Welcome to 'Sileigh' ... the island of the seals.

Grey seals welcoming us to their island.
Grey seals welcoming us to their island.

We are living in strange times. I can only hope that while you are reading this that you are safe and, hopefully, well in your homes. We don’t know what the future holds but we must just take one day at a time and try not to look too far ahead.

If you are self isolating with some time on your hands, I guess it is also a good time for crafting, baking, gardening (when the weather warms up a little) and of course some mindful knitting. So for a while, let’s try to forget the news updates and social media posts, sit down quietly and I will take you somewhere else calm and beautiful.

I am just back from spending a month at Osterøy Museum, near Bergen in Norway where I was receiving instruction on how to work a warp weighted loom. While there, I wove a vararfeldur cloak for my art project on Aud the Deep Minded a female Viking leader from the mid 9th Century. I have not had time just yet to write up all my notes but plan to share my experience in a subsequent blog in the next 2-3 weeks.

Sileigh yarn
Our new 4 Ply yarn ‘Sileigh’ – Shillay evoking the turquoise waters of the Hebrides.

In the meantime, I thought I would share some photos of the Hebrides and introduce you to our new Sileigh – Shillay 4 Ply yarn. The dusky blue hue evokes the beautiful turquoise waters as you approach Shillay island. Situated west of the Sound of Harris in the Outer Hebrides on the brink of the Atlantic, the island takes its name from the old norse for selr-øy ‘seal island’. Blissfully isolated from human disturbance, grey seals pup there in their hundreds every year during November.

A hidden island gem and one of my favourite places to sit in silence just observing and listening to our island wildlife.

Our Shillay yarn is a soft, sea-washed turquoise that is very wearable on its own or would combine beautifully with our Natural or Hebridean colours. Pictured above with Moss and Storm Grey.

Boat approaching Shillay
Husband and skipper slowly bringing the boat into Shillay in lovely June summer weather, checking for rocks as we approach the shallows.
Ashore and saying hello to our first few seals with a creel boat passing by.
Seal tracks in the sand.
Colourful cliffs on the west side of Shillay.
Seal pup during our visit in November taken at safe distance with telephoto lens.
A more juvenile pup … certainly looking a little more sleepy!!
On the right is a male, centre young pup and left female. In the background, a male and female wollow in a fresh water pond. Fights often break out between rivalry males so it can be quite a noisy setting.
One of our local top predators the Golden Eagle is a frequent visitor to the seal pupping grounds.
A strong current runs between Pabbaigh and Shillay islands, landing can only be achieved with local knowledge and calm weather.
The seals pup in November when the days are short and the weather can be very changeable. With a new weather front approaching it was time to quietly lift anchor and slip away home to Berneray.
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