gallery & testimonials

Please note some of the testimonials are from years prior the accomodation been provided at the Fair Isle Bird Observatory guesthouse

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Please note some of the testimonials are from years prior the accomodation been provided at the Fair Isle Bird Observatory guesthouse ---

“Marie and Terri were so patient and well-organized - graciously sharing their knowledge and expertise with us. The projects were top-notch - and beautiful. What looked overly complex was absolutely doable. I was amazed at what I was able to accomplish in such a short time. They had all the logistics covered and clearly communicated. Daily activity plans were well-thought out, and yet flexible when they needed to be. This was a dream come true for me: To be so totally immersed in the knitting traditions on this remote island, the people, the sheep, the birds, island life, the breathtaking landscape, island history, making new knitting friends, and to be in the presence of and learning from such experienced Fair Isle knitting designers and crofters.”

“A fabulous week of Fair Isle knitting on Fair Isle itself. Marie and Terri organized every aspect of the trip and it was perfect. I learned a lot about Fair Isle knitting, both by hand and on the machine while enjoying the warmth and hospitality of the Fair Isle Bird Observatory. It was hard to believe that we were the first group to have done this, everything went so smoothly and every detail had been thought out. I highly recommend this tour and would come back again.”

“This was the trip of a lifetime to learn about Fair Isle knitting in Fair Isle. Everything about it was first rate - comfortable and friendly accommodation in the new Fair Isle Bird Observatory and excellent teaching. But there was so much more. Opportunities to learn about the way of life in Fair Isle and to meet local people. Fair Isle is a spectacular place and it was possible to get out and about too.”

knitting holidays guests from 2025 - Terri + Marie hand-knitting holidays

Group of women standing outdoors on rocky terrain near the ocean with grassy hills and cliffs in the background, under a partly cloudy sky.
Three women sitting in front of a colorful landscape painting, with a weaving machine and yarn rolls on a table in the foreground.
A person herding sheep on a grassy field with hills in the background under a partly cloudy sky.
Three women sitting in front of a large painted mural of wildlife, including birds and a hare, with yarn and a yarn swift in the foreground.
Smiling woman knitting while sitting in a cozy room with yarn and textile supplies, with a nature-themed painting of birds and rocks in the background.
A person working on a knitting machine with colorful woven patterns and a chart hanging nearby in a well-lit room with large windows.
A woman with glasses, and a colorful headscarf, smiling and sitting in a chair in front of a botanical mural with rocks and birds, wearing a green sweater and patterned scarf.
Two women smiling inside a room with a large painting of birds and nature in the background wearing fair isle infitity scarves.
Three women sitting in front of a colorful nature mural with birds, rocks, and trees. Spools of yarn and an electronic device are on a table in front of them.
Two women sitting at a table with colorful wooden craft pieces, one of them is working on a laptop displaying a digital cross-stitch pattern, while a third person stands nearby pointing at her chin, in a room with natural light and a large window.
Three women sitting in front of a painted nature scene, smiling at the camera.

“My Fair Isle knitting holiday with Marie was just wonderful. I learned so much about machine knitting and I now have the confidence to use the machine I inherited. Marie is so patient and sorted out my mistakes for me which meant I managed to produce a lovely cowl, wristwarmers and a headband and I’m sure I’ll be able to transfer all I learned and make things by myself.

Add to the learning the warm welcome, the fabulous food, and the range of other things Marie arranged for me to do and see and it was just the perfect knitting holiday. I’d definitely recommend it to anyone!”

Mary R.

Colorful knit hat on gravel ground near pink flowers.
A woman with blonde hair wearing a multicolored scarf and jacket sitting on rocky terrain outdoors, smiling.
Colorful knitted woolen mittens placed on rough rocky terrain with moss patches.

“Though I thought myself an experienced machine knitter, I haven‘t played with the original carriage on my machine much, mostly I just use the intarsia carriage. Marie taught me tricks that no manual will teach, and explained the levers in the carriage better than anyone else on YouTube that I have watched. I thoroughly enjoyed being on Fair Isle, meeting the locals and learning about life there. Marie‘s home cooked meals were excellent. Every time I wear my Fair Isle Jumper I remember all of my fond memories of my time there with Marie. I also very much appreciate Marie’s design help.”

Emily R.

A woman wearing glasses and a patterned sweater standing outside near a wooden door and stone wall.
A patterned woven towel or cloth with red, gold, and beige colors hanging over a wooden frame, with a background of a textured, rust-colored corrugated metal surface.

“I spent 7 wonderful days on Fair Isle on a knitting holiday with Marie in July 2021 – and loved every moment of it. Marie balanced the week’s activities perfectly to give me both a good understanding of the process of knitting Fair Isle by machine, and a real feel for life on Fair Isle. I met other Fair Isle residents, saw the whole island, visited the lighthouse, was lucky enough to take part in Sheep Hill and help shear some sheep – and still we had ample time on the knitting to choose pattern and colours, learn the process, and knit and finish my chosen project. Marie is a great teacher and very knowledgeable on machine knitting. The accommodation at Taft cottage is beautiful and comfortable, Marie is a very welcoming host, and her cooking is amazing. All in all, a fantastic holiday, and 7 days flew by. I left with a finished fair isle cowl, hand warmers and two hats – as well as the knowledge to machine knit and finish fair isle items on my own. Also, a strong desire to visit Marie and Fair Isle again in the near future. Highly recommend this holiday.”

