"Knitwear paradise"

Wednesday May 01, 2024

The season has begun!

From today, May 1st, our studio shop in Hoswick is open daily for the summer.

It's a milestone that we always look forward to. For the next few months we'll meet so many interesting people – from all over the world. Scroll on for a little peek into the studio and a sense of its atmosphere.

The door is open and an assistant works at the counter, folding knits.

 

"Knitwear paradise!"

 
Cones of yarn in various colours, Nielanell knitwear studio, Shetland.

Visiting us

What's it like visiting the studio shop?

Sometimes the particular Nielanellness of the studio is best described by our visitors – comparisons to a sweetie shop or a box of chocolates are often made! We've included some kind comments here.

Do you have thoughts, memories or feedback from a visit that you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you.

Three hands arrange a Marlet wrap in speckled electric blue and grey stripes.

Browsers very welcome

Spend time browsing and trying on as many things as you like. There are a lot of styles and colours to consider. Or, relax and take it all in from the sofa.

A white woman with short, purple wash hair stands in the Nielanell knitwear studio, Hoswick. She wears a contemporary poncho in inky purple and white over a purple linen tunic and a black tshirt She has a black wrist support.
Regular visitor, author and knitting teacher, Amy Detjen dropped by to pick up a Rani longer cape.

"Colourful, inclusive, wide-ranging, welcoming, inspirational. I loved it."

Grey and white contemporary knitwear, handspun yarn, vintage mannequin in the Nielanell knitwear studio.
Knitwear from our Byre collection.

"It makes me want to pack in my job and become a knitwear designer myself! The stories around the collections are wonderful." 

abstract shetland scarves in many colours - striped and mobttled pattern in a stack on a vintage wooden chest of drawers with mirror.
Marlet scarves.

"A beautiful place and a wonderful and unexpected shop in Hoswick. The colour that leapt out from the shelves is a real memory."

Stack of wraps with irregular dot pattern in many colours - in the Nielanell studio. On top is a dark aubergine and bright blue wrap with yellow highlight.
Brand new colours: these ebb-stanes wraps have just been added to our online shop, too.

Fresh knits

In the studio shop, you'll find our newest knitwear – in the latest colourways – straight from being hand-finished in our workshop.An assistant carries a pile of knitwear in many different colours and patterns. Ribbed textures, stripes, spots.

Frequently, pieces of knitwear don't even make it to the shelves... customers are prone to spotting colours they like arriving across from the workshop!

We make many of our designs in small batches (some colourways are unique). And, you'll often find styles and colours in the studio that aren't in our online boutique.

A black woman with a shaved head stands in a rustic stone building with whitewashed walls and a stone flat floor in Shetland. She wears a finely knitted modern shawl drapaed unfolded around her shoulders and down over her dress.. It is charcoal grey with pale grey irregular dots and a thin meandering line in cherry red. She also wears a charcoal woollen dress in a loose fit, black tights and dark brown brogue boots.

 Jeanette in an Ebb-stanes wrap.

"Loved seeing contemporary Shetland knitwear – and that there was someone designing more than the traditional sweater."
 

Wooden drawer of striped and lightly ribbed knitwear. Sign says 'half price uncan sale items in drawer'.


Studio specials

There's also our Uncan* drawer, which has sample and end of line knitwear –priced at a generous discount. 

* Uncan is the Shetland word for strange. In the Uncan drawer you'll find some colours that are indeed a bit strange...even for Nielanell!

A group of women stand outside the Gospel Hall, Hoswick - an old wooden building - and wave at the bus as it passes.

Getting here

You can take the bus to visit us – it's around 40 mins from either Lerwick or Sumburgh. Buses stop here in the village, or in Sandwick (ten minutes walk).

If you're driving, we're around 20 mins from Lerwick or Sumburgh.

Access

The studio shop is a small space, all on one level and with a wide door.

Car parking or drop-off is usually available just outside, and there is also parking for cars and coaches 100m away at the Visitor Centre.

We can also arrange visits outwith our standard opening hours  to suit you.

Please do drop us a line if you need any help planning your visit. Further visitor information here 


"I love the stories, and the connection with place."

On the beach at Hoswick, A tall woman with Olive skin throws a skimming stone. She wears a green and black Fair Isle jumper, a grey beanie hat, black trousers and black boots.
Nena stone-skimming down on the beach wearing a Smookie jumper.

Things to do in Hoswick

While you're here in the village you might like to head to the beach, which is just a few minutes walk from the studio.
 

At a table in the Hoswick Visitor Centre Café, a woman looks out at the view to the sea.


Hoswick Visitor Centre & Café

There are beautiful views of the sea from the fully accessible Hoswick Visitor Centre and Café.

You'll find interesting displays on local history (this building was once the Hoswick weaving shed) and a craft shop.

The café serves light lunches and teas.

In nearby Sandwick you'll also find a well-stocked Spar grocery shop and the Post Office.
 

Traditional, chunky v-neck cardigan in a light olive green. Leather woven buttons, rib cuffs, pockets.

We love this green! Hand-framed chunky cardigan by Hoswick's Shetland Woollen Co.

Shetland Woollen Co

Our neighbours at Shetland Woollen Co are open Monday to Friday. Browse beautiful, traditional Shetland knitwear in their shop just a few doors from Nielanell.

Two white women with long dark hair pulled back in the Karlin Anderson jewellery workshop in Hoswick, Shetland.

Hoswick Jeweller Karlin Anderson with sister and colleague Marie.

Karlin Anderson

Jeweller Karlin Anderson is also just a minute or two away from us – her studio has expertly crafted pieces of read-to-wear fine jewellery and spectacular views of the bay.

You can also commission Karlin to make something bespoke just for you.  Watch her workshop tour here.
 

A photographer takes a photograph at the Gospel Hall, Hoswick - an old wooden building with a rusted tin roof.


A local landmark

Always attracting attention, the Gospel Hall is a favourite feature of Hoswick and marks the entrance to the village.

This small, wooden building has miraculously withstood at least a century's worth of gales and storms – although the effects of our salty air are clearly visible on the now-lacey tin roof and distressed paintwork. 

Detail of the rusted roof, window and distressed wooden panelling at the Gospel Hall, Hoswick
 

An eye on Hoswick

On the pebble beach at Hoswick, looking out at the still and turquoise blue sea.


Looking south; we've had some beautiful morning light in the last week or so.

Opening hours, May - October

The studio shop will be open every day.

Mon - Sat: 10am - 5pm
Sun: 11am - 4pm

If our standard times don't work for you please do get in touch – we can arrange an alternative time for your visit.


"It’s like walking into a box of chocolates! A visual treasure trove. Love it."
 

The orange velvet sofa with comfy, colourful cushions at the Nielanell studio, Hoswick.
 

"Like visiting friends, you just feel right at home."

Tagged with: studio news
Share:

Previous Post Next Post

Text with icon

Share some useful information about shipping, returns or discounts.