{"product_id":"2026-shetland-wool-week-birsie-beanny-kit","title":"2026 Shetland Wool Week Birsie Beanny Kit","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe official 2026 Shetland Wool Week knitting pattern, the ‘Birsie Beanny’ has been exclusively designed by Helen Robertson as the SWW Patron for 2026.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSlouchy Birsie Beanny brings together the spirit of\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.shetlandwoolweek.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eShetland Wool Week\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eitself with elements drawn from Helen’s own creative journey over many years of making, designing and sharing her skills. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe patterns within the Birsie Beanny design echo different strands of Helen’s work – from her signature silver knitted tiaras to traditional Shetland lace motifs such as Liss Hols, once used by her Unst granny in her christening shawl. A heart motif from her Mariner’s Compass hat sits alongside a crown inspired by her lace tree of life designs. The slouchy shape of the hat was inspired by the style work in Stanley Cursiter’s portrait ‘The Fair Isle Jumper’ (1923).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShetland Wool Week is a major community effort bringing together makers, designers, voluntary groups and local industry from across Shetland. Helen chose to celebrate this collaboration by working the festival name into the text brim of the hat. She explained: “I wanted to celebrate and promote the phenomenon that is Shetland Wool Week – the idea being that the hat becomes a wearable souvenir and a conversation starter carrying the name of SWW out into the world.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAdding a playful touch are the optional\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003etoosks\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, inspired by the tassels on the Gunnister Man’s purse – an important historic local find – and the look of Shetland’s traditional taatit rugs. The toosks give the hat texture and personality; they are also what inspired its name, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003ebirsie\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e means ‘hairy’ in Shetland dialect.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Sea Anemone colourway draws on the vivid colours of marine life, inspired by a photograph by local artist, Sarah Kay.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e** Please note that the pattern is \u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003enot\u003c\/span\u003e included in the kit, and must be purchased separately \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/payhip.com\/b\/Zozyp\"\u003ehere\u003c\/a\u003e. \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNeedles and other notions not included.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEach kit includes 6 balls of Jamieson's of Shetland Spindrift (100% wool | Fingering weight | 114 yds \/ 105m per 25g).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne each of the following colours:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e293 Port Wine\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e547 Orchid\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e620 Lilac\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e710 Gentian\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e763 Pacific\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e764 Cloud\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYarn produced on the Shetland Isles.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Knitting Loft","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50823141064951,"sku":null,"price":72.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0011\/5002\/5788\/files\/ShopifyProductSize_59_8cc49410-bee1-4be5-a5f7-5923c84cef8e.png?v=1780325143","url":"https:\/\/theknittingloft.ca\/products\/2026-shetland-wool-week-birsie-beanny-kit","provider":"The Knitting Loft","version":"1.0","type":"link"}