Shetland wool week and local studies

On Instagram there was a lot of recent activity for #shetlandwoolweek. I found out about it last year and it looked amazing, and something to add to the "to visit" list. I am interested in it because of the knitting, but also because of the local studies.

The image below brings in a library partnership as a participant reports back on the Shetland wool week

Come hear about my Shetland Wool Week adventures and my sheepy mayhem tour of North Yorkshire England. I will be presenting at the Newfields NH library this Wednesday night 7 PM. Free event. #shetlandwoolweek #shetland #newfieldsnh #newfieldslibrary #knittersofinstagram

A photo posted by Wendy Booth (@hivetender) on Oct 10, 2016 at 7:05pm PDT

I hope the local public library in Shetland is collecting some of these images as there are twists on the traditional, for example (inclusion of runes)

Knit from handspun by Sue Arthur. Displayed at the Guild Tea in Tingwall. #inspiredbyshetland #shetlandwoolweek #knitting #fairisle

A photo posted by Cathy Scott - Stitchmastery (@stitchmastery) on Oct 2, 2016 at 7:43am PDT

It is interesting because there is a focus on the sheep

Oliver, judging fleece on the hoof. #Shetland #grandshetlandadventure #shetlandwoolweek #shetlandwoolweek2016 #sheep

A photo posted by Carrie Sundra (@alpenglowyarn) on Oct 1, 2016 at 4:42am PDT

as well as the finished product. Heritage items were on display

Visited the Isleburgh Community Centre last night and met Elizabeth. The sweater that Elizabeth is wearing plus all the others displayed behind her were knit by her mother and aunt in the 1920s and 1930s. Aren't they amazing? #shetlandwoolweek #knitting #knittersofinstagram #artificialsilk #fairisle

A photo posted by Cathy Scott - Stitchmastery (@stitchmastery) on Sep 28, 2016 at 1:22am PDT

as new pieces were being made...

Sheila Fowlie teaching us about lace knitting with organic wool 👌 {on a side note, we found the other two Icelanders attending wool week!} #shetlandwoolweek #hjalti2016 #allthelace

A photo posted by Lára Þórarinsdóttir (@larathor) on Sep 26, 2016 at 2:28pm PDT

Bright swatches from our class with @mjmucklestone . We tested out different fair isle color combos, and were supposed to all use the same colors of yarn. It turns out we were all a bunch of terrible cheaters - some of us added colors and some of us used entirely different colors because we decided to immediately swatch for a sweater. 😁 playing with colors is pretty addictive - I just wanted to keep rearranging and swatching! #swatches #fairisle #colorwork #knitting #shetland #shetlandwoolweek #grandshetlandadventure

A photo posted by Carrie Sundra (@alpenglowyarn) on Oct 7, 2016 at 10:42am PDT

I think this is very interesting from a local studies perspective, and would have great potential for oral history and other recording of current experience. There was even a readers' advisory element as well

Luckily snagged tickets to Ann Cleeves new book launch. #shetlandwoolweek #anncleeves

A photo posted by kschneibolk (@kschneibolk) on Oct 2, 2016 at 8:16am PDT