Here are photographs of the process of spinning, weaving and knitting at Jamieson's of Shetland, also known as Jamieson's Spindrift, at their mill in Sandness.
The business was set up in the early 1890's and you can purchase their yarn and find out more at http://www.jamiesonsofshetland.co.uk.
I personally chose to design using their yarns as there was a wide selection of colours and also the potential to commission a woven textile run on their power looms.

 

Cleaning the fleece

Dyeing

Dyed fleece for blending

Carding

Finisher Carder

Ringspinning

Power loom weaving

Machine knitting of Fair Isle Jumpers

Jamieson & Smith vs. Jamieson's of Shetland

This can be quite a confusing matter especially for an unken like me. There are 2 main yarn suppliers in Shetland- Jamieson & Smith and Jamieson's of Shetland.

The main difference is the fleece sorting. As you can see in the photographs below Jamieson and Smith's Oliver hand sorts the shetland fleece and it is then used to make yarn, knitwear, blankets and carpets. Hand sorting means the price of the yarn is higher than that of Jamieson's of Shetland and the yarn itself is actually spun in Yorkshire. However some find the quality of the knitting yarns a lot finer than that of Jamieson's of Shetland and on Jamieson and Smith's website, they quote that "A 2009 trading standards investigation revealed that we purchase over 80% of the wool produced in Shetland". 

I myself chose to weave with yarn from Jamieson's of Shetland and in the next post I shall show pictures from a visit to their mill in Sandness.

Also I'd like to thank Rachel in the Global Yell Sewing Group for teaching me how to bead weave. Rachel makes intricate woven glass bead jewellery, some based on fair isle designs.

Here is my own less intricate first attempt. Warning this is a very addictive craft!

It's a long time since I've returned from Shetland, yet there are still so many pictures and places I'd like to post. I've chosen to start by thanking some people who opened their homes and their studios.

Firstly Liz Gott, a knitted textile artist, kindly showed me round her open studio and the tafts of Bayanne House in Yell. The site of the ancient settlements here at Bayanne are believe to date from the Middle Bronze Age period and were discovered when the Gotts were trying to rebuild a garden wall. These objects pictured, a club and a spindle whorl, are some of the artifacts that remain at Bayanne house. The rest of the finds are still currently being analysed and dated by experts.
One of my favourite discoveries at Bayanne was a Hattersley loom that Liz is in the process of restoring in a spare shed (you never know what you'll find in a Shetland Shed). I hope one day to revisit and see her weaving some shetland tweel on it. Unfortunately my camera ran out of battery just as she showed me the loom but if you'd like to visit the house for yourself here is their website
http://www.bayanne.co.uk



Also I'd like to share some photographs of some work from Yell knitting group particularly the tattit weaving of Elaine.

Finishing a fair knit jumper to be sold

Tablet weaving

Tattit weaving

Tattit blankets (taats) were often made for newlyweds- one half of the blanket made by the bride's family and the other half by the groom's family. The 2 halves were then sewn together and presented to the couple on their wedding day. Maybe this beautiful tradition might be a good way to stop the other half from stealing all the covers.

And last but not least the home and work of Mike McDonnell. Mike's humour and story telling was enough to brighten my visit but he very kindly showed me round his home and studio which house his sculptures and tools. Using found materials he seems to be constantly creating his own works as well as earning commissions such as set designs, poetry illustration and museum pieces.

You can find an artist profile for him here

http://www.shetlandgallery.com/mike-mcdonnell

Here are a few of my favourites photos from the visit

self portrait/passport photo

Snow!

Inspired by the fine lace knitting I began to experiment with spot bronson, huck lace and swedish lace structures.