Shetland Shades: Stories In Wool

Shetland Shades: Stories in Wool is a homage to Gudrun Johnston’s Shetland roots and the rich knitting traditions of these breath taking islands.

12 knitting patterns, focusing on richly-hued vests, complemented by a few beautiful hats and scarves

Inspired by the rugged beauty of Shetland, the book explores ways of knitting with colour — mixing together the different shades of nature. It features vests with versatile and engaging constructions that make beautiful layering pieces for any outfit.

In the personal essays, Gudrun digs deeper into her creative process and Shetland knitting heritage, while also sharing her newfound interest in sewing. Shetland Shades invites you to be inspired by wind-swept shores, earthy tones, and centuries of crafting.

The book explores a variety of ways to knit with colour — from traditional Fair Isle and colour blocking to mosaic knitting and marling.

Discover the interplay between knitting and sewing as Gudrun shares her ideas for styling vests with hand-sewn pieces. You’ll find all the garment pattern details inside the book.

This is your chance to try out steeking if you haven’t already! When knitting with Woollen-Spun Shetland, no reinforcement is needed before cutting the knitting.

Gudrun Johnston is a renowned knitwear designer, born in Shetland and currently based in Massachusetts. The Shetland landscape, wool and tradition are intrinsic to her creativity, translating into insightful, modern designs that are made to last a lifetime.

“One of the first fabrics to touch my newborn skin was the woolen-spun fibers of a Shetland hap, the traditional shawl synonymous with the islands. This welcome into the world is an intrinsic part of the heritage for the majority of babies born in Shetland.”