Smookie jumper

Smookie jumperOur modern Fair Isle inspired jumper, the Shetland Smookie is a hybrid of two classic garments. Niela took inspiration from both the Fair Isle sweater and the fishermans smock (in Shetland, the latter is called a smookie) to create our warmest jumper. Youll see Smookies out and about in the islands, being worn by present day Shetlanders, and many have also flown away to other parts of the world always keeping their wearers cosy. Design A really

Our modern Fair Isle inspired jumper, the Shetland Smookie is a hybrid of two classic garments.

Niela took inspiration from both the Fair Isle sweater and the fisherman’s smock (in Shetland, the latter is called a smookie) to create our warmest jumper.

You’ll see Smookies out and about in the islands, being worn by present day Shetlanders, and many have also flown away to other parts of the world – always keeping their wearers cosy. 

Design

A really wearable sweater, the Smookie includes lots of Nielanell attention to detail.

Complimenting the all-over pattern, the stand-up neck is knitted in a speckled birseye; inset storm cuffs fuse function with a delightful bit of stripyness (plus an opportunity for a contrast colour).

The knitted Smookie fabric is double-sided, designed to create a very warm jumper.

Pattern & colour

The all-over pattern of the jumper is inspired by the colourwork traditions of Fair Isle, Shetland, and Nordic knitting. We make Shetland Smookie jumpers in very small edition colourways: many are unlikely to be available again, once they are sold out.

Materials

• 100% premium, Scottish-spun lambswool
• Reverse jacquard (double-sided fabric for extra-snuggliness)
  

Manufacture

Made in the Shetland Islands, Scotland.

The Smookie jumper is a very local production:

• All our design happens at Nielanell, Hoswick.
• Each Smookie jumper needs seven panels, which are knitted for us in Hoswick by our neighbours at Shetland Woollen Co – located just a few buildings down from the Nielanell studio.
• In the Nielanell workshop, the seven panels (fair isle, stripy and bird’s eye patterns) are then transformed into a wearable jumper using linking, which is a skilled knitting process in itself.
• The newly linked jumper then returns to Shetland Woollen Co (we walk along the road with a woolly bale!) for special washing and brushing processes.
• Final hand-finishing is done back at Nielanell by our in-house team.
  

Our knitwear is made in very small batches, slowly.

We are committed to sustaining and being part of UK knitwear manufacturing – and Shetland’s place in this.

Sizing & fit

One size

• A (underarm-underarm): 56cm
• B (back length): 60cm
• C (sleeve length): 55cm including cuff

On smaller figures the Smookie is a wee bit more tunic-like.

The pattern is ‘all-over’ (like traditional-style Shetland and Fair Isle sweaters), but the gentle trapeze shape of the Smookie gives a flattering fit.

NB measurements are approximate.

Availability

Smookie jumpers are highly sought after. If you'd like to hear when they are back in stock please sign up for our newsletter, which features stock updates and Shetland knitwear studio life.

What you say

I have worn my Smookie almost every day of the pandemic lockdown. SO COZY! I will need another one just in case I wear this one out. 

Customer, 2021

Traditional Fair Isle jumpers and modern Shetland knitting

Inspiration & design process

Like many seafarers, Shetland fishermen wore smocks or ‘smookies’ made from sacking or canvas. I started wondering how that shape would translate into knit.

‘Just a simple smock...’, I said. Of course there’s more to it than that!

I couldn’t have made these without the team at Shetland Woollen Co who are all ultra-talented. Special thanks to Sarah and Tracy, the programmer and linker who helped me with prototyping.