Step into the enchanting world of Fair Isle with Marie! Explore her passion for the island, its exquisite knitwear, and discover the various ways you can connect with this truly special place. Whether you're interested in purchasing a knitting pattern or having a Fair Isle knitting piece hand-made just for you, or even considering visiting the island to join Marie for an all-inclusive week-long knitting holiday, there's a delightful adventure waiting for you!
Fair Isle knitting holidays 2026
Experience the unique way of living in Fair Isle.
For a week, fully immerse yourself in the tradition of knitting on the island. Marie will tailor the perfect holiday for you. Knit your own piece of Fair Isle that will stay with you as a life-long reminder of a unique adventure.
Made in Fair Isle knitwear
designed, knitted and hand-finished in Fair Isle
This kep is inspired by the knitting pattern written by Anne Sinclair when recreating the bartering tradition during the Tall Ship race in 2011. Those traditional hats have been knitted in Fair Isle for centuries.
The motifs are inspired by a beautiful piece in the Shetland Museum archives in Lerwick, dating from the 19th century.
Available in three colourways:
inspired by the famously traditional colours of Fair Isle knitting
in the natural shades of Shetland sheep
in the blues of the Shetland seascape
Care: Hand-wash gently in cold water with wool soap and dry flat. (Do not tumble dry.)
Size: Large : 56cm ( 22”) / Medium 52cm (20.5”). This is the hat’s actual circumference. For the best fit, we recommend choosing a size slightly smaller than your head circumference.
These are garments that give warmth and stay with you. Each one is made with love, honouring the craft and knitting traditions found only on Fair Isle. All items are knitted on a flat-bed knitting machine and finished entirely by hand. The designs use traditional Fair Isle patterns with a purposeful embrace of modern colour and form. Everything is knitted in locally produced 100% Shetland wool, spun and dyed on the Shetland mainland.
Expected completion time : 3 weeks - if there is any delay, you will be emailed with information.
Please read our delivery and return policy. Free UK Shipping on order over £250 use discount code FREESHIPPING at checkout.
This luxurious scarf is knitted flat and then carefully sewn along its length so that both sides display a beautiful selection of traditional Fair Isle motifs : no reverse! Each piece is finished by hand with an invisible mattress stitch, a time-consuming process that gives the scarf its perfectly seamless look.
The motifs are inspired by a beautiful piece in the Shetland Museum archives in Lerwick, dating from the 19th century.
Available in three colourways:
inspired by the famously traditional colours of Fair Isle knitting
in the natural shades of Shetland sheep
in the blues of the Shetland seascape
Care: Hand-wash gently in cold water with wool soap and dry flat. (Do not tumble dry.)
Size: 225 cm × 25 cm
These are garments that give warmth and stay with you. Each one is made with love, honouring the craft and knitting traditions found only on Fair Isle. All items are knitted on a flat-bed knitting machine and finished entirely by hand. The designs use traditional Fair Isle patterns with a purposeful embrace of modern colour and form. Everything is knitted in locally produced 100% Shetland wool, spun and dyed on the Shetland mainland.
Expected completion time : 3 weeks - if there is any delay, you will be emailed with information.
Please read our delivery and return policy. Free UK Shipping on order over £250 use discount code FREESHIPPING at checkout.
hand-knitting holidays : guests tutors
This year, Marie will welcome back a few of her favourite knitting visitors to Fair Isle to host a week of friendship, creativity, and traditional knitting for a small group of passionate knitters. Spend seven nights on Fair Isle with nine fellow knitters and enjoy a full immersion in island life and all things Fair Isle knitting.
During your stay, you’ll begin your own project and learn all the techniques needed to complete it, a lasting reminder of a once-in-a-lifetime trip. These holidays are designed for intermediate knitters with some experience in colourwork. Beginner tuition will not be provided, so guests are requested to assess their own skill level honestly.
Hand-Knitting Patterns
Only those two patterns are available for hand-knitters , the other pattern on my website are for machine knitters. Those hand-knitting patterns are also available in French.
Hand-knit pattern pdf download (english)
The Fisherman’s kep is a traditional Fair Isle hat. The folded headband gives the wearer extra warmth, and the complexity of its construction provides great pleasure and satisfaction when you have finished knitting it.
