The Sanday Spinners are following a long line of Orcadian and Sanday tradition; spinning selected natural fleeces with care. Raw fleece is handspun on spinning wheels and the resulting yarns are crafted into attractive and useful items, through knitting, weaving, and felting.

The Census of 1841 records that eight Sanday women gave their industry as "Spinner." Today's Sanday Spinners collective also numbers eight women, each of whom will in time have a shop window here.

The Sanday Spinners started from modest beginnings, when one spinner passed on her skills to a novice. This nucleus quickly attracted further experienced and new spinners. The group now meets weekly for sharing knowledge, fleece, laughter - and cake. There is usually a "show and tell" of the work produced during the intervening week and plans for future projects are shared.

The group is developing from this small start to a commercial enterprise, and you may now own a share in this continuity of traditional crafting.

The Sanday Spinners work from home, in traditional cottage industry style within sight of the sea, and in rhythm with the tides and the seasons. Each skein of wool is crafted with love, tradition - and just a little sea air.