Dates
Sunday 19th to Sunday 26th July 2026
Overview
Shetland has some incredible wool heritage that spans over hundreds of years.
With that in mind, we wanted to create a tour that gives you a deeper look at how we produce our yarn and give you the tools to be able to carry out some of these things yourself.
This tour will require some knowledge of Fair Isle knitting so isn't suitable for beginner knitters.
Please note: we do not produce enough yarn on this tour to make a sweater. You will cast on with purchased yarn but we will give you an introduction into the processes needed for producing your own yarn.
What Is Included - Sheep to Sweater
- Transfers within Shetland on arrival and departure*
- All tours with a fully qualified tourist guide and experienced driver
- 7 nights accommodation at a Lerwick guesthouse
- Breakfast every day at the guesthouse
- 5 lunches at a variety of venues
- 6 dinners in some of Shetland’s finest food establishments
- Sheep dog demonstration and sheep shearing demonstration
- Spinning class with Elizabeth Johnston
- Let's Swatch class with Terri Laura
- Knitting Without A Pattern two part class with Alison Rendall
- Visit to Design by Deborah
- Visit to The Woolly Wyvern
- Visit to The Silly Sheep Fibre Company
- Dyeing workshop with Elizabeth Johnston
- Yarn shopping with a colour expert
- Visit to Uradale Farm
- Knitalong after the tour
* Guests will be required to make their own way to Shetland to begin the tour.
Itinerary
Day 1
You will be met at Sumburgh Airport or Lerwick Ferry Terminal and taken back to Solheim and Carradale where Caroline and her sons will be delighted to see you again.
Please note: there is no elevator in the guest houses and the number of ground floor rooms are limited. There is assistance with luggage.
At 7pm that evening, there will be a welcome dinner and an overview of the days ahead. This will be your first official event and you should aim to be in Shetland in time for this. This will give you the opportunity to get to know your host, guide and fellow participants.
Day 2
In the morning, we will have the first part of a class with Alison Rendall, Shetland Wool Week Patron 2023.
She will talk about the project that we will be doing, explaining what will be required and how best to select your yarn. We will see Alison again later in the week.
In the afternoon, we will visit two crafts people in Walls: The Silly Sheep Fibre Company and The Woolly Wyvern.
We will head back to the guesthouse after our evening meal.
Day 3
We make our way to Girlsta to meet the team from the Shetland Rural Experience Centre. They will introduce you to the dogs, show us how the sheep are gathered from the hill and then there will be a sheep shearing demonstration for our guests.
We then head along to Herrislea House Hotel for lunch where you get a chance to sample some traditional Shetland food.
After lunch, visit the studio of Deborah Briggs, who talks to you about the use of colour in weaving.
We head back to Lerwick for dinner and then to take it easy at the guesthouse.
Day 4
We will spend this morning at the Islesburgh Community Centre where we will be joined by Terri Laura, who will talk to us all about colour choices. She will show us her method for swatching and explain about what colours work well together.
You will have the afternoon and evening to yourself.
Day 5
This morning you will join Alison Rendall for part two of your class and this time she will be talking to you about sweater construction. In the past in Shetland, it was not common to have a pattern for making sweaters, which Alison will tell you more about.
We will head to Hoswick Visitor Centre to again join Elizabeth Johnston for our morning class, where she will be teaching you about dyeing yarn. She will supply all materials required to allow you to create your own yarn.
We will have dinner before heading back to the guesthouse for the night.
Day 6
This morning, we will head to Uradale Farm allowing you the opportunity to purchase their yarn for your project or indeed any other project.
After lunch, we head back to town where we will be joined by a colour expert who will help you pick out colours at both Jamieson's of Shetland and Jamieson and Smith, The Wool Brokers.
We will then head out for dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 7
We will spend the whole day learning how to spin with Elizabeth Johnston, a former Shetland Wool Week patron. Elizabeth will explain how to make your wool ready to spin and show you how to spin both woollen and worsted.
We then finsih up with our farewell dinner.
Day 8
For those of you leaving us today, you will check out of the guesthouse and be transferred back to Sumburgh Airport or Lerwick Ferry Terminal in time for your departure.
Please note: Itinerary may happen in a different order as advertised, subject to availability.
Price
£4,250 per person
£1,000 non-refundable deposit payable at the time of booking.
Remaining balance payable by 31st March 2026. An invoice will be sent to you 7 days prior to the deadline, which will contain a link to a secure website to make payment by credit card.
Travel Insurance
We strongly advise that you purchase suitable travel insurance before the trip.
Island Vista Assurance
The above holiday is covered by The Package Travel, Package Tours Regulations 1992. Island Vista also have public liability insurance and professional indemnity cover.
Covid Restrictions
There are currently no Covid restrictions in Scotland, however, we will follow any regulations that are in place at the time of the tours.
Additional Nights
If you wish to arrive a few days early or stay a little longer, please contact Island Vista directly and not the guest house. It may not be possible to accommodate you in the same guest house due to other tours that will be running at that time, but we will endeavour to find you an alternative. Please also note that there will be an admin fee of £30 for this service, which will be included in your final invoice.
Other Activities
If you are arriving early or departing later, you may wish to consider additional activities, tours, car hire, etc. Island Vista are happy to help you plan and arrange these, however, please note that there will be an admin fee of £30 per additional item for this service, which will be included in your final invoice.
Sharing
Prices are based on single occupancy of rooms. However, if you and a friend/partner are willing to share one of a limited number of double occupancy rooms, there will be a £100 per person discount.
Cancellation Policy
Once the final payment has been made, should you wish to cancel, there is no refund unless the spot is sold to someone else. This would be the final payment minus a £300 admin fee. The £1,000 deposit is non-refundable.
Should you cancel within 2 weeks of the tour starting, there is no refund available.
Minimum Numbers
This tour requires a minimum of 7 guests. If this is not met by early December, we may look to cancel it. Please don't book your travel until we have confirmed the tour will definitely run.