The uniqueness of Fair Isle knitting comes from the multiple patterns that can be used. I’ve carefully selected some of my favourites and this pattern gives you three options, so you can knit the kep in 3 different designs!
The possibilities for playing with colours are infinite, this knitting pattern will provide you with charts for a couple of traditional options. One in the famous bright Fair Isle colours, with a slight “Marie twist”, one in the natural colours of Shetland sheep. It also includes the charts for a sea inspired colourway and three blank chart for you to design your own.
The keps in the pictures are for illustrative purposes only. They have been knitted on a flat-bed knitting machine to help you see how the shape, design and colours look like.
Yarn : Jamieson’s of Shetland, Spindrift (2ply equivalent to 4ply/fingering weight; 100% Shetland wool; 105m/115 yds per 25g ball)
Yarn quantities are provided as estimates, given the numerous size and color combinations. Due to the diverse options, calculating exact usage becomes challenging.
Hand-knit pattern pdf download (english)
Fair Isle knitting’s uniqueness lies in the fact that the motifs used, never repeat. They can have the same numbers of rows, but there is always something unique and different on each of them.
The Loop Scarf is a continuous display of 24 beautiful traditional patterns, carefully chosen and combined. It will easily wrap twice around your neck to give you cosy protection from wind and cold. It’s a single layer of fabric so the reverse can also be on show. Perfect to wear every day.
The possibilities for playing with colours are infinite, this knitting pattern will provide you with charts for a couple of traditional options. One in the famous bright Fair Isle colours, with a slight “Marie twist”, one in the natural colours of Shetland sheep. It also includes the chart for a colorway inspired by the sea and a blank chart for you to design your own.
The knitting starts with a provisional cast-on, the last row of the scarf is then grafted together with the first row for an invisible seam.
The hand knitting Loop Scarf pattern was originally published in the Shetland Journal Issue 1, a publication by Shetland Wool Adventure using the Storm Dennis colourway that Misa Hay created during her holiday in Fair isle.
The scarves in the pictures are for illustrative purposes only. They have been knitted on a flat-bed knitting machine to help you see how the shape, design and colours look like.
Yarn : Jamieson’s of Shetland, Spindrift (2ply equivalent to 4ply/fingering weight; 100% Shetland wool; 105m/115 yds per 25g ball)
Yarn quantities are provided as estimates, given the numerous color combinations possibilities. Due to the diverse options, calculating exact usage becomes challenging.
Fair Isle throws
design in Fair Isle, made in Ullapool, Scotland
Each throw features 14 unique traditional Fair Isle patterns, inspired by the colours of the island and its constantly changing landscape. This is the first fully reversible throw we have been able to create by combining innovative modern knitting technology with careful hand-finishing.
The size is perfect for curling up in an armchair, keeping your lap warm on the sofa, or using as a bed runner.
Designed in Fair Isle and knitted in Ullapool, Scotland, by Noost Knit Co, a small knitwear manufacturer working with industrial knitting machines. Made from 50% Shetland wool and 50% Lambswool spun in Shetland.
Size: 100 cm x 130 cm / 40in x 51in
Colourway: Atlantis, Clyde Blue, Seascape, White
Please read our delivery and returns policy.
Free UK shipping on orders over £250. Use discount code FREESHIPPING at checkout.
Each throw features 24 unique traditional Fair Isle patterns, inspired by the natural colours of Shetland sheep and the many shades found in their beautiful fleeces. This is the first fully reversible throw we have been able to create by combining innovative modern knitting technology with careful hand-finishing.
The size is perfect for curling up in an armchair, keeping your lap warm on the sofa, or using as a bed runner.
Designed in Fair Isle and knitted in Ullapool, Scotland, by Noost Knit Co, a small knitwear manufacturer working with industrial knitting machines. Made from 50% Shetland wool and 50% Lambswool spun in Shetland.
Size: 100 cm x 130 cm / 40in x 51in
Colourway: Shetland Black, Shaela, Moorit, Eesit
Please read our delivery and returns policy.
Free UK shipping on orders over £250. Use discount code FREESHIPPING at checkout.
Dive into the world of machine-knitted Fair Isle with Marie's Masterclass!
From beginner basics to advanced techniques, explore the art of high-quality knitwear passed down from generations of island artisans. Immerse yourself in a carefully crafted range of knitting patterns and elevate your skills.