Jane M.

Close-up of a colorful knitted sweater with floral and geometric patterns hanging against a green wall, next to a textured white surface.
A woman wearing a colorful patterned knit hat and a green knitted sweater standing next to a white wall with a green door and glass window.
Close-up of a colorful, patterned knit sock hanging against a snowy background with a textured white wall and a green surface.

“I highly recommend Fair Isle with Marie Knitting Holiday! From beginning to end, my experience was phenomenal.  Marie is a true professional who walks you through the design process; lends her expert eye in color selection and customizing a garment to fit your needs.  She is a gracious host who has opened her home and made the knitting machine experience comfortable and motivating.  Every meal Marie prepared for us was delicious and unforgettable (a favorite of mine was the lemon cake!)  During breaks, we had time to walk around the island and take on breathtaking views at Marie's recommendation.  A knitting holiday set on Fair Isle was a dream come true for me.  Thank you, Marie for your positive attitude, professionalism, and your genuine love for Fair Isle and knitting.”

Lorraine C.

“One of the most wonderful experiences of my life! A mix of everything I love...travel, nature, wildlife, learning a new skill through creating, making new friends and eating the BEST food ever. :) Marie is an excellent host. She has tremendous knowledge and skill with colour, design and machine knitting. She's a patient and structured teacher. She's also a super cook. :) I would urge anyone to go on this holiday, you'll have the best time.”

Rebecca S.

A patterned wool sweater hanging on a wooden hanger against a rough stone wall.
Two women standing outdoors in front of a stone wall, wearing colorful patterned sweaters, with a natural landscape of rocks and greenery in the background.
Close-up of purple thistle flowers with spiky green stems in front of a colorful patterned textile background.

“My sister and I had a magical time with Marie on Fair Isle. She is a superb host and great teacher. We learnt so much about knitting on a machine and finishing, as well as coming away with a greater understanding about Fair Isle and its culture. Marie's cooking is amazing! I highly recommend booking with Marie - you'll have an amazing time.”

Mary H.

“My sister and I had a week in Fair Isle with Marie in 2022. We had a wonderful time, the weather was gorgeous and Marie proved to be an excellent host. She expertly guided us through the intricacies of Fair Isle knitting and patiently helped us with the knitting machines. And the "cherry on the cake" was Marie's superb, gourmet cooking. What a week! Merci mille fois!”

Helen W.

A woman with short gray hair, wearing a red and white patterned sweater, standing outdoors in front of a moss-covered stone wall, smiling with her hands on her hips.
Two women standing together outdoors on a grassy landscape, smiling, with hills and a partly cloudy sky in the background, wearing patterned sweaters.
Close-up of elderly woman smiling outdoors in front of a wooden and stone wall, wearing a blue patterned sweater.

“Staying with Marie, in her home, experiencing her way of life is like no other “holiday” you will ever experience. Transport to and from the island is unique and at the whim of the weather. Be prepared for a proper adventure to a remote and friendly isle, Fair Isle.

The joys of running a knitting holiday business, along with contributing to island life as a retained firefighter, as well as being an island crofter with sheep to look after, as well as dealing with the everyday challenges that living on Fair Isle brings could be overwhelming for some, but Marie is full of warmth and has such a passion for her way of life that is infectious. Given the choice, I would never have left!

 Knitting, looking after the sheep, running over the hills to catch sheep, seeing Orca swimming past, catching the last glimpses of the Puffins in late August and being part of a Storm Petrel survey will be treasured memories forever.”

Christina H.

A colorful knit mitten hanging on a weathered wooden fence with metal nails. The mitten features a pattern with various colors including orange, yellow, white, gray, and blue, and depicts a smiling jack-o'-lantern.
A woman with glasses and gray hair, wearing a colorful patterned scarf and a navy and yellow jacket, standing in front of a wooden fence.
A wooden fence with a colorful patterned scarf draped over it and four matching mittens hanging below, with grass and plants in the background.

“Our long-awaited knitting holiday was postponed for 2 years due to COVID. But when we finally in June '22, after an additional week's stay on the other islands of the Shetlands, we finally landed on Fair Isle with that small plane, our dream came true. In the following week under the guidance of Marie, we get on track with Fair Isle knitting on the machine. But just as surprising was her cooking with which she surprised us every day. This tiny island has so much for you. The views & nature and the calmness far from your hectic life. I still want to go back... Doesn't that say enough?”

Kaat v.O.

Teal knitted sleeveless jumper with a fair isle panel around the middle and bottom. Vest is displayed in front of grass and coastline.
Two women standing in front of a white textured wall with a sign that reads "Welcome to Fair Isle" and a small window with a person visible through it. One woman is wearing glasses, a patterned sweater, and has short gray hair. The other woman is smiling, wearing a patterned sweater, and has brown hair tied back.
A sleeveless fair isle vest with a dark navy border, hanging on a wooden hanger against a textured white wall.

