Where is Fair Isle located?

Fair Isle is an island in northern Scotland, lying around halfway between mainland Shetland and the Orkney islands. It is known for its bird observatory and a traditional style of knitting. It is the most remote inhabited island in the United Kingdom. Fair Isle is administratively part of Shetland and is roughly equidistant from Sumburgh Head some 38 kilometres (24 mi) to the northeast on the Mainland of Shetland and North Ronaldsay, Orkney, some 43 kilometres (27 mi) to the southwest.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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36 Comments

Clayton Dean Brannon

There is a great TV series Shetland that is big on scenery from these islands.

Jakob Gerber

I hope this doesn’t come off as elitist, as this goes back some time. In London during the fifties,sixties ,and seventies there was a woolen store on New Bond Street called W. Bills . They had a few hand knit fair isles sweaters down in the basement that you could buy for around thirty to fifty £ back in the seventies . However if you saw a design you liked you could order it in any colour combination you liked . I bought my first fair isle there in 1974 . My girlfriend and I each bought one .( both were V neck vests ) Then the following year we went back ,and mentioned we would like such ,and such a design in a particular colour . Needless to say over the years I had bought no less than seven hand knit fair isle sweaters . I lived in Palo Alto during this time. It would take around four to six months to have the sweaters arrive . This was how it worked . After they got to know us at W. Bills they told us how the process worked. There were a group of ladies up in Scotland ,and the North of England that had families that raised sheep ,and they would sheer them, dye the wool ,and knit the sweaters . They didn’t necessarily do this for a living, the women would get together,and have knitting sessions . Needless to say this was something special. W.Bills had a working relationship with these women . They could only produce possibly two sweaters a month each,and this was just a handful of women . I’ve still got four of the sweaters ,gave three to my daughter . They are beautiful,and not made in China like Ralph Lauren ( Polo ) hams knit sweaters , the wool these are made from is very thick ,and warm ,and each design is unique to any given area . Needless to say all the great stores on New Bond Street,Regent Street ,and South Moulten are gone now. There is little to no England left sadly ...

Brenda Hanneman Wallace

Vince Savage, Even me....a Canadian ! With roots in the British isles though !

Bob Watt

"Sassenach" actually includes Lowland Scots; original reference was to a non-Gaelic speaker.

Susan Lake-Harris

My mother knitted me a stunning Fair Isle jumper (as we say in Australia), which I still have. It's in an almost cobalt blue with creamy white as the contrasting colour, in traditional design with snow flakes (a popular 1950's pattern). I love it, and it's in perfect condition still.

David Coe

Jakob Gerber, they still exist: Growth, particularly in the US and further abroad, continued in the sixties and early seventies, but in 1975, the shop Gieves – next door to W Bill at 28 Old Bond Street was the first London building bombed by the IRA. It was the beginning of a downturn of American demand and business started to decline. In 1988, due to this and rent increases, the directors reluctantly decided to sell the company. It was taken over by Betterware Consumer Products, but only lasted another four years. In 1994 it was taken over by Smith & Co, who run it today.