The MAGIC of Shetland Wool ✨ Behind the Scenes @ Jamieson's of Shetland 🇬🇧Knitting the UK: Episode 5

[@dawsie]

My Aunt is one of the crofters that sells her wool to Jamieson, she has a small holding of around 20-30 sheep. Both she as well as my Gran were one of their knitters when it was still handmade back in the early days before more and more of it was done on machine. Gran use to knit the lace shawls during the 40’s through to the 60’s she would make 6 shawls in a night which would then put food on the table the next day. Me Aunt did the fair-isle jumpers as well as the cardigans, but alas as fast as many of the islanders were with knitting non of them can knit as fast as a machine.

[@Hiker_who_Sews]

Thanks for your comment! I enjoyed reading about your family.

[@Ntagati]

Thanks so much for telling us this history. Best wishes. ❤

[@lynnewillette2654]

“He taught the machines to knit fair isle.” 😊 Wow. What a production. Great video.

[@marisadawndesigns5458]

Watching during Shetland Wool Week! 😁

[@ladyinredyarn-yvonne1942]

This podcast was FASCINATING; ssso informative. Thank you 4 taking us along 😁🧶

[@MakerMarkKnits]

Thank you so much for watching!

[@Imwolfies]

That was fascinating, and the range of colors of the finishsd fiber. Just WOW!

[@sleepydrJ]

Absolutely fantastic video! Thank you so very much.

[@susanmcgregor3787]

Thank you. This vlog was so informative. Hoping you are enjoying your time on the Shetland Isles. Looks beautiful.

[@omaeve]

I always wanted to go there i’ve always had friends with sheep and goats and we have a very nice festival in Berryville Virginia every year so I’ve always hand washed and carded ( 100 year old carders that I inherited from my grandmother) my husband was in the Air Force so we always moved a lot. I’m from Virginia, but I learned to spin from a lovely lady in North Carolina. Her next-door neighbor was an expert on natural dying. I have four spinning wheels one I bought in Germany and got the wool from a local farmer. His sheep were beginning to shed naturally, and his grandmother had recently died and she had used the wool so he was happy to sell to me and keep the tradition going. We got to go on a field trip to a lady who taught spinning and most of her students have bought their own spinning wheels so my first spinning wheel was made by a lovely gentleman in West Virginia, and I was very excited when my grandchildren moved to his town and I got to go and visit him.. I have always bought Wool from the Shetland’s I’m too old now, but my ambition at one time was to have one of every color of the wolf that they make there. I’m 70 now, but I still knit and crochet every day. The spinning is a little bit slower as I’ve had open-heart surgery and peddling gives me quite a bit of excitement to my heart. Thank you for sharing your trip with us couch potatoes can’t get out and don’t drive anymore.

[@P-auliina]

Love love love this kind of videos.😍

[@ThomasE_1180]

Thank you so much for taking us along on your tour. I’m so grateful to see Shetland islands and Jamison‘s factory. Thank you!

[@sandracartica4932]

That was great! I LOVE fiber!!! Im gonna go on their website and order some wool!! ❤❤❤❤❤❤ Thanks for sharing the info.

[@SilverDraco]

Thank you, Mark and Ned for giving us a look inside the workings of the mill. Soooo fascinating! You look like you're having a lovely honeymoon so I hope it's all you dreamed of. Much affection from Calif.

[@lisaj.b4814]

We met in Shetland last month! KZbin recommended me this video. So lovely to see this! All the best

[@MakerMarkKnits]

I was wondering if KZbin would send me your way 🙂 I'm so glad to reconnect here!

[@squarepinapples9116]

I love her accent ❤❤❤❤ the rolling is so soft and melodic

[@StickToYourKnitting]

Everybody stop what you’re doing! MOTH!!! 😅 Nice catch, Mark! ❤ Thank you very much for this fascinating vlog! Louise was a delight and you asked great questions. What a privilege to gain access to the Jamieson’s mill!

