Grand Shetland Adventure Knits

Join best-selling knitwear designers Mary Jane Mucklestone and Gudrun Johnston for a true Shetland adventure!

Discover the magic of Shetland through 14 stunning knitting patterns, perfect for confident knitters looking to expand their colourwork repertoire.

Mary Jane and Gudrun's first co-authored book is a love letter to these fascinating islands, their nature, traditions and people. It features 14 inspiring patterns for confident knitters that are perfect for cold weather, or even a trip to Shetland itself: from cozy socks and hats to colourwork sweaters.

Inside this exclusive paperback edition you'll find:

• A wide range of 14 wearable, practical garments designed for layering, warmth, and comfort. Create cozy accessories like the Cake Fridge Hat, Bousta Socks and Flooers Cowl; wrap up in the Staneydale Scarf or the flowing Virdek Shawl; and explore colorwork and texture with standout pieces like the Heritage Yoke, Island to Island Vest, Riggies Cardi and the cheerful Swatchtastic Flower Hat. With a balance of relaxed pieces and more intricate knits, this collection offers both ease and challenge.
• Each pattern includes clear instructions and knitting charts provided where needed for colourwork and lace motifs.
• A comprehensive techniques section at the start covers all the essential techniques needed.
• The designs are rooted in Shetland tradition but infused with the designers' modern sensibility, making them ideal for both everyday wear and special occasions.
• The authors' deep love for Shetland, transmitted through every thoughtful pattern, from a hat inspired by a roadside cake fridge, a jumper knitted with patterns reminiscent of the seaweed among the rockpools, and to socks that are perfect for wear inside a cozy Shetland BnB.
• Short travel stories that showcase some of Mary Jane and Gudrun's favourite places to visit, taking you on an unforgettable journey to a place that - despite its small size and remote location - has had an enormous impact on the world of knitting.

This is a book to return to again and again - for the knits, the stories and the inspiration. With its blend of timeless design and personal connection to place, Grand Shetland Adventure Knits brings the gregarious spirit of the islands into every stitch.

Originally published by Laine in hardback for the collectors, this exclusive, portable paperback edition places Mary Jane and Gudrun's creations firmly in the hands of knitters with a lust for travel.

'Come along with us. Witness the landscape. Meet the people. And knit. Knit yourself a grand adventure!' Mary Jane Mucklestone and Gudrun Johnston

Author: Gudrun Johnston,Mary Jane Mucklestone
Publisher: Search Press
Published: 08/18/2026
Pages: 200
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 1.50lbs
Size: 9.20h x 7.50w x 0.80d
ISBN: 9781800924505


Review Citation(s):
Booklist 07/01/2026

About the Author
Mary Jane Mucklestone is a knitwear designer, teacher and author of several knitting books who is based in Maine, US. She has a varied background in art and textiles earning a BFA in Printmaking from Pratt Institute, studying fashion at Parsons School of Design and Textiles and Historic Costume at the University of Washington. Her work has been featured in publications like Vogue Knitting, Interweave Knits and various books, including Fair Isle Weekend, also published by Laine.
Mary Jane specializes in Fair Isle knitting, also called stranded knitting. With her friend Gudrun Johnston, they host popular, once in a lifetime trips to Shetland and together they have co-authored Grand Shetland Adventure Knits, originally published through Laine Publishing, as she is endlessly enchanted and inspired by Shetland's windswept isles.
Find Mary Jane on Instagram @mjmucklestone and at www.MaryJaneMucklestone.com

Gudrun Johnston is a Shetland-born knitwear designer currently based in Massachusetts, US, who is well-known for her accessible modern-day patterns that are greatly inspired by her heritage. She frequently returns to Shetland, where she loves spending time with her family on the Westside. Find Gudrun on Instagram @gudrunjohnston