Thousands of knitting enthusiasts from across the world are expected to descend on the north of Scotland for a new festival.
The inaugural Inverness Loch Ness International Knitting Festival will be held next year over four days, with organisers hoping to attract as many as 3,000 visitors.
The woolly festivities will be based at Eden Court and other venues across Inverness, all boasting a variety of crafty events, from knitting-themed exhibitions to film screenings and fashion shows.
The inspiration for the event came from Danish based knitting festival, Strikkefestival, created by international knit wear designer Christel Seyfarth.
Knitting festival organisers are now focusing their attention on ensuring hotels, tourist attractions and local talent get involved by showcasing all the very best of what the Highlands has to offer.
Highlights of the Inverness Loch Ness Knitting Festival will include a gala dinner and music concert, which will draws its inspiration from the area.
Willie Cameron, from Cobbs, who was instrumental in bringing the festival to the area for 2016, said: “When I first heard Christel Seyfarth tell her story about her Knitting Festival in Fano in Denmark, I immediately thought of the Highlands and islands and our long tradition of spinning wool, weaving and knitting.
“We hope many will come to enjoy the festival and embrace the scenery and cultural experience of the Highlands and also contribute to the economic benefit of the area, before leaving with fond memories and plans to return.”
Councillor Audrey Sinclair, chairwoman of Highland Council’s planning, development and infrastructure committee, added: “With programmes such as The Great British Bake Off and MasterChef we’ve seen a recent surge in interest in traditional skills and it would appear that knitting is no exception.
“With the original International Knitting Festival in Denmark now attracting over 7,000 people each year we are delighted that their first expansion overseas will see the festival come to Inverness.”