October is the perfect time to come indoors, sit beside the fire, cast on stitches and knit a jumper that’ll see you through many a Shetland winter, so it’s quite apt that Shetland Wool Week is on next month. It celebrates the traditions of Fair Isle knitting, the first class Shetland fleece and wool and and the industry as a whole. There’s a lot to learn during Wool Week, even the most experienced knitter will come away with new skills and there’s some pretty special venues for classes and workshops - who wouldn’t like to knit onboard a restored Tall Ship, or at the newly restored Sumburgh Head lighthouse? Have a look at this film made of last year’s Wool Week to get a flavour of what went on.
Hazel Tindall, a local knitter who has twice held the title as the World’s fastest knitter is the Patron of Shetland Wool Week and she’s designed a pattern for a Fair Isle hat that you can download. People who are attending Wool Week have been asked to knit them in their own chosen colours and take them to Shetland. See how many you can spot while you're here. Or if you've made one, send us a selfie! I met up with Hazel to find out about her love of knitting - have a listen to find out yourself.