The Shetland Guild of Spinners, Weavers, Knitters and Dyers are celebrating 20 years of success with an open day at the Shetland Museum and Archives on Saturday 12th July.

Formed in February 1988 with 12 members, the Guild has gone from strength to strength and now has members as far afield as Australia, America, Canada and Japan. The aim of the Guild is to preserve and extend the knowledge of the traditional skills of Shetland spinning, knitting, weaving and dyeing, incorporating all fleece and fibre crafts.

The open day will highlight the work of the Guild over the past 20 years, including an exhibition of some of their wonderful hand-knitted Shetland wool garments. Visitors will also have the chance to watch knitting and spinning demonstrations and chat to Guild members.

Winnie Balfour of the Guild commented: “The Guild meets each month in a different area of Shetland and we are very pleased to be celebrating our 20th Anniversary at the Shetland Museum and Archives this month. We are always happy to welcome new members interested in the skills of traditional hand knitting and spinning. We hope to have many visitors along to join us on Saturday, the 12th.”

The Guild managed a Textile Working Museum from 1996 - 2006 but had to move out when their lease expired. In the absence of their own museum, part of their collection is now on display in the Shetland Museum and Archives, ensuring the public can still see these fascinating textiles. Members of the Guild will also be in the Museum and Archives every Sunday afternoon throughout July and August giving displays of knitting and spinning.

Shetland Amenity Trust is currently seeking funding to develop a derelict listed building at Voe House, Walls, to house a new Textile Working Museum. Alan Blain, Deputy Manager Shetland Amenity Trust, commented: “The Guild of Spinners, Weavers, Knitters and Dyers is helping to preserve an important part of Shetland’s heritage and culture. While the Museum and Archives is serving an important role as the Heritage Hub, the Guild is in need of a base, to show more of its important collections, house a growing reference library and its many other activities. We hope to help them fulfil this aspiration and support their activities for another 20 years.”

Frank Robertson, Chairman of the Trustees of the Shetland Textile Working Museum and Councillor for Shetland West, commented on the project in a wider context: “We are looking forward to the completion of this exciting project, when the oldest Merchant’s House in Waas is fully restored to display the Shetland Textile Working Museum’s unique collection. As a working museum, Voe House will become a very important tourist attraction for the West Mainland, as well as the permanent home for the Guild of Spinners, Weavers, Knitters, and Dyers, where they can develop their crafts and pass on their skills to future generations.”