Birsie Beanny 2026 Shetland Wool Week Kits - Jamieson & Smith

The 2026 Shetland Wool Week pattern is the Birsie Beanny by Helen Robertson.

From SWW: "Slouchy Birsie Beanny, designed by this year’s patron, Helen Robertson, brings together the spirit of Shetland Wool Week itself with elements drawn from Helen’s own creative journeyover many years of making, designing and sharing her skills.

Shetland Wool Week is a truly unique community effort, bringing together makers, designers, voluntary groups and local industry across Shetland. Helen chose to celebrate this collaboration by working the festival name into the text brim of the hat. The lettering creates a wearable souvenir and a conversation starter, carrying the name of Shetland Wool Week out into the world.

The patterns in the hat reflect different strands of Helen’s work and inspirations. The lower motif draws from her distinctive silver knitted tiaras, above it, a pattern references one of her favourite Shetland lace traditions, Liss Hols (Lace Holes) - a motif Helen’s Unst granny knitted around the six holed lace edge of her christening shawl - and one that Helen often uses in her silver wire bracelets. A heart motif, adapted from her Mariner’s Compass Hat, sits above, and the crown pattern takes inspiration from the lace Tree of Life.

Adding a playful touch are the optional toosks, inspired by the tassels on the Gunnister Man’s purse- an important historic Shetland find - and the technique of our heritage tattit rugs. The toosks give the hat texture and personality; they are also what inspired its name, as birsie means ‘hairy’ in Shetland dialect."

Birsie Beanny Kit - Official 2026 Shetland Wool Week Design

Our kits feature Jamieson & Smith 2-ply Jumper Weight, that much-loved Shetland yarn that knits like a dream and creates the most beautiful, even tension for stranded colorwork. Hat kits contain the 5-6 balls of J&S in the designer’s pre-selected colorways, and a sweet SRY project bag.

Please note: This yarn set includes everything you need except the pattern itself, which you can download directly from the Shetland Wool Week website.

The design is presented in four distinct colourways, each reflecting Helen’s interests and influences.

Select from yarn packs with the following colors:

Colorway 2: Funky - 6 balls of J&S

Funky celebrates the bold and joyful palette available in Shetland yarns. 

Yarn A: Dark Purple Mix (FC14)

Yarn B: Salmon Pink (9144)

Yarn C: Aubergine (134)

Yarn D: Bright Orange (73)

Yarn E: Dark Red Mix (FC13)

Yarn F: Bright Turquoise (71)

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Colorway 3: Heddery Hills  

Heddery Hills reflects the shifting colours of Shetland’s landscape throughout the seasons.

Uradale Conversion to Jamieson & Smith (5 balls)

Yarn A: Moss 118 (Replacement for Clover Heath) - 2 balls

Yarn B: 1283 Mix (Replacement for Seapink Heath)

Yarn C: Primrose 96 (Replacement for Meadowsweet

Yarn D: 121 Mix (Replacement for Moss)

For the Jamieson version: COLOURWAY 1 - Sea Anemone, visit Schoolhouse Press!