Securing the future of Shetland hand-knitting

The story so far…

Passing on hand knitting techniques and making use of the Shetland Wool Yarn has been a vital part of Shetland’s heritage and community for centuries. 

The people of Shetland have recognised the importance of carrying this on, initially to ensure the skills and knowledge are kept alive, but also to encourage the additional benefits such as:

• Appreciating our heritage here in Shetland

• Encouraging socialising across different age groups

• Promoting wellbeing

• Inspiring creativity 

• Developing the future of Shetland’s knitwear production and textile tourism

However this culture can only continue if knitters' extraordinary skills and creativity is recognised and nurtured, and that is the challenge that Shetland Peerie Makkers has embraced since 2014.

Hand knitting was part of the curriculum in Shetland schools until 2010, a series of events thereafter led to a local trust putting together a project with aims to resume hand knitting tuition for children in Shetland. This exciting and successful project has now developed into its own charity in 2024, continuing the original mission set out by the founders at the Brough Lodge Trust.