Shetland Wool Week 2027

Shetland Islands UK 2027

**This is preliminary info. We will update this page with public details as they become available. Please feel free to contact Gigi with any questions you have at [email protected] and join our FB group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1236302244703537

The Journey
Join us for an immersive, seven-day textile pilgrimage to the ruggedly beautiful Shetland Islands for Wool Week 2027! Our journey centers on the expertise of Zoe McDonell, the renowned Vancouver-based weaver, dyer, and ecologist. Her work bridges ancestral craft with scientific knowledge, drawing on foraged plant and fungal materials to produce natural dyes and hand-processed fibres that reflect the landscape. Through wool processing, hand spinning, and weaving, she creates textiles that embody both ecological processes and cultural memory.

Zoe has been teaching historical natural dye techniques and other fiber arts in over 50 workshops internationally for 25 years. Her main focus is on two-eyed seeing workshops with her co-instructor Nadine McSpadden (Shuswap First Nations), balancing science and traditional ways of knowing.

Beyond their classes, we’ll dive into the heart of Shetland’s heritage: visiting local crofts, exploring the world-famous Jamieson’s of Shetland mill, and joining the vibrant “Knit Aim” community at the Lerwick Hub. Expect dramatic coastal drives, cozy dinners featuring local seafood, and endless inspiration from the landscape that birthed Fair Isle knitting. Whether you’re a seasoned weaver or a curious knitter, this trip is designed to be a collaborative, creatively-recharging escape to the edge of the world.

Trip price estimates are from $2600-$4000 for lodging, food & local transport on island, and wool week membership/classes.

Costumers of Color Connection
Historically, the textile industry from the wool trade in the North Atlantic to the cotton plantations of the Global South has been shaped by complex, often painful, global histories. The Costumers of Color nonprofit is not just arranging a multicultural group visit to this festival; we are intentionally positioning ourselves in a space where fiber history is preserved.

We stand with Shetland in asserting that these ancestral crafts are vital, and we believe that the perspectives of POC and anti-racist creators deeply enrich the global narrative of textile art.

The Pillars of Our Journey

• Honoring Ancestral Science – We seek to learn how to honor the indigenous and ancestral scientific knowledge of the land. By learning to forage for dyes and process wool in ways that respect the ecosystem, we align our craft with the environment.
• Textiles as Heritage – We recognize that fiber arts have served as more than just decoration. They have been tools for survival, resistance, and cultural expression for people throughout history.
• Intentional Community – We aim to be in community with those who view history through the lens of diverse heritages, fostering a space where our stories and our skills are inextricably linked.

Planning Timeline for Shetland Wool Week 2027

• April–August 2026: Submit deposit for trip. Join our FB group. Sign Up for SWW newsletter. Attend one of our planning zoom meetings.
• October 2026: We will finalize traveler list and book lodging.
• Late 2026: We will share the NorthLink Ferry 2027 schedule release (usually ~11–12 months out).
• May/June 2027: Buy your “Wool Week Membership” (required for early access to Zoe’s class tickets).
• July/August 2027: Class registration opens (this is a “fastest finger” event where classes sell out in minutes).

What’s Included

• 7 nights lodging in Lerwick, Scalloway, or Quarry (double occupancy)
• Group Transportation around Shetland Island to classes, workshops, sightseeing, etc.
• Group Coordination on Shetland for dinners, classes, and sightseeing

What’s Not Included

• Airfare, train, or ferry transportation to/from Lerwick Ferry Terminal to meet the group.
  • Fly into London, Edinburgh, or Inverness and take the train to Aberdeen to catch the ferry to Lerwick OR fly directly to Shetland landing at Sumburgh (LSI).
• Meals and beverages (breakfast, lunch, dinner).
• Tickets to Wool Week classes and workshops (incl. transport off main island).
  • Link TBD

Draft Itinerary (Sep 26-Oct 2)

• Day 1 – Arrival in Lerwick, Shetland (*from LSI or Aberdeen via Ferry)
• Day 2 –
• Day 3 –
• Day 4 –
• Day 5 –
• Day 6 –
• Day 7 –
• Day 8 – Departure (from Lerwick or LSI)

Pricing & Policies

Trip cost (estimates*): 

• £2000-2500 (~ $2650+) per person double occupancy 
• £2500-3000 (~ $3060+) per person single occupancy

Deposit: £376 (~ $500 plus tax) April – August 1, 2026
1st Payment: £1624+/£1924+  by January 1, 2027
2nd Payment /Balance: TBD £0+/£0+  by April 1, 2027

Payment plan: Email Gigi at [email protected] for an invoice.

Travel insurance is strongly recommended.

By submitting your nonrefundable deposit, you agree to the conduct requirements and terms & conditions linked on our website. All trip fees are nonrefundable and transferable.

Pertinent Links

What is Wool Week? https://www.shetlandwoolweek.com/videos/what-is-wool-week/

YouTube – Shetland Wool Week 2025 Recap

YouTube – Shetland Wool Week 2024

Past Wool Week class programme https://www.shetlandwoolweek.com/events/

Yarn Cost Breakdown from 2025 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joKytS3xdN4

How to Shetland Wool Week https://youtu.be/xudYgMQIurc?si=I0SsrrC48ybuJPpQ 

• Our FB Group Link – https://www.facebook.com/share/g/17MfQMTwM3/
• Newsletter – www.shetlandwoolweek.com/newsletter-signup
• SWW Hat Pattern – www.shetlandwoolweek.com/knitting-pattern