Shetland Wool Week 2013
Published: 17 April 2013
Wool Week 2013 (Image by Dave Wheeler)ZoomShetland Amenity Trust is proud to be a partner in the ever growing Shetland Wool Week. Held every October, this event is a celebration of celebration of Britain's most northerly native sheep, Shetland's textile industries and rural farming communities. Organised by a committee of local public, private and voluntary organisations, this community led event has a world-wide following, and attracts ever increasing numbers of wool and knitting enthusiasts to the isles every year.
Guest patron of this year's event is Felicity Ford, who, in addition to her work with 'Wovember' is also an accomplished sound artist and textile designer. Felicity's workshops and lectures will include a focus on the 'sounds of Shetland sheep', inviting participants to 'listen' to Shetland wool.
Felicity will be joined by Tom Van Deijnin, otherwise known as 'Tom of Holland' for selected events. Tom is perhaps best known for his Visible Mending Programme (VMP), where he uses darning, patching and weaving techniques to give a new lease of life to
damaged or over-loved garments. Also on the bill for this year's event, is international designer and teacher, Di Gilpin, who has recently been awarded The Balvenie Master of Craft award for the Textiles Category for 2012. Di's work brings hand knitting to the fashion world, and her 30 years of teaching experience brings something special to her workshops.
Well-known local designers and knitters will also be providing a range of courses and events for aspiring Fair Isle and lace knitters, spinners, weavers and dyers. The Hoswick Visitors Centre has an astonishing array of events planned through the week with Niela Nell Kalra and Elizabeth Johnston; Jamieson and Smith (Shetland Wool Brokers) Ltd will open their shop daily for lessons with Hazel Tindall, Mary Henderson and Mary Kay, to name a few; with additional events taking place throughout Shetland, including: Unst Heritage Centre, ASF Shetland, Whalsay Heritage Centre, Shetland Museum and Archives, Shetland Textile Museum and Shetland College.
This year's event kicks off on Monday 7th October with open studios, exhibitions, tours and workshops in knitting, spinning and dyeing; and continuing through the week. A full programme of events is available at http://www.shetlandwoolweek.com/ and a printed programme will be available from mid-May from local outlets, or to download from the website.
A four day conference will complement this year's event. The North Atlantic Native Sheep and Wool Conference will begin on Friday 11th October. Details can be found HERE and more infomration about this will be posted to the Shetland Amenity Trust newsfeed.
