SOK: Shetland's Organisation for Knitters

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SOK: Shetland's Organisation for Knitters preserves, promotes, and protects our heritage knitting. SCO54469

SOK: Shetland's Organisation for Knitters is a registered charity dedicated to preserving, protecting and promoting Shetland’s heritage knitting traditions.

03/11/2026

Tickets Available Now!

Online Event: Hearing Aboot... Judging at Shows

Ever wondered what separates a prize-winning entry from the rest?
We're bringing together four experienced judges from the Shetland knitting community to discuss what really happens at the judging table, what they look for in an entry, and the advice they would give to knitters entering competitions themselves.

Join Rachel Hunter, Elizabeth Johnston, Hazel Tindall and Terri Leask as they share their experiences judging at the Shetland Agricultural Shows.
Join us online on Saturday the 14th of November at 7pm GMT

Your ticket includes:
-Access to the recorded panel discussion,
-A live Zoom Q&A with all four judges,
-The opportunity to ask your own knitting competition-related questions,
All while supporting SOK: Shetland's Organisation for Knitters.

Get your tickets here: https://HearingAboot.eventbrite.co.uk

Those who selected the £75+ levels during our previous crowdfunder campaign may be eligible for a free ticket to this event as part of their reward. We have sent out an email to eligible contributors with the instructions on how to claim your ticket.

Thank you once again to Rachel, Elizabeth, Hazel and Terri for their time and expertise, and to Liz Musser for her help with videography.

"Hearing Aboot..." is a new SOK series exploring different aspects of Shetland knitting through conversations with those at the heart of the knitting community. We are delighted to launch the series with this special fundraiser event.

31/10/2026

Online Event: Hearing Aboot… Judging at Shows

What separates a prize-winning piece from the rest of the entries? This is a common question during knitwear exhibitions and shows, so we went straight to the judges to find out.

We gathered four familiar faces from the Shetland knitting community, all of whom have judged at the Shetland Agricultural Shows: Rachel Hunter, Elizabeth Johnston, Hazel Tindall and Terri Leask. Together they sat down to discuss their experiences from the judging table: what catches their eye in an entry? What is it like to be a judge? Plus the advice they would give to anyone involved in knitwear competitions in their own communities.

We're delighted to share this discussion as part of our new "Hearing Aboot..." series and as a fundraiser for SOK.

Join us online on the 14th of November at 7pm GMT.

The evening will begin with a viewing of the recorded discussion, followed by a live Q&A with all four judges, giving you the opportunity to ask your own knitting and competition-related questions.

Tickets will go on sale via Eventbrite on Tuesday the 3rd of November at 10am for those who would like to join us live.

Can't make it on the night? Keep an eye on future announcements for details of how to access the recorded version.

Thank you to Rachel, Elizabeth, Hazel and Terri for generously sharing their experiences, and to Liz Musser for her help with videography.

We're delighted to bring you the opportunity to gain valuable insight directly from experienced judges, ask your questions, and support SOK at the same time.

"Hearing Aboot..." is a new SOK series exploring different aspects of Shetland knitting through conversations with those at the heart of the knitting community. We are delighted to launch the series with this initial fundraiser event.

22/10/2026

Excitement is building now that the Shetland Hogmanay Boxes are arriving with their new owners! For those who have recently joined us, or anyone looking for a reminder, here's everything you need to know about the boxes and what you can look forward to in the next few months.

The good news is that the rights to the new patterns included in the boxes are returned to their designers in January. Once the Hogmanay Box experience has come to an end, designers are free to release and sell their patterns publicly, giving everyone the opportunity to enjoy these special designs.

Sign up to our mailing list to keep up to date with projects and offerings: tinyurl.com/sokmailinglist

Our Designers:
Janette Budge Shetland Knitwear Designer & Tutor
Anne Eunson
Rachel Hunter
Terri Laura
Elizabeth Williamson Knitting

Our Yarn Producers:
Aister Oo
Foula Wool
Laxdale Yarn
Jamiesons of Shetland
The Silly Sheep fibre company

14/10/2026

Shetland Hogmanay Boxes are on their way to their new owners!

If you pre ordered a box, please check your inbox (or junk folder) for your dispatch email. When your box arrives, please don’t open it until the 1st of December, we want to make sure you get the full experience from day 1!

A huge thank you to the wonderful volunteers who helped us pack 100 boxes filled with yarn and patterns, ready for their recipients to enjoy.

Throughout December we’ll be sharing more about the designers and yarn producers who contributed to this year’s boxes, as the time comes to open a little gift each day.

We can’t wait for you to see what’s inside!

11/10/2026

One week on and we are enjoying looking back at the photos and videos from the Back To Back event.

