6 August 2024
in  

Unique Experience

Have you ever dreamed of visiting the Scottish isles and the Faroes?

Joy Ashford ‘s family came from the Orkneys and Richard and I have always wanted to visit – and immerse ourselves in the history, wildlife and natural fibres in this extraordinary area.

When Lynda Cortright, of Wild Fiber magazine, planned a 13-day trip to Scotland and the Faroes, we were thrilled to jump aboard!

Elizabeth Ashford

Richard and I have just returned from a fabulous trip to the Shetland, Orkney, Faroe and Hebridean Islands on board the Island Sky expedition ship, escorted by Linda Cortright of Wild Fibre fame. To venture to these remote islands, visiting with farmers, crofters, weavers, spinners and knitters and learning the history, while surrounded by the North Sea, made for a unique trip.

Skara Brae, the 5000-year-old neolithic village on Orkney
The Calanish Standing Stones, Lewis, described as Scotland’s Stonehenge dating from 3000 BC

We were delighted to be with a group of fellow fibre enthusiasts who, like us, had dreamed of visiting Lerwick, Kirkwell, Fetlar, Torshavn, Vestmanna, Stornaway, St Kilda, Canna, Iona, Staffa, Oban and more.

Lerwick, capital of Shetland, and location of the TV detective series Shetland
Shetland ponies on Shetland

With the use of Zodiacs, we could land on some of the remote islands that surround the Scottish coast and the Faroe Islands to help us understand the history, witness the wildlife and experience the culture of these beautiful islands. A culture so fundamentally centred on wool, spinning, weaving and knitting, that we were continually reminded of the importance of these crafts.

Remote village of Saksun in the Faroes
Faroe wheel
On the Faroes, the old farm Duvugaroar is now a national heritage museum
St Kilda, uninhabited since 1930, is home to the largest flock of Soay, the oldest breed of domesticated sheep
On St Kilda, the women carded and spun the Soay wool and the men wove their own tweed

We enjoyed speaking with craftspeople who continue to spin, weave and knit the traditional Fair Isle knitwear and the beautiful Harris Tweed. To be classified as a Harris Tweed, the weaver must weave in their own home, using a treadle loom. Arguably the most famous fabric in the world, it is protected by an act of parliament and can only be made in the Outer Hebrides.

Gordon MacDonald, at Stornoway, weaves his Harris Tweed on his Hattersley loom
A weaver at Gearrannan Blackhouse Village
The Orb Mark is the mark of authenticity on approved Harris Tweed

Fair Isle knitting originated on Fair Isle, a small island, part of the Shetland archipelago. The Fair Isle knit, a two-stranded knitting tradition, first appeared in fisherman’s hats during the 18th and 19th century. Sweaters in the Fair Isle style were not made until the First World War and gained considerable popularity when the Prince of Wales (later King Edward V111) wore Fair Isle jumpers in 1921. The sweaters were made by knitting bands of horizontal motifs from two different coloured strands of wool. The patterns are made up of motifs such as crosses, diamonds and eight-pointed stars.

Elizabeth enjoys her new Fair Isle hat
Richard and Elizabeth are delighted to take a Harris Tweed jacket and Fair Isle cardigan back to NZ

We were thrilled when we met textile artists on our journey who use our equipment to help create these timeless textiles.

Richard was asked to sign the Traditional spinning wheel at the excellent Visitor Centre on Fetlar
In the charming Shetland Textile Museum, Lerwick, an Ashford Traveller was available for teaching
Gordon uses our Country spinner to ply some of his yarns
Spindle spinning on board