From The Magic of Travel: Coincidences

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 So called “coincidences” occur regularly in our lives, but I certainly notice them more when I am traveling. I am not sure, but I believe that these types of occurrences come about through some combination of fate and our own mindset. My journeys hold so many serendipitous surprises that I have ceased counting them.

 

During my time in Europe in 2017-18, most of my encounters with coincidences were related to the fact that I spend much of my travels connecting to other spinners and knitters. I will tell one of these tales here, but you will find more in the “Quest for Fiber” chapter (which will be published in a future post).

 

July 2017

I was in Scotland and since I love to knit lace, I decided to take an overnight ferry up to the Shetland Islands, which are famous for their gossamer Shetland lace shawls.


Approaching the port of Lerwick on Shetland Island.

While standing on the stern of the ferry as we left Aberdeen, I struck up a conversation with another woman named Catherine. We both remarked that we hoped it would be a calm sailing. Like me, she tended to get seasick. She said that she rarely left Shetland because she hated to be out on the water.


“Oh, you live on the Islands?” I asked. And I told her why I was visiting.


“Oh, you should meet my husband,” she replied, “He is the wool broker for Jamieson and Smith (wool brokers in Lerwick, Shetland).”


I about fainted. I knew of Oliver Henry—he is a kind of a celebrity in the fiber world and I had seen a documentary about his work with Shetland wool. I was a bit star struck. She called him over and I met him briefly since he was deep in conversation with a couple other men.


What were the odds that I would be on the same ferry as the Henrys, who rarely left the Islands? And that I would happen to be on the stern at the same time they were?


Catherine Henry was so gracious and told me that I must come for tea. I was a bit reticent, because I am always afraid I will be a nuisance. A day or so later, I was visiting the Jamieson and Smith store. When I had finished my yarn shopping spree and walked out, Catherine hailed me from her nearby home. “Don’t forget to come by for tea,” she called.


A couple days later, I found myself in the cozy Henry home overlooking the bay. We knitted together and traded stories. Oliver came in briefly for lunch, but it was the middle of shearing season on the Shetlands, and he spent the long summer days accepting and sorting thousands of fleeces. But he made time for a friendly visit before he returned to work.  


The Jamieson & Smith Brokerage. Almost all the fleece from the Shetland Islands comes through these doors. Since it was the height of sheering season, Oliver was very busy.

 

I told Catherine that I was planning a hike on the nearby Island of Bressay the next day. Even though it was July, the wind could be cold and relentless on these remote coastlines. As I left, she ran back into the house, “You will need a cap for tomorrow!” and she handed me an intricately hand-knitted wool peerie cap. “Peerie” is a word in the Shetland dialect that means “tiny,” and in this case it refers to the tiny colorful stitches. Fair Isle is the southern-most island in the Shetlands and its name has become synonymous for garments made in this peerie style. I knit a lot of caps and often give them away. But this one is a keeper!

 

It was cold and windy on Bressay and Catherine’s hat did a great job of keeping my ears warm.


I was on the Shetland Islands for twelve days. I met Catherine again for coffee and we traded Facebook pages. We have stayed in contact since then. Recently Catherine sent me a Happy New Year 2025 message and reminded me that I was welcome to return to the Shetland Islands anytime.

 

In a museum on the northernmost island of Unst in the Shetlands, you will find the famous Williamson Stole. It was not until 2024 that I finally attempted to knit this challenging pattern. I reduced the width because I did not have enough of the “cobweb” weight Shetland yarn to complete a shawl. I made a scarf instead. 






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