About Us

SOK: Shetland’s Organisation for Knitters is a community-rooted charity dedicated to preserving, protecting, and promoting the unique knitting traditions of Shetland. Fair Isle, Shetland lace, and home machine knitting are living heritage crafts that have shaped Shetland’s cultural identity for generations.

SOK was founded as the result of conversations with local knitters, tutors, wool producers, and community members. These discussions identified common challenges and practical ways to empower Shetland’s knitting practitioners, while also guiding learners and visitors from elsewhere toward engaging with these traditions in a respectful and authentic way.

Our board is made up of Shetland-born trustees with a deep commitment to heritage, alongside business and volunteer leaders who recognise the cultural and economic value of Shetland’s knitting traditions.