2027 - BOOKINGS OPENING ON THURSDAY 27th of AUGUST 2026 - 6 PM BST
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2027 - BOOKINGS OPENING ON THURSDAY 27th of AUGUST 2026 - 6 PM BST ---
Fair Isle knitting holidays
Our week-long knitting holidays give you time to slow down and immerse yourself in all things Fair Isle.
We offer a truly unique opportunity to visit the island, experience its extraordinary way of life, and learn about the craft of Fair Isle knitting right at its source.
In 2027, we’ll be running three types of holidays:
our well-known machine-knitting holidays, designed as individual retreats limited to just three knitters at a time.
our group hand-knitting holidays, each co-hosted with a different guest tutor and including an half-day machine-knitting workshop. This is limited to eight knitters at the time.
our brand new creative holiday, hosted this year by India Flint, no knitting experience required.
During your time with us, you’ll explore Fair Isle patterns and techniques, discover the yarns we use, experiment with colour combinations, and try your hand at the flat-bed knitting machine to create your own piece of knitwear.
The machine-knitting holidays are limited to three knitters at the time. No two holidays are the same and we work to customise your stay with us based on what you would like to get from your days with us on Fair Isle.
Whatever the level of your ability and experience, we welcome you to spend a week in Fair Isle working with us. With up to 28 hours of tutoring and knitting included in your time with us, we help you delve into the design process, supporting you to produce some Fair Isle knitwear of your own to take home with you. You can choose what you wish to make: maybe a matching scarf and wrist-warmers, perhaps an array of hats as gifts for the family or, for those more advanced, a jumper.
Whilst basic hand-knitting skills are an advantage, no prior experience of machine knitting is required. We are able to teach all you might need to know to gain confidence and feel at ease with simple machine knitting. Modern Fair Isle knitting equally combines hand-finishing with work on the machine, so there will still be plenty to do by hand!
17th of May to the 24th of May 2027
31st of May to the 7th of June 2027
28th of June to the 5th of July 2027
23rd of August to the 30th of August 2027
20th of September to the 27th of September 2027
the Fair Isle bird observatory guesthouse
The Bird Observatory Hotel offers full-board accommodation to a high standard on the Northeast of the island. All twin rooms feature an en-suite shower and toilet, and come equipped with towels, bed linen and basic toiletries.
Standard occupancy is twin-share, but exclusive use (single occupancy) is available for an additional £800, this is limited in number.
Meals are provided on a set menu, set time basis, on shared tables between other guests and staff, the perfect opportunities to get to know eachother better.
The catering staff will endeavour so far as is reasonably practicable to accommodate special diets such as for example vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free but we require to be notified of this well in advance, at the time of booking.
getting to Fair Isle
Fair Isle is not always the easiest place to reach, regardless of the time of year. Travel to and from the island is weather-dependent, so it’s important to plan with this in mind.
To align with the holiday start date, you will need to travel by plane. You will be pre-booked on a flight from Tingwall Airport (near Lerwick). The return fare is approximately £115, including a luggage allowance of 15kg per person. The airfare is not included in the holiday price, and you will need to confirm your reservation directly with the airline. Simply call the airline and pay for your fare.
If weather prevents a flight on your arrival day, there is the option to travel by ferry, the Good Shepherd, the following day. The ferry fare is approximately £40 return. Please note that ferry travel is also weather-dependent.
To ensure your experience isn’t shortened by delays, the holiday start will be adjusted to begin on the day you arrive, which may be delayed up to seven days due to weather. For example, if flights are cancelled on the Monday and you arrive on the Wednesday, your 7-night holiday will run from Wednesday to Wednesday.
Our holidays span 7 days and nights from the day it is possible to arrive on the island by public transport, plane, or ferry. This policy provides as much flexibility as realistically possible for late arrivals. Please make sure that you too are able to extend your stay if necessary.
We strongly advise allowing flexibility for onward travel plans, including extra time on the Shetland mainland after your visit to Fair Isle. Flexible tickets and travel insurance are recommended.
At the end of the trip, if weather prevents departure and you need to stay longer, additional nights at the Bird Observatory will be charged at their standard bed and breakfast rate at the time.
Please note that refunds are not available for early departures caused by weather delays or for missing the start of the holiday due to opting for a later flight or ferry.
No additional tuition will be available beyond the 7-day programme.
While these travel considerations can make planning more complicated, navigating them is part of the unique adventure of visiting the UK’s most remote inhabited island.
