ABOUT US

In the early 1890's, Robert Jamieson started up a small business in Sandness on the far west coast of the Shetland Isles. From this shop he bought, or exchanged for goods, knitwear from the local crofters. These hand-spun, handknitted garments were made from the wool of their own native sheep, every piece unique. Hats, gloves, mitts, stockings, underclothing, sweaters (known locally as 'ganseys') and in particular, the intricate Shetland lace shawls, veils and stockings, which were at the height of their popularity at the turn of the century.

When Robert retired, his son Andrew continued in his footsteps until the steady decline in handspinning forced a change on the industry. Andrew now needed to buy yarn for his knitters, so he became one of the islands first wool brokers, buying the raw woolclip from the crofters and shipping it to the Scottish mainland for processing.

At the time, Shetland wool was believed too soft to be spun on industrial machinery and so it was blended with other coarser breeds of wool to make it easier to spin. The very best blend of 'Shetland' yarn mainland spinning mills could produce was only about 60% pure. It was a reasonably good yarn but it never seemed quite good enough to the family, having lost some of the qualities which make the 'real thing' unique.

Time moved on and Andrew's son, Robert, better known as Bertie, took over the business. Bertie expanded by establishing a retail store in Lerwick, Shetlands capital town. The store still sells all the traditional knitted garments, as well as a full range of handknitting yarns, books and needles.

Despite these developments, the desire to be able to offer customers the genuine article, lived on.
This dream was finally realised in 1980, after Berties son, Peter, joined the business. Together they set up a small, experimental spinning mill in Sandness and soon began to produce the yarn that they truly wished to offer. A pure wool taken from only the two finest grades of the native sheep, grown within the isles.

Over the last 30 years the business has expanded. Jamiesons Knitwear is well known in the international market for its quality and in recent years The Shetland Weaving Company has added to this reputation with its range of beautiful pure wool tweeds, woven from the same wool.

Now in the 21st century the story has come full circle. The yarn which made Shetland knitwear desirable over 100 years ago is once again available. A rapidly expanding group of handknitters are learning for the first time the joys of knitting with genuine Shetland wool, grown and spun in the Shetland Isles.

Could customers please note that we have no commercial connection with Jamieson & Smith (Shetland Wool Brokers) 90 North Road, Lerwick.