I have now booked my flights to Scotland and will be travelling in early July, returning in early August this year, to undertake the detailed logistical planning required for my four-week residency on St Kilda in 2027.

This preparatory visit is a crucial stage of My St Kilda Tweed Project and will involve coordinating people, places, materials, and transport across much of Scotland and its islands. During this time, I aim to complete the following tasks:

• Collect Soay sheep wool from Kingskettle near Dundee and Boreray sheep fleece from Stronsay, one of the northernmost islands of Orkney
• Transport both fleeces to the Border Mill in Duns for processing
• Visit the West Highland Museum in Fort William to examine one of the last remaining pieces of St Kilda tweed woven on the island around 1930. By measuring the number of warp threads per inch, I will be able to provide the mill with precise information so the wool can be spun to match the thickness originally produced by the women of St Kilda
• Meet with Susan Bain, Western Isles Manager for the National Trust for Scotland, in Inverness to discuss the logistical planning for 2027
• Travel to St Kilda to meet the ranger and discuss all practical aspects of my future stay
• Meet with the operator of the Kilda Cruise boat in Leverburgh, on the Outer Hebridean island of Harris, to plan the transport of my loom and equipment to and from the island
• Identify and test simple, easy-to-prepare vegan food options available in the UK that will be suitable for a prolonged stay in such a remote environment

This journey is an essential step in ensuring that the weaving of St Kilda tweed can once again take place on the island, using materials, methods, and proportions as close as possible to those used historically.