Letters / Our knitting skills are part of who we are
Things we’ve heard over the last week: “Get a sense of humour!” “What’s the big deal?” “Why are you being so negative?”
Shetland is one of the few areas of the world with an unbroken connection to its knitting history.
Many hobbyist knitters have forgotten that knitting was an occupation for hundreds of years. In Shetland, knitting put food on the table for longer than in other parts of the world. There were no idle moments. Knitting was happening in nearly every home in Shetland, and perfection was required. Hours of work could be rejected for a split stitch, a shift in colour preference, or a call for a different style.
Shetlanders knit precisely, quickly, and without written patterns because they had to. Knitting wasn’t fun, it was work with significant judgement attached. Grown men have been known to get misty-eyed remembering times when their mother’s knitting was rejected when the money was most needed.
In the 1970s, many knitters happily put away their knitting and never picked it up again, because oil jobs came to the islands. People could earn a living wage with reasonable hours. Others continued to knit professionally because it fit around their life. And others, freed from the burden of having to knit, found that they enjoyed it.
Through our history with wirsit and wires, Shetlanders developed two distinct forms of knitting: openwark (Shetland lace) and Fair Isle knitting. As fashion shifted, Shetland’s knitters did, too, applying the techniques to different garments and developing new methods.
Knitting was everywhere. It was in mothers’ hands as they told stories and issued orders. It came on walks. Fair Isle jumpers were worn with pride as Sunday best. Brides wore Shetland Lace veils and babies were christened in lace shawls.
Our language survives in our knitting: peerie, wirsit, oo, wires, maakin, cloo, hentilagets, riggies, swerrie geng, and more.
We have not been negative, but we have been protective, because our knitting skills are part of who we are as Shetlanders. We will not watch our heritage be falsely depicted without comment, but respectful learners are welcome here.
Follow us and join our cause to protect Shetland’s heritage knitting.
Shetland’s Organisation for Knitters