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 seven 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.
with Terri Laura
9th of August to 16th of August 2027
6th of September to 13th of September 2027
Terri is a passionate knitter, designer, and teacher living in the heart of the Shetland Islands. Specialising in traditional Fair Isle and Shetland wool, she combines the rich history with a modern love of colour.
She is inviting you to knit a Shetland yoke jumper the Shetland way : the plain body of the Yoke will be knitted on a machine in advance for you!
Designed by Terri Laura during her time in Norway, this pattern blends Norwegian influence with Shetland tradition. Your sweater body will be knitted in your chosen size and colour using Jamieson’s of Shetland yarn before the holiday.
During your stay, you'll focus on hand-knitting the yoke section with Terri on hand to support every step. Terri will be delighted to help you make the design your own, encouraging you to explore colour choices and motif adaptations for a truly personal piece.
Additionally Marie will teach a half-day machine-knitting class to make her Fair Isle loop scarf, along with an hand-finishing class for invisible seam : grafting.
with Helen Robertson
14th of June to 21st of June 2027
Helen loves to innovate from her Shetland traditional heritage roots to extend the practice and appreciation of Shetland knitting. Equally passionate about fair isle and lace knitting, during this holiday she will focus on lace.
Helen Robertson is Shetland Wool Week Patron for 2026 and designer of the Birsie Beannie.
Helen will share her artistic interpretation of Shetland’s History through her talk ‘Shetland History through a Designer’s Eye’ giving you a sense of how Helen’s Shetland heritage informs her work.
Patterns for old shell and new shell scarves are included and you will develop a new found appreciation and understanding of colour and its application to Shetland Lace and beyond.
For the first time Marie’s Fair Isle knitting holidays will include wire knitting! Guided by Helen, you will complete a pair of leaf earrings and a Shetland Lace Bracelet similar to one that is on permanent display in the new Shetland Museum and Archives.
Additionally Marie will teach a half-day machine-knitting class to make a traditional Fair Isle Fisherman’s Kep, along with two hand-finishing classes for invisible seam :mattress stitch and grafting.
with Janette Budge
26th of July to the 2nd of August 2027
Janette Budge is a Shetland-born knitwear designer and tutor with a deep passion for Fair Isle knitting and preserving traditional Shetland techniques. She has taught at Shetland Wool Week since 2016, sharing her knowledge with knitters from around the world.
Marie and Janette first met in 2021 when Janette visited Fair Isle and stayed with Marie. With so much in common and a shared love for knitting, it’s a real pleasure for them to now host a holiday together.
During the week, Janette will teach a series of her most popular workshops: How to use a knitting belt, How to steek, Fair Isle colours through the ages, she will also dive into the history of Shetland knitting. You will explore the evolution of Fair Isle colour palettes across different decades of Fair Isle knitting.
You’ll discover how traditional and modern colour combinations have shaped the style, gaining inspiration to create your own timeless Fair Isle projects. You’ll be knitting Fair Isle swatches from a selection of around 200 yarn colours from several different Shetland yarn producers. Janette will share a slide show of pieces from the Shetland Museum and Archives collection.
Janette will guide you through knitting her Steeked Cowl pattern. This way, you can put everything you’ve learned with her, into practice.
Additionally Marie will teach a half-day machine-knitting class to make a traditional Fair Isle Fisherman’s Kep, along with two hand-finishing classes for invisible seam : mattress stitch and grafting.
with Donna Smith
4th of October to 11th of October 2027
Donna Smith is a Shetland-based knitwear designer, natural dyer, and yarn producer. She was Patron of Shetland Wool Week in 2015 and has been sharing her expertise in traditional and contemporary knitting ever since.
Donna first met Marie in 2020 when she helped test Marie’s very first knitting holiday alongside their friend Misa Hay. It’s a pleasure to have her back on the island this summer.
In August 2026, Donna will host a natural dyeing and hand-knitting workshop in Fair Isle. Knitters will use Donna’s own yarn, spun from fleeces from her flock of Shetland sheep, to create beautiful, naturally dyed skeins. Donna and Marie will guide you through every step and inspire you to experiment with colour and motifs.
Additionally Marie will teach a half-day machine-knitting class to make her Fair Isle loop scarf, along with an hand-finishing class for invisible seam : grafting.
A creative holiday with India Flint
This year, Marie will also invite creative visitors to a rather different kind of knitting holiday: a not-so-much knitting holiday.
