Well, we can’t believe we’re into December already. This year seems to have gone in a blink.
It’s been over two months since our last SWW.
Thanks to everyone who came, we had some amazing feedback with 99% of respondents saying they would recommend the event to others! It is so heartening to hear especially after the hiatus Covid years. We take your feedback on board and it will influence our future planning.
NEW PATTERN – Bonnie Isle Mitts
We’re thrilled to share a new pattern with you. Many people were asking whether our SWW Patron, Linda Shearer, would be launching a pattern to accompany her popular Bonnie Isle hat.
Ta da.. and here it is!
She has written a pattern based on the original five colourways. If you didn’t add a pompom to your version of the hat you should have plenty of wool left to make these mitts. They’re gorgeous and would make a beautiful and cosy gift to self and others.
The pattern is available as a digital download for £5 here
The hat pattern is still available for free via our SWW website.
Continuing ‘Da Bonnie Isle Knitting Circle’
We were reflecting on this year’s SWW and one thing that sparked plenty of interest was the impromptu reinvigoration of ‘Da Bonnie Isle Knitting Circle’ in Whalsay. At the time we promised to share more about it.
Da Bonnie Isle Knitting Circle was something that was started on the island of Whalsay back in 2015 when the knitting groups from the school, Whalsay Heritage Centre and ‘Tak Your Sock’ joined a series of international performances of knitting circles.
The original idea was the brainchild of Swedish artist Kerstin Lindström and involved performances of knitting in circles and highlighted questions about tradition, development and the participants’ own stories and encouraging folk to ‘Own your own time’. Everyone in the circle knits together at the same pace – eventually going at the same pace as the slowest knitter.
The Whalsay project was a continuation of the red circle created in Faroe and knitted with Kerstin by 84 members of the public at the Shetland Textile Museum, Böd of Gremista in 2013.
Da Bonnie Isle Circle was seen as a way of highlighting the knitting groups’ skills and bringing them together in a team event. The group selected green and other coloured Shetland yarns and each knitter brought their own knitted piece which had no function as a wearable object. The aim is for the group to knit together to join up the pieces and they can go on knitting for as long as they like.
And that’s exactly what happened during Shetland Wool Week with various visitors, tutors and members of the original group coming together to continue the circle.
Hazel Sutherland from Whalsay who took part during SWW said: “It was super to see the circle in action again during Whalsay’s ‘Tak dee sok’ night. As well as being a lightsome evening, it was also an opportunity for folk to come together and be in a shared, sociable space whilst also experiencing an almost meditative, relaxed space concentrating on the repetitive action of their own knitting.”
Interestingly the circle doesn’t work if one person stops. A lesson for us all, perhaps?
‘KNITWEAR Chanel to Westwood’ exhibition
Fair Isle knitting is enjoying a resurgence in popularity in the shops with endless variations of Fair Isle knitwear. One of our tutors and SWW Annual designers, Rachel Hunter enjoyed a recent visit to the Dovecot Studios exhibition in Edinburgh, ‘From Chanel to Westwood’. It’s a major exhibition of inspirational 20th century fashion knitwear in Scotland. Amongst the 1920s Chanel vintage woollen swimwear and 1950s cocktail sweaters is an inspirational section dedicated to Fair Isle knitwear.
The exhibition runs until March 2023. Rachel urges anyone who is in Edinburgh to go and see it as it’s very ‘inspirational and informative!’
2022 Annual and Merchandise
Thank you to everyone who has already purchased our 2022 SWW Annual. We always look forward to seeing your completed knits on social media, please do keep sharing them with us using #shetlandwoolweekannual2022
As well as the Annual, there are still a few items from our 2022 merchandise range available to buy from our online shop.
Including our Anchor Tote Bag and beautiful ‘Makkin Notes’ Notebook illustrated by Aimee Labourne.
Christmas delivery: If your postal address is in the UK order by Sunday 11 December for pre-Christmas delivery. Please note however, due to potential adverse weather impacting our islands delivery service we cannot 100% guarantee this date, we’d advise you to place your order as soon as possible.
Unfortunately we can’t guarantee Christmas delivery for EU and International orders this year due to current delays in the postal network.
*Remember, if you live locally you can select the ‘Pick Up’ shipping option at checkout to collect your order from the Shetland Museum.
Stay cosy and enjoy the new pattern.