[@MakerMarkKnits]

Haha, exactly! It was a very funny moment - and fortunately I was able to clap it between my hands!

[@suzannehutegger4656]

I went to Shetland last year for Wool Week. It was such an amazing experience. This video had me walking down memory lane. Did I say how I love knitting . 😊 Keep them coming, loving all the videos.

[@VeretenoVids]

Oh my gosh. Listening to her brings back warm memories of my great-grandmother! I wish I didn't have hypersensitive skin that rejects Shetland wool!

[@eleanortrebicki3694]

Thank you Mark as usual another delightful presentation. I have severe anxiety and watching your lovely vlogs and knitting is better than any medicine

[@SusanRoberts-uk6gi]

So glad you're both having a wonderful time exploring the country and all woolly goodness that we have to offer.

[@MakerMarkKnits]

We had such a wonderful time - hoping we can return very soon!

[@mendezcher]

That is insanely incredible!! Thank you for the tour! Seeing those monstrous machines, makes the price of yarns so understandable!

[@MakerMarkKnits]

That's a really good point! I can't imagine how much some of those machines cost! And there were several workers at each step of the process. :)

[@mendezcher]

@@MakerMarkKnits that was my first thought…”how much does that machine cost?” 😃

[@thecarjacful]

Really interesting. Thanks for that 👍🏻🧶

[@retahallonquist7614]

I got to visit Shetland, but it was on a Princess Cruise and many of the shops weren't open. I had really hoped that Princess would offer a tour to the Jaimison wool mill, but they didn't. It was still a wonderful visit. Thanks for sharing this with us. It makes me feel like I didn't totally miss out.

[@thomashubbell8612]

Beautiful yarns!!

[@picturesqueimages]

Thank you for sharing your trip with all of us. What a delight to see behind the scenes!

[@patriciacrellin1744]

Really interesting video. I love hearing her accent, especially those rolled r's; "this is where the wool is torrrrrrn apart" just lovely. Such amazing colour choices that I'd be in the shop for a week trying to decide on colours.

[@GooberFace32]

“Covid-related knitting insanity” 😂 That was awesome!

[@virginiaanderson8875]

Thanks for the Shetland and I do buy the Jamiesons here in the States from a store in New Hampshire- with Shetland background ! Was interesting to see the process and work involved in the process. Lot of work, really makes you look at a skein of yarn with new respect.

[@candacecampbell3542]

Thank you Mark! This was very interesting!!

[@MakerMarkKnits]

Thanks for watching!

[@jilliankonig2759]

Thanks for the vicarious travel adventure!

[@lexiharding5498]

This was super interesting! Thank you so much for filming it :)

[@quiltgirl471]

Thank you so much for this. I just finished a fair isle hat using Jamison’s Spindrift. It was lovely to work with and I enjoyed seeing the process of how the yarn was made.

[@ronnauganderson4470]

I have been to Shetland twice - always visiting by my sailboat from Norway. I have not been there for some years now - maybe next year. I am a knitting enthusiast and have knitted with their yarn on several projects. Love their colours.

[@jillfoster6369]

Absolutely fascinating tour. Thank you so much 🧶🧶

[@MakerMarkKnits]

Louise gave us the best tour!

[@ginnerlucreates1884]

What a marvelous episode. So informative! Thank you Mark and Ned.

[@MakerMarkKnits]

Our pleasure!

[@patriciagrenner8033]

Hi Mark, wow. It just blows my mind the amount of work that goes into making yarn for us to make garments. What a special craft we are in. I love it!

[@LisaT_]

What a delightful treat. Thank you! Beautiful video.

[@mscscottage1277]

Really enjoyed this. i like 'knowing'

[@lopezmariae621]

Mark Thank you, showing us the processing of wool at a mill from start to finish.

[@yarnymcyarn]

fabulous episode! thx for taking us with you.

