After what seemed like an eternity planning this journey, I finally arrived in Bonnie Scotland last Monday (6th July) to begin arranging all of the logistics for my – and hopefully Cecilia's – four-week stay on St Kilda in 2027.

The first four days have been an absolute whirlwind, centred around one very important task: collecting the Soay and Boreray fleeces that will eventually become the yarn for weaving St Kilda tweed, before delivering them safely to the Border Mill in Duns for processing.

On Tuesday, Cecilia and I drove the 90 minutes from Glasgow to Kingskettle to visit Cheryl at Hilton Hill Farm, where we collected 30 kilograms of beautifully rooed Soay sheep fleeces. Cheryl has patiently gathered these from her flock over many months, and I am incredibly grateful for all of the work she has put into making this possible. From there we enjoyed a wonderful visit with Jimmy and Erika at Newburgh Handloom Weavers, whose knowledge and enthusiasm for traditional weaving made for a memorable afternoon.

Wednesday was a much longer day, with a five-and-a-half-hour drive north to Scrabster before catching two ferries to the island of Stronsay in Orkney. There I met Hazel and Norman at Airy Farm, who had kindly set aside 40 kilograms of precious Boreray fleeces for the project. The day finished with a delightful overnight stay at the Stronsay Hotel.

Thursday was spent making the return journey, but not before calling into the Kirkwall Museum to visit Marianna. It was Marianna who first introduced me to Hazel and Norman when I was desperately searching for a source of Boreray wool several months ago. Without that introduction, this project may have taken a very different path, so it was a pleasure to thank her in person.

On Friday, Cecilia and I drove the two hours south from Glasgow to Duns, where we delivered all 70 kilograms of fleece to the Border Mill. We spent time with Kate, the owner, discussing exactly how the fleeces will be processed and spun to produce the yarn that I hope to weave into authentic St Kilda tweed during my stay on the island next year.

Standing there with all of the fleeces safely delivered was an enormous relief. After months of planning, emails, phone calls and countless arrangements, one of the most critical stages of the entire project is now complete.

There is still plenty to accomplish over the next three weeks in Scotland, but it feels as though the foundations have now been laid. Every step brings My St Kilda Tweed Project one step closer to returning the craft of weaving tweed to St Kilda for the first time in almost a century.

Thank you to everyone who has supported and encouraged me along the way. Your interest and kindness continue to make this remarkable journey even more special.