Crochet and the Puffins of Shetland

This morning, we enjoy our third workshop with Emma.

This afternoon’s excursion takes us to Sumburgh Head. Here, steep cliffs meet the ferocious North Sea, while the historic lighthouse watches out from the top of the cliffs. During the summer, Sumburgh Head comes alive with the spectacle of thousands of seabirds, including puffins. It's the craggy cliffs that support the large seabird colony here, with each species occupying different areas of the cliff. We may also spot passing Minke Whales, Orcas and dolphins, if it’s a calm day.

At the visitor centre, we’ll get a great introduction to Shetland’s natural heritage and enjoy an introductory talk on Shetland seabirds, but with a focus on the puffins! Get all the latest news from the cliffs, and learn about the puffin life cycle, habits and behaviours.

This morning, we join Emma for our final workshop before today’s visit to The Silly Sheep Fibre Company, a small family croft. Here, we will enjoy a light lunch and learn what farming and crofting life in Shetland is really like. Becky and her family have approximately 75 sheep, mainly Shetland, who provide them with beautiful fleeces. They use their own fleeces and some from other local crofts to produce batches of white and natural coloured yarn, as well as fibres for spinning, weaving, and felting. All the dyeing is done in-house in small batches.

This morning, we enjoy our second workshop with Emma.

Our excursion this afternoon will take us to Jamieson’s of Shetland and Shetland Museum & Archive. Jamieson’s is a family-owned business, which has specialised in wool from the native Shetland sheep for 5 generations.

Shetland Museum & Archives is a 5-star VisitScotland rated Visitor Attraction, which welcomes an average of 86,000 visitors per year. In 2007, the extensive and rich collections of both Shetland Museum and Shetland Archives were brought together in one building for the first time to tell the fascinating story of Shetland’s heritage and culture and provide an unforgettable visitor experience. Our ‘Textile Treasures’ guided tour focuses on the museum’s fantastic Fair Isle and Lace collections.

This morning’s excursion will take us to Jamieson & Smith Wool Brokers and Shetland Textile Museum. Jamieson & Smith have been around since the 1930s, when it was founded by the Smith family of Berry Farm in Scalloway, on the east coast of Shetland. In the 60s, they relocated to their current premises overlooking the harbour in Lerwick. In 2004 the Smith family retired, and Jamieson & Smith joined with Curtis Wool Direct in Yorkshire.

However, Jamieson & Smith continues to be staffed by Shetlanders and remains a standalone company. The profits received from the sale of Real Shetland Wool and Real Shetland Wool products come back into the Shetland economy and are passed along to the wool producer. All their products carry the 3 Sheep Logo, which signals that the product is manufactured from 100% Real Shetland Wool from sheep that are born and bred on the islands.

Shetland Textile Museum is a community museum dedicated to the island’s textile heritage. The collection comprises over 700 items including Fair Isle and lace knitting, knitwear, Taatit rugs, tools, tweed, and items by contemporary Shetland makers.

This afternoon, we will return to our hotel for our first workshop with Emma.