Shetland Wool Week 2014 / Wool Week: A garment to last a lifetime
Wool Week has taken visitors to some exciting locations over the past week, but as venues go, restored sail-fishing vessel the Swan takes some beating, writes Genevieve White.
Friday’s sky is grey and uninspiring, in sharp contrast to the cosy and colourful goings on below deck, where nine expert knitters have come together to learn to knit traditional Dutch ganseys.
The atmosphere around the table is celebratory as workshop attendee Catherine Walker shows off her Shetland hand spun engagement ring and announces her engagement to fiancée, Jed. There is just time to offer congratulations before the workshop begins.
Workshop leader, Stella Ruhe, is the author of Dutch traditional Ganseys. She opens the session by describing how she learned to knit as a three year old using steel needles and cotton.
“It was a hard way to learn, but probably also quite good, because it gave me practice in learning how to overcome difficulties.”
Ruhe’s love affair with ganseys was first kindled during her time working as a publisher. A manuscript about ganseys found its way onto her desk: having never heard of the garment before, she developed a keen interest in them.
Ruhe worked hard towards ensuring the publication of this manuscript, which met with success.
However, 1980’s consumerism meant that knitting fell out of fashion. Worried that ganseys might be forgotten forever, Ruhe started writing and researching her own book on the subject. She collected patterns and had the ganseys reknit using modern yarns.
Ruhe is keen to point out that traditional Dutch ganseys were not just a fashion item.
“The ganseys were beautiful and there was so much skill involved in knitting them. But first and foremost they were functional.
The strings and pom poms around the collar were to pull tight and protect against biting winds. The t-shape helped them to dry faster. Ganseys were never thrown out – they were repaired and reknitted.
And the greaser and dirtier they got the better – this made them more waterproof and provided an extra layer of insulation. When they couldn’t be worn anymore they were used as deck cloths – that’s why so few original ganseys are with us today.”
As I leave the Swan, the assembled knitters are already handling their wool and looking at patterns. It sounds as if they will be knitting a garment to last a lifetime.
Become a supporter of Shetland News
Shetland News is asking its many readers to consider start paying for their dose of the latest local news delivered straight to their PC, tablet or mobile phone.
Journalism comes at a price and because that price is not being paid in today’s rapidly changing media world, most publishers - national and local - struggle financially despite very healthy audience figures.
Most online publishers have started charging for access to their websites, others have chosen a different route. Shetland News currently has over 600 supporters who are all making small voluntary financial contributions. All funds go towards covering our cost and improving the service further.
Your contribution will ensure Shetland News can: -
- Bring you the headlines as they happen;
- Stay editorially independent;
- Give a voice to the community;
- Grow site traffic further;
- Research and publish more in-depth news, including more Shetland Lives features.
If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a supporter of Shetland News by either making a single payment or monthly subscription.
Support us from as little as £3 per month – it only takes a minute to sign up. Thank you.
Already a supporter? Sign in to hide this message.