Machine-knitting online class
Machine-Knitting Patterns
Those patterns are written for flat-bed machines like Brother or Silver Reed.
machine-knit pattern pdf download (english)
all 9 knitting patterns :
hand warmers - beanie - loop scarf - fisherman’s kep - long scarf - sleeveless jumper - jumper - cardigan - poncho
Yarn : Jamieson’s of Shetland, Spindrift (2ply equivalent to 4ply/fingering weight; 100% Shetland wool; 105m/115 yds per 25g ball)
Gauge : @ tension 10 in Fair Isle / Hand washed and steamed flat:
30 sts and 30 rows to 4 inches / 10cm
In addition to these written instructions, the Fair Isle Academy is an online platform with 80 videos, over 7 hours of technical instructions for you to learn how to knit Fair Isle like a pro. This course is available as a monthly subscription on the Machine Knit Community.
Note that yarn quantities provided in the patterns are estimates, given the numerous colour combinations and size possibilities.
machine-knit pattern pdf download (english)
This Fair Isle jumper is a very simple and efficient design, where the traditional motifs are the center of the show. This garment has a round neck and drop shoulder construction. The straight cut makes the knitting of the body relatively easy.
The front, back and both sleeves are knitted separately, starting with ribs. The shoulder seams are grafted together, the sleeves are grafted onto the armhole and the neck rib onto the jumper. Then, all the side seams and the sleeves are sewn together using matress stitch.
You will find two-tone charts that will show the construction of the garment and pattern placements, but refer to the colourway chart of your choice for where to place the colours. Every motif is unique, so you can quickly identify your position in the pattern.
The possibilities for playing with colours are infinite. This knitting pattern will provide you with charts for a couple of traditional options : One in the famous bright Fair Isle colours with a slight “Marie twist” and one in the natural colours of Shetland sheep. It also includes charts for beginners’ colourways, where only the foreground or background colour changes. You will also find blank charts for you to use when choosing your own colours.
The construction for size 5 and 6 is slightly different, as the garment’s front and back section are knitted in two panels, which are then joined in the middle. Therefore, they have their own instructions for knitting the body.
Yarn : Jamieson’s of Shetland, Spindrift (2ply equivalent to 4ply/fingering weight; 100% Shetland wool; 105m/115 yds per 25g ball)
Gauge : @ tension 10 in Fair Isle / Hand washed and steamed flat:
30 sts and 30 rows to 4 inches / 10cm
Sizes : Chest circumference / length
S1 : 31.50 in 80 cm / 26.25 in 66.75 cm
S2 : 37.75 in 96 cm / 26.25 in 66.75 cm
S3 : 44 in 112 cm / 27.75 in 70.50 cm
S4 : 50.50 in 128cm / 30.25 in 76.75 cm
S5 : 56.75 in 144 cm / 31.50 in 80.50 cm
S6 : 63 in 160 cm / 31.50 in 80.50 cm
In addition to these written instructions, the Fair Isle Academy is an online platform with 80 videos, over 7 hours of technical instructions for you to learn how to knit Fair Isle like a pro. This course is available as a monthly subscription on the Machine Knit Community.
Note that yarn quantities provided in the patterns are estimates, given the numerous colour combinations and size possibilities.
Fair Isle, the island
Did you know this astonishing tiny island, standing alone where the Atlantic meets the North Sea, is the most remote inhabited island in the United Kingdom? Visiting Fair Isle is an adventure so make sure you have all the facts about this unique place.
Fair Isle knitwear made-to-order
Find here a selection of hand-made authentic Fair Isle knitwear showcasing Marie’s beautiful designs, knitted in the island by Marie and skilled islanders. Purchase your own piece of the island heritage to stay with you for a lifetime.
More than just a knitter, Marie Bruhat
Marie is a textile artist and knitwear designer, originally from Auvergne in France. She first visited Fair Isle, the UK’s most remote inhabited island in 2015 and fell under the spell of the island’s life and culture, past and present, Marie moved her life to the island in 2017.
Being a committed part of the tiny island community means involvement. Today, alongside her knitting studio and artistic practice, she hosts knitting holidays, runs her busy croft (tending around 50 sheep); she is also is a fully-trained firefighter for the local airport!
