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Shetland Wool Week is back for 2022

Published: 28 March 2022

Shetland Wool Week will finally be going ahead in person this September as organisers at Shetland Amenity Trust confirm the dates as 24 September – 2 October 2022.

The nine-day festival will be a scaled back version of the usual physical event, with the organisers focusing on delivering Shetland Wool Week in full for 2023.

Sandy Middleton, Assistant Chief Executive at Shetland Amenity Trust said: “After much deliberation with the SWW committee we are thrilled to announce that we will be going ahead with a physical event this year, albeit in a reduced format. For the past two years we have run a virtual Wool Week, but this year, with Covid restrictions lifting around the world, we wanted to take our first steps towards bringing a physical event back and celebrate Shetland’s textiles and wool with a series of events throughout the isles. However, with the ongoing uncertainty of new Covid variants, and ever-mindful of our small island community, our programme will be reduced in size from previous years with fewer of the larger, public gatherings.”

Shetland Wool Week organisers are currently pulling together the programme for 2022 which will be launched during the summer. Local tutors and event providers have been contacted and organisers urge anyone who would like to host a wool-related event in person to get in touch via email at woolweek@shetlandamenity.org

Sandy Middleton added: “This is an ideal opportunity for locals to attend SWW as we anticipate fewer visitors from overseas joining us this year. Additionally, we will shortly be recruiting for someone to join the SWW team to help deliver the event and develop the festival for 2023.”

A SWW Patron has been chosen for 2022 and this will be announced together with the new hat pattern around May. Current SWW Patron, Wilma Malcolmson has done a sterling job, flying the flag for Shetland wool for the past two years, and the organisers thank her for all her dedication and hard work, as well as for creating two stunning hat patterns, Katie’s Kep and Da Crofter’s Kep.

The popular publication, the Shetland Wool Week Annual is also planned for later in the year.