Harris Tweed from the Outer Hebrides
This week, the Outer Hebrides of Scotland are looming large in my imagination. It’s all due to Freya North’s new book, Little Wing, which I devoured over the weekend. She is a favorite author of mine, and one of her special gifts is her setting descriptions. This book was partially set on the rugged island along the coast of Scotland, and now I’m dreaming of craggy, windswept beaches.
Harris, on the Hebrides, is famous for its hand-woven tweed, which is fully produced on the island. The Harris Tweed Authority shares a short but interesting history of the fabric on its website. You should also check out this video about Rebecca, a long-time Harris weaver.
While the Outer Hebrides aren’t on the Grand Scottish Textile Tour, we will be visiting plenty of other artisanal textile artists. Read more about the tour here.
Oh, I almost forgot – I am such a fan of Freya North’s books that I once interviewed her for my podcast. If you are interested in learning about an author’s creative process, listen to it here.