If you joined us for Back to Back on Sunday, we’d love to hear from you. We’ve put together a short online form to gather your feedback, and anything you share will help us reflect on the day and shape future events.

Thank you again to everyone who came along, it was an unforgettable day.

Enjoy a few clips from the event, captured by our team as well as some footage sent in by our lovely visitor

Find the feedback form here: https://forms.gle/n4M8hEFz2yMaCUU69

06/10/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us for Back to Back in Bigton on Sunday.

We thoroughly enjoyed taking the time to speak with all the visitors who came to watch our team of clippers, skirter, spinners and knitters demonstrate the challenge. It was a pleasure to share the process, the skills, and the good fun of the day as well as see so many people enjoying the food, yarn and atmosphere.

To our visitors: thank you for coming along, asking questions, cheering on the team, and bringing such warmth to the croft.

To our volunteers: we can’t thank you enough for the commitment and enthusiasm you shared with everyone who came.

To our hosts, partners, sponsors and supportive local businesses: thank you for enhancing the event with your offerings and
generosity.

Withyburn Croft Tours were excellent hosts and kept everyone well fed. BizBakes provided the cake fix we all needed. Laxdale Yarn filled the last spaces in everyone’s suitcases.

And we are grateful for the additional donations of prizes by:
No88 Kitchen and Bar , Loose Ends Shop Ltd , Celia Smith, Rebecca Pritchard,
Donna Smith, Paparwark Furniture, Mandy Moore, nielanell and
Janette| Fair Isle Knitting Tutor and Designer

Our demonstrators did a great job of answering all the final questions from our visitors, resulting in a not-quite-finished jumper by the end of the day, a great excuse to bring some of our volunteers together again soon to finish it off.

Enjoy some of the pictures taken from the day, and we’ll post updates with further progress on our jumper.

We are truly grateful to everyone who helped make this event the success it was. Thank you, all.

03/10/2026

Tomorrow’s the day: SOK’s Back to Back event will be in Bigton from 9.30am to 5pm (4th of October), and we're looking forward to welcoming you then!

Have a look at our recent posts and the website for full details, and tell your friends too.

As you arrive in Bigton, keep an eye for our signs which will guide you to the event.

www.tinyurl.com/sokbacktoback

30/09/2026

The SOK Back to Back event takes place this Sunday, and as the final preparations come together, we’d love to share some of the yarn and swatches produced by our team during the practice sessions a couple of weeks ago.

Over the course of the day, our team will be clipping a sheep, spinning the fleece, and knitting the yarn into a jumper. Although we’re not entering the International Back to Back Wool Challenge, we are observing many of the rules that teams must follow, including rule number seven: “Scissors, handcarders, flickers or combs are not permitted.”

Spinning directly from the fleece in this way naturally creates a more textured yarn, which in turn brings extra character to the knitting. Seeing these practice swatches has certainly built our excitement for Sunday, and we hope they do the same for you!

Come along between 9.30 and 5 to see how the team progresses throughout the day. All event information including directions, parking, and details of the yarn, food and drink available can be found on our website: www.tinyurl.com/sokbacktoback

28/09/2026

We have some great food and drink options available at the Back to Back event on Sunday the 4th of October.

As well as hosting us for the day, Withyburn Croft Tours have hot food and drinks on offer, showcasing some of their croft produce.

Withyburn Croft Food Menu:
• Lentil Soup (gf, df, v)
• Shetland Lamb stew (gf, df)
• Shetland Lamb Hotdog
• Goat Curry and Chips (df)
• Falafel (df, v)

Drinks Menu
• Tea
• Coffee
• Water
• Fizzy Drinks Cans
• Bairns Juice Bottles

Homebakes

Bizbakes will be joining us with some delicious homebakes including a variety of:
• Cookies
• Brownies
• Traybakes
• Cakes

So bring your appetite and enjoy some local Shetland hospitality.

24/09/2026

Colouring-In Competition for Under 12’s

Take your bairns along to our Back to Back event on Sunday the 4th of October and enter our colouring-in competition. Colouring-in sheets will be available on the day, or you can download them in advance from our website and hand them in when you arrive.

All completed sheets must be submitted by the end of the Back to Back event to be in with a chance of winning one of our wonderful prizes, generously donated by local businesses.

Prizes include:
• £25 voucher for No.88
• £15 voucher for Loose Ends
• Two Bairns’ Special Hot Chocolates at Blyde Welcome

Download the colouring-in sheets and find full event information here: www.tinyurl.com/sokbacktoback

Address

Lerwick

Website

https://sokshetland.org/, https://store.sokshetland.org/

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