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I went to a really inspiring and properly engaging symposium a couple of weeks' ago on wool. The speakers were so passionate about sheep it was almost moving, at least for me as I was remembering much loved uncles on the farm when I was little. It's a fascinating industry and one that is in part a concern (tragically, they've stopped teaching knitting in school in the Shetlands -- a real crime) and in part a hope (recognition and appreciation is strong, and growing). Oliver Henry from Jamieson & Smith, the yarnmakers from Shetland, was a wonderful speaker (great accent -- almost Scandinavian) -- and knew so much. Not least about how to present his wares: "Stick to what you know. Tell the story" (my employers could learn so much, were they not too philistine to ask). Here is a wool clip, and the Three Sheep Logo, which defines Shetland yarn. The yarn itself is quite robust -- it would be so warm for a jumper, but you'd need a soft vest underneath. The colours are gorgeous.

Here also a clipping from this pair of socks (excellent pattern from Purl) that I knitted for my mother earlier in the year. Almost impossible to take a good photo of these for some reason. And also slightly unfortunately reminiscent of the army cadets as it turned out (why didn't I see that coming when I chose the colour?!). But she loved them, which is very gratifying.

First two images are from Jamieson & Smith.