[@crochetingknitter4751]

Brings back such great memories of my own trip there in 2019 for Wool Week. It’s such a beautiful island and the people are so kind and generous. Need to get back there! Enjoy the rest of your time.

[@MakerMarkKnits]

Oh I'm sure you had a great time! I've never attended any sort of fiber festival!

[@angelafeather1301]

This was really interesting thank you 😊

[@pattyb2294]

I made that halibut sweater also. Great job! Thanks for this tour.

[@celiajean7093]

How lovely. The factory might be small but definitely mighty. Lots of machinery packed into those buildings. Thank you so much for sharing this journey with us. I see this is a multiple episode series, I'll be tracking down your other videos. What a joy!

[@jennifershaw4756]

Thank you for taking us all along!

[@Blb477]

Thank you thank you for taking us with you. It was amazing. I went to Ireland to some of the mills last September and going with you today to jamiesons was a treat!!❤❤

[@cecileboudeau5958]

Thank you so much ! It was great to watch the various production steps !

[@cball8160]

Such a beautiful video! It makes me want to start another fair isle sweater RIGHT NOW!! Aren’t we lucky to be in your backpacks along for this amazing trip. Thanks for taking us along. 😀

[@Digitizingqueen1]

Wow what a great tour and what f7n to be able to take us with you! Wow what a beautiful place also! Marcia

[@mojadaka1074]

Wonderful video.

[@Hiker_who_Sews]

Great tour!

[@Gin-erna44]

So interesting, you are really lucky x

[@karenbochinski]

I have been looking soooo forward to this episode. I knew you would go there. There wool is sooo famous. Great podcast

[@MakerMarkKnits]

Thanks, Karen!

[@janet_Luv2_Knit]

What a treat. Thanks for sharing this video. It was wonderful to see the tour. The island looked beautiful as you had wonderful weather.

[@LesleyShiroma]

Loved seeing the behind the scenes of how our wool is processed! Awesome to glimpse the country too!

[@beverlythompson3246]

Really appreciate all the time and effort you are putting into these videos. Fantastic work!!

[@manicspinner1959]

Thank you SO Much for doing this video...

[@beanixdorf6977]

From those of us who process our wool in the kitchen sink or in the backyard, thank you. It’s nice to see the process on this level. It’s also great to see that they want to reduce the carbon footprint as much as possible.

[@janetshepherd9062]

So fun!

[@Richard_Szobi]

Ohh. Really amazing. Thank you for the tour was very interesting in informative. ❤

[@guerdafontin9465]

Thank you for sharing. Have fun!

[@sandcphoenix4119]

Their wool make perfect gifts for the knitters in your family. The family makes the process easy and fun.

[@margaretspencer9842]

Thanks for taking me along Mark and Ned, loved this ❤

[@KarenStrickholm]

Marvelous!!!

[@MakerMarkKnits]

Thanks for watching!

[@alicehoyle4198]

Thank you for the preview. I have just booked a tour to Shetland in the Spring of 2025 - my dream vacation

[@AnneWiley-vp5rj]

Fascinating!

[@vernonbowling5136]

Very interesting to see the many mechanical procedures to process wool but for me and my family we'll stick with the old way of one fleece at a time.

[@pauladavitt7554]

This was super interesting.

[@MakerMarkKnits]

Thanks for watching!

[@MrsKWheatley]

Top video!

[@margaretfranco2366]

Thank you for sharing this! I am going in Sept. and am so excited!!!

[@MakerMarkKnits]

Oh I hope you have a fantastic trip!

[@debiritt4471]

Thank you for sharing this! I loved seeing the workings of the mill!!

[@PKTechie0703]

This is such an interesting video!

[@MakerMarkKnits]

Thanks for watching!

[@kaylynsherwood2725]

Wowwwwwwwwwww!!!!

[@roberta4628]

The video is great! The only moment that embarrassed me was the state of the factory itself.😮 Is it ok that it's so untidy?😳

[@dorindabalanecki9307]

Wow! Just wow! Thank you ❤

[@MakerMarkKnits]

Glad you liked it!

