Fair Isle through a lens - Episode 32

A series aiming to give a virtual tour of the U.K.'s most remote, inhabited island - Fair Isle. Join me, Rachel, as I guide you round the sights and locations of the island that has been my home for the last five years. I hope to share with you the stunning scenery of the isle and a look at life here.

Episode 32 - Fair Isle Knitting at the Museum

I'm so excited that for our final visit to the George Waterston Memorial Centre, our museum here on Fair Isle, I am able to show you all our wonderful knitwear exhibits. Not only that, but the release of this episode has coincided with what would have been Shetland Wool Week (SWW), our annual celebration of all things woolly and wonderful here in Shetland. Sadly, due to Covid, SWW had to be cancelled, but I'm thrilled that the organisers have put together an online programme of events, and that they have kindly publicised the release of this episode.

I would like to pass on my sincere thanks to the following people:

Anne Sinclair - for her kindness in sharing her knowledge with me and answering my never-ending stream of questions and for being such a mine of information on Fair Isle knitting.

John and Dennis Coutts - for so kindly giving me permission to show one of their wonderful photos of Annie Thomson's grandchildren in their Fair Isle knitwear.

Eileen Thomson - for agreeing to be filmed talking about the Fair Isle Fisherman's Kep pattern and Facebook group (see below for link), and for doing such a wonderful job at it!

SWW Organisers - for supporting me as a crofter and knitter by letting me be part of this incredible annual event and sharing a bit about my life here on Fair Isle.

Links:

The Woolly Thistle Audio Podcast (interview with Anne Sinclair and Oliver Henry):

The Woolly Thistle YouTube Channel:

The Fair Isle Fisherman's Kep Page (Facebook):

Books:

'Fair Isle Knitting Patterns' by Mary Macgregor:

' A Shetlander's Fair Isle Graph Book in Colour' by The Shetland Guild of Spinners, Knitters, Weavers and Dyers:

'200 Fair Isle Motifs' by Mary Jane Mucklestone:

Kate Davies books:

Alice Starmore books:

[deniseengel]

Thank you Rachel. Excellent tour of the knitting in your museum.

[saulemaroussault]

Stumbled upon the series, very informative !thank you !

[jimnlindy]

Thank you for this wonderful tour of the museum! The history, photos and stories, and the gorgeous examples of knitwear really spoke to me. Hopefully there is a trip to your beautiful isle in my future!

[violakeller]

I found today your beautiful Podcast .. wow wow wow ... sooo more great pictures and knitting projects .. im a great fan of fair isle, knitting them often, made steeks ect... im a handknitting workerin from germany and work from many designers, and bookwriters from knitting/crochet in germany . . Many many lovely greats from bavarian/swabian Viola

[janetmajor]

This is an absolute treat. I am a frequent Shetland Wool Week visitor but unfortunately never managed to get to Fair Isle. Seeing this video and the knitwear in such clarity was superb. You have made my day. Thank you for the care taken in making this video.

[seaweedeater]

A really fantastic video. I love Shetland and Fair isle knitting. Due to mobility issues i may never get there to visit in person so this tour of the museum etc has totally made my day it being choc full with inspirational content. I can’t wait to get and knit that gorgeous Kep pattern. Thank you so much Rachel. I saw you on a documentary a couple of years ago. I’m so glad for you that you have grown into the crofting life and are making the most of it. I wish you the very best of luck for the future 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽

[karinadickson]

So interesting! Thanks for sharing the amazing work of Fair Isle Knitters

[jeanflores]

Well done Rachel and Eileen! My love of knitting Fair Isle is what encouraged me to visit that beautiful little isle. Hope to see you in 2021!!

[claremarsh]

Thank you Rachel - What a delight to wake up to this this morning.

As an avid knitter it was just wonderful to see all the history.

Enjoyed seeing you on the Living on the Edge series and hope you continue to share your amazing life from Fair Isle with us!

[finayang]

I love the hat made by Rachel's mother. It is brilliant.

[suehall]

What a fantastic tour of your museum, thank you so much for your in depth descriptions of the exhibits. I watched this whilst knitting a Fair Isle Kep in Lincoln and just wanted to say say hello and best wishes.

[juliesellars]

What a fantastic podcast. I discovered you quite by accident and I'm so glad that I did. This was a great video. I loved the historical photos and old sweaters. I have requested to join the FB group and appreciated you flipping through those books - I've now got a couple on order. Thank you.

[britt-marieborjeson]

Thank you so much for this episode! Really enjoyed it. Love Fair Isle knitting and glad to have bought the pattern for the Kep via the Facebook group, thus supporting the museum. The Facebook group is in it self a wonderful community of knitters. Looking forward to your next episode.

[sharonmayo]

Really Interesting. Wish I was a better knitter. I once started a jumper for my son when he was two. By the time I had finished it, he had grown out of it! Lord knows how long it would take me to knit a Fair Isle pattern!!

[tklingert]

Hi from New Jersey. Was watching this while knitting and having coffee on my deck with my two shetland sheepdog. Great job. So interesting.

[TheSabinewalkden]

What a fascinating vlog. I really enjoyed the content and it was so interesting. Thank you for taking the time to make it!

[midgeporter]

Wonderful video and such interesting content. Having made several Keps I can say what a great pattern it is 🙂. Thank you x

[nicolelafontaine]

Thank you so much for this last virtual visit of your lovely museum. Many thans also for all your book references. I fond a pattern I hope to knit soon, Rowchoish by Kate Davies.

[ginny]

Thank you. Loved this episode. I’ve been patiently waiting for this promised part of the museum. Thoroughly enjoyed. Now I need to try one of those fishermen’s keps.

[psh]

Thank you so much for this wonderful episode. I plan to order my pattern to support the museum. We would love to hear your story of how you came to be a crofter on Fair Isle. I am amazed at its beauty, tradition and heartiness. Blessings from Tennessee.