“My knitting holiday on Fair Isle took place in September, 2022, and was a superb adventure from start to finish - and one I shall always remember.Marie is an excellent tutor and, with her guidance, I made a beautiful sleeveless jumper with an all-over Fair Isle design - unique and a treasure. From this, I have been gifted an enduring and absorbing hobby, creating knits on my own knitting machine (although much more slowly!).

The light plane to Fair Isle, the Good Shepherd homeward; birds; breathtaking cliffs; walks with my knitting buddy; Fair Isle history and culture; changing seascapes and sunsets, as well as excellent meals cooked by Marie, and great company throughout - plus the astonishing knitting : I loved it all, and can highly recommend Fair Isle With Marie. Thank-you for a wonderful experience.”

Lorna M.

“I stayed with Marie in September 2022 for a fantastic week's knitting, walking and generally enjoying life on Fair Isle. Two of us stayed for the week - Lorna travelling from Southampton and me from Staffordshire. Our paths met at Lerwick air strip! We didn't know each other before but enjoyed each other's company and encouragement during the week.
Marie was a very good host, she clearly enjoys cooking so whilst we were trying to figure out the machine M would be in the kitchen cooking up lovely meals. We did have free time so enjoyed walking on the Island, meeting the locals who were very hospitable, and visiting the nearby museum. There is no doubting Marie's passion for every aspect of knitting - her knowledge on one so young was impressive, and she wasn't going to let us leave the island without finishing our garments ... we had a great week, so if you're just thinking about visiting Fair Isle - 'just do it' as the saying goes!”

Katherine Rebbeca S.

A person with short gray hair and earrings, wearing a colorful fair isle sweater, stands on rocky shore near the ocean, with green hills in the background and gray cloudy sky.
Knitting holiday guests standing on a rocky shoreline with a view of green hills and cliffs in the background under a cloudy sky, wearing fair isle knitted sleeveless jumpers.
Knitting holiday guest standing on a rocky and pebbly shoreline during overcast weather, wearing their fair isle vest.
Person with blonde hair laughing, wearing a patterned blue and yellow dress, leaning on a stone wall outdoors in front of a window with a beige and white textured wall.
A woman smiling outdoors holding a woven blanket with a lighthouse in the background.
Close-up of a fair isle blue and white woven textile fabric with yellow accents.
Close-up of a knit sweater with a colorful, fair isle pattern in red, black, yellow, white, and blue colors, laid on a rough concrete surface.
Two women standing in front of a wall with alternating panels of brown and light gray wood, smiling at the camera.
A colorful, fair isle patterned knit sweater draped over a wooden log arching over a stone bridge in a rural, hilly landscape.
A knitted sweater with a blue, black, and gray fair isle pattern hangs from a wooden frame against a stone wall.
Two women with red hair sitting on rocks by the rocky shoreline with cliffs and green hills in the background under a cloudy sky.
A knitted vest with a colorful, fair isle design draped over a small wooden frame against a stone wall background.
Colorful, patterned scarf hanging on a wooden hanger attached to a rough stone wall next to a green-framed glass door.
Two smiling women wearing sunglasses and scarves standing in front of a stone building with a green-framed window. One woman is dressed in a black jacket with a patterned scarf, blue jeans, and is holding a small box. The other woman is wearing a yel
A colorful knitted sock with fair isle geometric patterns in shades of brown, green, yellow, gray, and white, hanging on a black cord against a rough concrete wall.
A blue fair isle knit sweater or scarf with intricate white and orange designs, resting on a wooden bench outdoors with a stone surface background.
A woman with glasses wearing a blue patterned knitted vest over a dark shirt sitting next to a yarn display wall with various shades of blue and green yarn spools. There is a framed picture of a tree on the wall with a white shelf holding potted plan
A woman with glasses standing outdoors in front of a stone wall, holding a wooden frame with a knitting project on it, featuring a sleeveless fair isle sweater in various shades of blue.
A woman wearing glasses and a green fair isle sweater smiling outdoors on a sunny day, standing in a grassy field with a lighthouse in the background and yellow-orange lichen on a weathered wooden rail in the foreground.
Two women standing and smiling at each other in front of a stone wall with a small window. Both women have light-colored hair, and one is wearing a fair isle jumper and brown pants, while the other is wearing a fair isle jumper and a long blue skirt.
A person wearing a colorful, fair isle vest with blue, red, white, and gray intricate designs, standing next to a wooden wall with vertical planks.
A knitted fair isle jumper with black, yellow, white, and green patterns hangs on a wooden frame against a rough stone wall.
A woman with gray hair smiling, wearing a fair isle jumper and dark jeans, standing in front of a stone wall.
A black and gray fair isle knitted jumper displayed on a wooden frame against a rough stone wall.
A woman is sitting on a rock in front of a white lighthouse with a black top, metal railing, and a ladder on the side, against a bright blue sky with some clouds.
Person wearing fair isle patterned fingerless gloves.
A woman with gray hair looking toward the ocean near coastal cliffs, under a partly cloudy sky.