[@Stumpybear7640]

I have always wanted to see what goes on behind those doors 😊❤❤❤ Thanks Mark ❤

[@lisascenic]

What a fascinating tour! I was particularly interested in the discussion of custom-blending the colors. Out of curiosity, did you mention Louise’s full name or did she ask you not to? It may have gone past me ask I was gawking at the machinery.

[@JeanKnits]

I am vicariously enjoying your trip so much! Today I was knitting a capelet/cowl while watching.

[@nefraial]

I love seeing things like this that chase down where things happen and how. Thank you heaps

[@yvainem7126]

That was quite a tour of the factory. Really exciting.

[@chicagoknitter]

Love, love, love that you were able to take a tour of Jamieson’s! It looks amazing. I’ve been knitting with their wool for years and it’s the best for colorwork. I hope you bought something beautiful!

[@pippade-negri8111]

So beautiful and interesting Mark! Really makes me want to plan a big fairisle project! Love this series of videos seeing your adventures xxx hope you and Ned are having a fabulous time. All the love, Pippa xxx

[@CathAfloat]

Did Louise help you with your colour choice? I really enjoyed the tour round Jamieson's. My daughter knitted their Mioness Cardigan. It was only her second colourwork project. She knitted for me a Kate Davies Cockatoo Brae from the leftovers. I am looking forward to seeing your Shetland WIP.

[@knittingwithbetty]

That settles it ❤❤❤. I’m moving to Shetland to work at Jamieson’s 😂. Great video Mark, you seem to be having a lovely time in the UK xxx

[@Bonnie-uz1xs]

Loving seeing the islands and meeting the people. Keep them coming. Are you having trouble driving on the other side of the road?

[@kathysewon]

So fun to follow you guys on this trip

[@valeriechambers4773]

That was an interesting tour and seeing how the wool is processed. Thank you for sharing.

[@laurabelcher1574]

Wonderful video!

[@cdma7sss]

Enjoyed the tour. Fun to see behind the scenes.

[@christenagervais7303]

What a fantastic video 😊

[@arwenwestrop5404]

Gosh what an amazing tour! Just a shame that none of the machines was actually running. Did she end up giving you a few bits of the mid-process wool she was showing you? I would have pinched some if she hadn't! 😉

[@jenniferwiltrout1975]

Wow, just wow!

[@Liz.Green789]

That was fun. Thank you.

[@CindyTRH]

Awesome video!! Thank you!

[@KYERRN]

I need one of each of the colors!

[@debwaterman4918]

Amazing tour! I love seeing the way wool is made into fiber. Did you buy one of the Shetland vests? Or more likely the yarn to knit one?

[@melaniehellum1281]

So nice... gòod tour. I raise some Shetland sheep. Little bums. Angora goats and blue faced Leicester sheep what a crew. I need an island so I don't have to fence.

[@MakerMarkKnits]

Wow! That sounds like a great crew :)

[@Terrachroma_911]

😊

[@mikelafiddle]

This is SO COOL!

[@dawnhetrick6556]

Are you still in Scotland? My husband and I are flying out tonight for a week in Scotland.

[@MakerMarkKnits]

We are still in the UK - currently in Bath and heading toward Wales soon. I hope you have a great time!!

[@rodneypantony3551]

People may be switching to wool mid and outer layers as winters are milder and climate changes. Jamiesons may want to produce high neck collars for warmth. People lose a lot of heat from the neck and head. Chimney effect. Helly Hansen produced a merino synthetic blend hoodie, double lined hood, snug around the neck and chin. Discontinued. But it's a super garment design. Slightly wind and rain resistant. Jamiesons might produce some and measure the insulation values of garments with standard thermal imaging cameras, $200. Sell with pocket wind or rain jacket for any desired wind and rain resistance. $50. Possibly a felt hoodie, snug to neck and chin. Essentially a 3 season solution. Mid or outer layer.