Taatit Rug Heritage Experience - Winter Workshops
Thursday, November 26th 2026 - Saturday, December 12th 2026
Shetland Museum & Archives
Discover the story behind Shetland's traditional taatit rugs - and learn to make your own!
Join us at Shetland Museum & Archives for the Taatit Rug Heritage Experience, a special winter workshop series exploring the history, designs and techniques behind these distinctive Shetland wool rugs.
Led by Carol Christiansen, Curator of Collections at Shetland Museum & Archives, and experienced textile tutor Kathy Coull, the three-part series combines an illustrated talk and close study of historic rugs from the museum's collections with the chance to develop your own design and learn traditional stitching techniques.
There are two ways to take part:
- Come along to the opening illustrated talk on Thursday 26 November to discover the history, stories, motifs and traditions behind taatit rugs. This talk is open to everyone, with tickets available separately.
- Or book the full three-part experience, which includes the talk, a design workshop and a practical session where you'll learn traditional stitching techniques and create your own taatit sampler. (Note, there is a choice of morning or afternoon sessions).
It's a chance to learn from people with specialist knowledge, explore a distinctive part of Shetland's textile heritage and try a traditional skill for yourself.
BOOK HERE
Session 1: Understanding Taatit Rugs EVENING TALK
Date: Thursday 26th November │ Time: 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Led by Carol Christiansen, Curator of Collections, Shetland Museum & Archives
In this illustrated talk, participants will explore the heritage of taatit rug making and use. The session will delve into the history of pile fabrics in the European north, taatit rugs as they relate to Nordic bedcovers in design and construction, common designs in taatit rugs and their relationship to folklore, colour use and dyes, and the importance of taatit rug making and use by Shetland families.
Session 2: Exploring Taatit Rug Design
Saturday 5th December │ Time: 10am - 12pm OR 2pm - 4pm
Led by Carol Christiansen, Curator of Collections, Shetland Museum & Archives
In this session, participants will focus on the variety of motifs used in rugs, from early structured and abstract motifs to later naturalistic, fluid designs. Together, you will examine several historic taatit rugs from Shetland Museum’s Collection and discuss how motifs were arranged within a set rug structure. The session will include a discussion and examination of rug taats to understand the number of ways colour variability was achieved and applied, by using natural wool colours, dyes, and wool processing methods.
Session 3: From Collection to Creation: Making Your Taatit Sampler
Date: Saturday 12th December │ Time: 9:30am – 12:30pm OR 1.30pm - 4.30pm
Led by Kathy Coull, Independent Tutor
Drawing on the inspiration and knowledge gained in the previous sessions, participants will create their own taatit sampler. The workshop will enable participants to translate a chosen Taatit Rug motif, through traditional taat hand stitching onto a 30cm x 30cm sample square of pre handwoven ground fabric (supplied with a suitable needle), using the participants own coloured Shetland yarns (aran weight or equivalent).
Category: Lectures, Arts and Crafts (Adult)
