Our first visit
We first visited the Jamieson Spinning mill in Sandness after reading in the Shetland Craft Trail that we could tour the mill and visit the factory shop. After a scenic 8 mile drive along the single track road from Walls we arrived at the mill. We entered the small abandoned shop, with stacks of Fair Isle jumpers and cardigans on a table and the shelf along the window. Along the back wall a curtain hid the true treasures of the shop. Hilde opened the curtain revealing a wall of colour – over 200 colours of Shetland spindrift in 25g balls creating a rainbow of wool.
After 25 minutes in the shop by ourselves we ventured into the knitting studio. Here three people manned the knitting machines producing the jumpers we saw before. We asked about the mill tour and a woman indicated we could explore if we wanted. Â She then nodded to the back door that led to the main hall. The carding machine was running, and we identified the mixer, spinning machines and ball winders. It felt somewhat odd for the five of us to rummage through the mill on our own, but equally we felt privileged to observe the industrial machinery up close.
Back in the shop – inspired to start a range of projects – we bought 108 balls of wool, filling a large bin bag. We’ll not easily forget that bag, as it burst when stuffing it into our packed car on the final day of our holiday!
The only remaining spinning mill on Shetland
Jamieson Spinnig is the only spinning mill remaining in Shetland. They shouldn’t be confused with Jamieson and Smith in Lerwick who send their fleeces to England for spinning. It is a family owned business, which has specialised in wool for five generations. Besides their wide variety of yarns and their knitwear the company has recently started weaving beautiful tweeds.
We’ve been back to the mill in Sandness each summer since 2013. The shop is usually unmanned, and sometimes locked during opening hours. But you can just walk in through the mill. To get assistance you may need to actively approach staff focused on other tasks. But once you have their attention they are friendly and helpful. One year Gary Jamieson even fired up the massive ball winding machine to wind a single 25g ball of ‘Splash’ for me!
My staple yarn
Jamieson’s wool is my staple yarn, so you’ll see it used in many of my projects. I love their extensive range of over 200 colours. They are a sensitive mix of differently coloured fibres inspired by the shades and tints of the Shetland landscape. I now mainly buy 1kg cones, which at the mill costs the same as eleven 25g balls (prices are higher in their Lerwick shop and online). And I buy roving to spin myself.
Of course, if you visit Shetland, the best place to buy yarn is at the mill in Sandness, or at the Jamieson shop in Lerwick. Otherwise, their full collection can be bought online directly from the shop: http://www.jamiesonsofshetland.co.uk. If you order their beautiful shade card (£12) you avoid the risk of colour distortion on you screen.
