'I love the sheep and the people' - Knitters flock to Shetland's wool week

ByJohn Johnston

BBC Scotland News, Reporting fromLerwick, Shetland

Almost 1,000 people have gathered in Shetland for the island's annual celebration of wool, knitting and textiles.

The week-long event is marking its 17th year and features classes, workshops, talks, tours and social activities.

Shetland Wool Week draws enthusiasts from around the world, including the US and Japan.

This year's patron, knitwear designer Helen Robertson, said: "I think wool week is just such a fantastic organisation and festival, and it's really brought Shetland textiles to life."

Nancy Woodhouse, a knitter from Arizona in the US, brought some of her creations, including a woolly hat inspired by the crime drama Shetland.

"I love the show," she said.

Describing the head wear, Woodhouse said: "We start on the hat with detective Jimmy Perez of course and Tosh who's taken over as the lead detective, then we have the ever helpful Sandy and Ruth Calder, and this is the chalk outline of the victim.

"The hat has muted colours so the detectives would shine - it's the crime scene I wear on my head."

Satoko Nagakubo has flown from Tokyo for the festival.

"I come from Japan many times to Shetland for wool week because I love the sheep and the local people. I love Shetland lace knitting and spinning," she said.

Mary Randles, visiting from Lancashire, said: "I think the fact that you can chill, you can knit, meet people, buy wool and sit on your suitcase until it forces all the wool in before you take it home."

She said the event allowed her to see the sheep the wool she uses for knitting come from.

Randles added: "Once you've knitted with it and washed it, it drapes beautifully whereas sometimes when you knitting with synthetic it doesn't drape but this stuff does."

From Fair Isle knitting to spinning, fleece preparation, weaving, lace knitting to wool skirting, there is a huge range for visitors to discover.

It is an event that stretches far beyond the classroom, with activities taking place from Unst to the south mainland.

Local communities are at the heart of the week, with community halls, crofts and businesses, makers and musicians all helping to create the unique experience for the wool enthusiasts.

Patron Helen Robertson designed the much-anticipated wool week hat - the Birsie Beanny.

"It's such a joyful and happy week," she said.

The star attraction are Shetland's native sheep and the earthy shades of cream, brown and black of their wool.

Ronnie Eunson runs Uradale Farm on the west side of the islands and breeds native sheep and cattle which graze on the nearby hills and coastline.

He said: "Shetland wool is a fairly unique commodity.

"It's the history and heritage that makes it really special. You're looking at a type of fibre that has clothed Shetlanders for thousands of years."

Eunson said the sheep had a double coat of wool which protected them against the islands' harsh winter weather. The finer wool is below the top layer.

The farmer added: "Tourists are fascinated to see the sheep and to hear about the way we look after the sheep and how the sheep look after themselves."

As the nights draw in and winter approaches the festival is a big boost too for the island's economy.

Donna Smith, who runs Langsoond Yarn in Burra, said: "It's really an amazing event that's the highlight of the year for me at the end of the tourist season.

"There are so many people coming to visit and so many people coming to buy yarn. It's such an important week in the whole year for the business.

The "sewing of the loose ends" of the festival is on Saturday. Then it will be time for the hundreds of visitors to cast off and head home with their Shetland Oo for another year.