Discover the Magic of Shetland in Every Stitch with Uphouse Crafts

Who am I?

Hi, I’m Andrea. I first started sewing to make clothes for my son, and my hobby turned into a full-time job when I started Uphouse Crafts in 2019.

When Jack was a toddler, I began making him

• pyjamas
• hoodies
• jackets
• outdoor bib-n-brace trousers
• hats

The more I made for him, the more I learned and became hooked on sewing. It gave me a sense of
purpose at a time when I wasn’t sure who I was other than ‘Mum’.

In 2019, I decided to start Uphouse Crafts so I could work from home. Earlier that year, Jack had been diagnosed as autistic, and my husband and I adjusted our lives to fully support our son.

Where do I live?

I have lived in Shetland all my life, except for four years when I was at university in Aberdeen and Edinburgh. To me, Shetland is family and home. It is also a unique place where the accent is distinctive, the way of life is more relaxed, and the landscape is stunning.  Have you been to Shetland?  You really should visit at least once.

What do I make?

Shetland influences my choice of fabrics as I love to showcase all the things that make our beautiful island unique. My work features puffins, seals, whales, and nautical themes, but I also have cheerful, colourful prints. I offer a range of purses, wallets, and bags made with machine-knit Fair Isle. I also make hand-knit Shetland Fair Isle purses.

In 2024, I rediscovered a love of drawing. I’ve now introduced a range of hand-drawn puffins, Shetland landscapes and boats. My family background in fishing has influenced my love of drawing fishing boats of all
shapes and sizes. 

You can find out what our customers think here.

 How can we work together?

 Sewing Classes

I started tutoring sewing lessons with the Shetland Island Council Adult Learning department in June 2023.  After a few successful night classes I decided to offer lessons from my home on a one-2-one basis. 

By offering private lessons you get a much more curated experience.  This can be great if you are a total beginner and need your hand held through the learning process.

I would love to teach you to sew, seeing your joy and sense of accomplishment when you make something that a few hours before you couldn’t imagine. 

Custom Made Items

Over the last few years, I’ve made a quite a lot of custom items.  Check out the pictures below.

Unfortunately this isn’t a service I offer at the moment.

To buy any of the things I make check out all the categories available .