too: Blacker Designs are offering three runners-up awards for the…
Read Moreshe swatch sea shells
(photo by me, courtesy Shetland Amenity Trust) I’ve been swatching sea shells on-and-off for a few months now. To explain: when I visited Shetland in January, I fell in love with this stole, shown to me by the wonderful Carol Christiansen at the Shetland Museum and Archives (it is seen here from the wrong side).…
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KDD & Co 