Mary Jane

I had every intention of continuing the timely posts of Shetland, sorry for the lapse!

One of the highlights of the not-to-be-missed Shetland Wool Week was meeting the mega-talent scholar-designer Kate Davies. See us at Gudrun Johnston‘s Shetland Trader Trunk Show at Jamieson & Smith. Can you see how much fun we are having? As you well know from reading her blog needled, Kate is amazing, and fun and funny too.

I gave a lecture at J&S, where afterward I got the thrill of meeting Hazel Tindall – the worlds fastest knitter – and the nicest woman ever. She kindly gave me tips on the use of a knitting belt and counseled me on which needles, or rather, “wires” to get. Read Kate’s wonderful story about her afternoon with Hazel, and prepare to die of envy.

I also met Kathy Coull, of Fair Isle who I’ve corresponded with over the years, trying in vain to get to Fair Isle.  It was so nice to finally meet her and share a little time together. She is so knowledgeable about fair isle knitting, I could easily spend a week in her pleasant company and dearly hope to do so…someday.

Liz Lovik was there too! You must know her, of Northern Lace fame? She’s an ace Fair Isle Knitter too. We seem to run into each other now an again despite living nearly 3,000 miles apart. She’s got some great blog posts about Shetland Wool Week.

I kick myself for forgetting my camera the night of the Jamieson & Smith Knit Real Shetland book launch, where I was mesmerized by Kate’s plaid dress complete with petticoats. Hazel was there with her husband Trevor, who was wearing one of her gorgeous jumpers…sigh… As you might imagine, Trevor is a lively and charming fellow who confided that he completed the 3 year course and received a degree from the Textile Department at Shetland College… just in case! There was also an amazing little girls lace dress made by Cathie Leask, which fortunately Kate snapped. The dress accompanied Cathie’s entry in The Real Shetland Stories Competition. The winner Drew Ratter won a hand-made mattress by Vi-Spring, a major sponsor of Shetland Wool Week, worth £11,000! Made with real Shetland wool of course.

More to come!

Gudrun’s dad brought out some vintage sweaters his kids wore, and one even older… a look inside revealed the finishing….knots! In this case carefully woven in, the following one…not!

There are quite a few events and displays out and about here during wool week. At Shetland College the Textile Facilitation Unit is open to the public for a sort of self guided tour, a great facility that made me want to go right back to school. The walls were lined with submissions for a school competition in Fair Isle design, graphic and poignant; Lisa Anderson writes: I would love it if they kept Shetland Wool to be always in fashion.

Shetland Wool Week

Family adventure to Eshaness, no clue driving up what the wind would be like! Just a gentle reminder to “watch the door”, which turned out to be nearly impossible to open! See Gudrun and I blown away by the scenery and nearly blown away by the wind!

See more over at Gudrun’s here.

Shetland Wool Week info here.