Janette Budge / Shetland Islands

Janette Budge is a Shetland knitwear designer and tutor, known for her Fair Isle knitting techniques. Since 2016, she has been a tutor at Shetland Wool Week, leading workshops for knitters from all over the world.

Raised on the Westside of Shetland in the 1970s, Janette’s childhood was shaped by the art of knitting. Janette learned to knit at the age of six thanks to her mother and school knitting teacher. Her love for colour quickly developed, and she became especially drawn to the traditional Fair Isle style. While she specialises in Fair Isle Yokes, Janette also enjoys experimenting with other colourwork techniques.

Janette volunteers with the Shetland PeerieMakkers charity to teach knitting at a local school. She is dedicated to encouraging the younger generation to connect with traditional knitting. She is also an active member of the Shetland Guild of Spinners, Knitters, Weavers, and Dyers, and has contributed her design, the Clickimin Cowl, to the 2018 Shetland Wool Week Annual.

Now that her daughters are teenagers, Janette has more time to dedicate to knitting. As she grows older, she finds herself increasingly nostalgic. As a result, Janette is focused on preserving Shetland’s knitting heritage, which she feels is at risk of being lost. She hopes to pass her skills on to others, incorporating Shetland knitting techniques into all her workshops.

Janette is constantly inspired by nature, significant life events, and the personalities of others. She loves to experiment with colour in her Fair Isle patterns, drawing from the beauty of the landscape to create her unique designs.