News / Trust expands free knitting lessons project
A PROJECT called ShetlandPeerieMakkers is set to provide free hand-knitting lessons in more areas of Shetland.
A pilot project was introduced in 2015 covering Whalsay, Lerwick, Skeld, Hamnavoe and Cunningsburgh. Now, three new tutors who are expert Shetland knitters have volunteered to take part in a second pilot year.
Final arrangements are being confirmed and it is planned that two new groups will be added in Ollaberry and Dunrossness from September.
An existing group, the Unst Peerie Knitters, will also join the pilot project.
From 2018 onwards it is hoped the scheme can be extended to every part of Shetland, and funding for a paid coordinator is being sought from potential sponsors in the UK textile industry.
ShetlandPeerieMakkers was set up under the auspices of the Fetlar-based Brough Lodge Trust, which was concerned that – despite the efforts of many parents and grandparents to pass on the skills – traditional hand-knitting was under threat.
The number of young people learning to knit was “much reduced” when Shetland Islands Council withdrew support for knitting tuition. Councillors voted to remove the £130,000-a-year budget altogether in 2010.
A “task force” was put together to develop the pilot project, recruiting volunteer tutors and creating a model to operate the scheme. The task force’s work will continue in the second year.
Brough Lodge Trust chairman Pierre Cambillard said: “We want to support the culture of hand knitting in Shetland and we think we have a model that works.
“People all over the world backed the original pilot scheme and, although we are trying to find further commercial sponsorship, we would warmly welcome continuing support from anyone who shares our aim.”
With voluntary tuition and knitting yarns donated by Jamiesons of Shetland, the cost of the project is “relatively low, but some expenses have nevertheless had to be met” for things like knitting belts and notebooks.
The funds have been raised through a few company donations, crowdfunding and JustGiving, with donations coming in from over 200 people throughout the world.
In total more than £8,000 has been pledged and the appeal remains open via the Brough Lodge Trust’s website and JustGiving. The group also has a Facebook page.
Hamnavoe volunteer tutor Anne Eunson said: “I feel quite privileged to be teaching knitting to these bairns. To see what they have achieved in this short space of time has been so rewarding.”
There has also been progress on restoring Brough Lodge in Fetlar, with the remaining external work needed to make it wind and water-tight being carried out by Shetland Amenity Trust.
Cambillard said the trust was grateful to Access 2000 Ltd for its “very generous” provision of the necessary scaffolding.
When funds allow, the trust will complete the lodge’s restoration. The intention is for the building to become a centre of excellence for teaching hand knitting and other indigenous skills, including traditional fiddle.
It will also “offer high-quality residential accommodation to visitors from around the world, generating profits to sustain initiatives such as ShetlandPeerieMakkers far into the future”.
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