No previous knitting knowledge is required, just a willingness to immerse yourself in the beauty of Fair Isle, explore colour, pattern and textiles, and enjoy a week of creativity and inspiration in one of the most remote and beautiful places in the UK.
with India Flint
12th of July to 19th of July 2027
Join India Flint for a week on the most remote inhabited island in Scotland, a place that has been an inspiration to writers, painters, photographers and of course knitters for hundreds of years.
Marie and India first met in 2022, when India came to Fair Isle for an art residency at the Fair Isle Studio. A shared love of colour, pattern and textiles sparked an instant creative connection and planted the seed for a future collaboration.
Now, they are bringing that idea to life with a special week designed for like-minded explorers to slow down, get creative and immerse themselves in the beauty, colours and inspiration of Fair Isle.
The style of knitting now named for the island grew from the practicality of using two strands of yarn to provide a double-layered garment to keep the wearer warm in the wild winds of the North Sea. The beautiful patterns that evolved using coloured yarns conflate landscape imagery with the diverse influences of the island’s cultural history.
An online group will be created at the School of Nomad Arts, where students will be able to introduce themselves prior to the adventure, create a foundation notebook for the journey (and access a list of materials to bring) as well as keep in contact afterward and post images of island-inspired work as well as photographs from the week.
India will guide you through collecting inspiration as you experience the island; derived variously through the botanical alchemy, drawing, writing and painting. You will fill your book (stitching in extra pages in situ) with notes, swatches and images that could be developed into further work when you return home, or simply kept as a treasured memento of a magical place.
Participants will spend one day with Marie who will introduce them to the wonders of Fair Isle Knitting. You will design your own colourway that you will knit during Marie’s machine-knitting class : “How to make a Fair Isle loop scarf”. She will also demonstrate how to hand-finish the piece with an invisible seam : grafting.
tailored experience
We like to get to know you a little beforehand. Usually, we start with a video call to chat about what’s important to you so we can plan an interesting week that fits your interests.
For our group holidays, all activities are included in the price, though participation is entirely optional.
You may be surprised by the range of knowledge and skills among the people who live on Fair Isle, from artists to ecologists, the island has a rich and creative culture. The community looks forward to welcoming you.
And for those who are keen to get hands-on, there are often opportunities to help tend the sheep!
what’s included
£ 3,950 / per person including VAT
Introductory group video call to get to know each other and set hopes and expectations.
7 nights in an en-suite shared twin bedroom at the newly rebuilt Fair Isle Bird Observatory Hotel in Fair Isle.
Transport once on island.
All meals: breakfast, light lunch and dinner.
Note that meals are provided on a set menu
Guided visits : Fair Isle Museum, croft visit and a wildlife walk or hike.
28+ hours of tuition covering Fair Isle knitting and design.
Materials: 100% pure Shetland wool for your chosen project (s).
The classes listed in your holiday description.
not included : transport to Fair Isle
Please note that classes are taught in English only
booking
To place a booking, you will need to purchase a spot on the website for your knitting holiday and pay a £150 booking fee, which will be deducted from your deposit invoice.
Once the holiday of your choice reaches its minimum number of participants, we will send you an invoice for a 50% deposit. Payment of this deposit will confirm your booking. Payment can only be made by bank transfer.
If the holiday does not reach the minimum number of participants, your booking fee will be refunded. If you choose not to proceed with your booking and fail to pay the deposit invoice within 7 days, your booking will be cancelled, your spot will be reallocated, and the booking fee will not be refunded.
The booking fee is non-refundable, so please only make your booking once you are certain of your decision.
The remaining 50% balance is due 90 days prior to arrival.
The holiday price is based on two knitters sharing a bedroom. Single bookings for shared bedrooms will only be confirmed once a second knitter is booked for the same holiday.
For the knitters with a booking for the hand-knitting holiday and in the case when both knitters of a machine-knitting holiday need or wish to cancel, the following cancellation charges apply:
50% of the total holiday cost is refundable if cancelled 90 days prior to the first day of the holiday.
No refund is available for cancellations within the last 90 days before the holiday start date.
Please see the full terms and conditions for details.
Additional options:
Single occupancy bedroom: £800
Non-knitter partner: £1,975
It is essential that you read and agree to our terms and conditions.
Fair Isle knitting holidays 2027
gallery
Explore the gallery and testimonials to see the beautiful knitting projects and kind words from past guests. Please note that some of the comments date from when Marie hosted the holidays in her own home, so references to accommodation and meals don’t apply to the lodgings available from 2025.
“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.
Fair Isle knitting holidays 2028
Dates will be release in late summer 2027- Please subscribe to our mailing list to get advance notice.
If you have any questions don’t hesitate to send an email : hello@fairislewithmarie.com
