Shetland Peerie Makkers Newsletter

Newsletter
Issue 1
Autumn 2016
I'm often asked how ShetlandPeerieMakkers came about. Let me explain.
As many of you will know, I and my colleagues at Brough Lodge Trust want to restore
Brough Lodge, on the Shetland island of Fetlar. When we're able to raise sufficient funds,
we'll transform the old house into a centre offering residential courses in, among other
things, Shetland knitting and Shetland music.
However, as we developed these plans, we heard alarm bells. People told us that the
hand-knitting culture that we wanted to sustain was in real danger, partly because the
teaching of knitting in Shetland schools had been discontinued in 2010.
A number of people across Shetland were heroically trying to fill the resulting gap. We
realised that sustaining hand-knitting must also become a priority for the Brough Lodge
Trust. Working with others, we agreed that we'd try to reinstate a comprehensive
programme of tuition for young people; and, of course, it became obvious that the future
profits from Brough Lodge must be ploughed back into the teaching of knitting and,
possibly, other endangered skills.
We've been thrilled and inspired by the backing that people across the world have given to
ShetlandPeerieMakkers. There have been cash donations and warm expressions of support
from many countries, close to home in the UK and farther afield. We've had help from
Australia, the United States, France and Norway, to name just a few. Craft skills are, of
course, a huge part of millions of people's lives, and I think what we're trying to do has
struck a chord.
Here in Shetland, we've been bowled over by the enthusiasm with which more than thirty
volunteers have set about reviving the teaching of knitting. We're also very grateful for the
help we've had from schools and the Council's Education Service.
All of this means that, early next year, we'll be able to cover nearly a quarter of Shetland's
primary schools. Around 2018, we hope to involve all of them, because the sheer positivity
around the project is attractive to the major sponsors we're hoping to attract.
The benefits are clear. Children are enjoying the lessons and have real pride in what they
make. That bodes well for the future of this vital part of Shetland's heritage.
Thanks again to all of you for making ShetlandPeerieMakkers such a success story.
Pierre Cambillard,
Chairman Brough Lodge Trust and ShetlandPeerieMakkers
Pierre Cambillard
Tutor Amanda Pottinger with pupils
at the Whalsay school
The ShetlandPeerieMakkers story
ShetlandPeerieMakkers aims to provide free tuition in Shetland handknitting to children all
over Shetland and has just completed the first of two pilot sessions to develop the
ShetlandPeerieMakkers model and method of tuition for a full island programme. Young
keen knitters already enjoy new skills and sociable knitting, tutors enjoy passing on their
skills. The project is growing fast.
A Task force to steer the project was created in 2014 by Pierre Cambillard of the Brough
Lodge Trust in Fetlar. Although the Trust’s own textile workshops in the restored Lodge in
Fetlar are some years away, their wish to support Shetland’s knitting culture is a priority.
PeerieMakkers complements other community knitting groups, and the parents and
grandparents who have knitting skills to pass on. However, there is a risk that insufficient
numbers of young people will learn to knit and that the knowledge and techniques of
Shetland knitting will be diluted or even lost.
In the Shetland tradition of sharing essential skills within the community, five skilled
volunteer hand-knitters and their assistants teach Shetland hand-knitting skills to the boys
and girls who wish to join PeerieMakkers after-school or lunchtime knitting groups, where
a fun and friendly environment is essential. PeerieMakkers supports the volunteer tutors
through funding their travel to deliver tuition, to buy knitting needles, knitting belts,
notebooks and other equipment. Yarns are provided by Jamiesons of Shetland, Sandness.
With technical guidance from the lead tutor and her selected assistants, each child makes
his or her own choice of colour, pattern and stitch, in the accessories or garments they
want to knit; to wear themselves or gift to family members.
This encourages individuality and a creative approach to a continuing culture.
The schools hosting these groups are in Whalsay, Skeld, Burra, Cunningsburgh and
Lerwick, and by summer 2017 the two year pilot project will have helped over 100 new
knitters and more childrens’ Shetland knitting groups in Unst, Ollaberry and Dunrossness.
The project is currently funded by ShetlandPeerieMakers’ 2015 crowdfunding appeal, with
additional contributions from donors worldwide. Around 30 volunteers: tutors, organisers,
supporters and advisors delivered the project.
Hazel Hughson
Tutor Amanda Pottinger and Pierre Cambillard with pupils at the Whalsay school on
the island of Whalsay
The Whalsay Teaching Method
Whalsay School knitting club was formed in October 2011 by Amanda Pottinger, Anne
Anderson and Linda Shearer. We all worked in the school and put up a poster on the
school notice board asking P5-7 pupils to put down their name if they would be interested
in a knitting club. This resulted in 12 pupils being very keen to start knitting. As the bairns
had lots of after school activities it was decided to run the club, voluntarily, during Monday
lunch break for 30-40 minutes. Luckily we had some knitting needles, belts and double
knitting wool in school but we wanted to keep part of our heritage alive and felt using
Shetland wool was essential. We approached Whalsay School Parent council asking them
to help fund the wool and longer needles. We would like to thank the parent council and
the school management team who have been very supportive. During our early years we
were also linked to Crofting Connections who funded extra knitting belts, needles and
wool.
Our aim was to teach the bairns to knit using the traditional Shetland knitting technique by
using Shetland yarn, a knitting belt and knitting using 3 wires to give their projects a
seamless finish. We have encouraged the bairns put their yarn on two fingers/hands to
ensure the correct tension and it stops the yarn getting twisted. This is the part they don’t
enjoy as it slows them down and we have had varying degrees of success!
The first two years the bairns were given the choice to either knit a headband, hand
warmers or beanie hat. They got to choose their colours and decide which patterns they
would like to use in their projects. We all found this very refreshing as they had no
preconceived ideas about using colour in Fair Isle knitting. As a result, every item they
knitted became a very individualized garment. Once they chose their pattern we
encouraged them to dot out their pattern beginning in the middle and show them how the
symmetry of Fair Isle patterns work. Learning to knit Fair Isle is a slow process and every
knitter works at their own speed in a sociable knitting environment.
We included the Primary 4 bairns in the 2013/14 knitting club as we had smaller class
numbers. Initially they knitted small pincushions as this age group had never had knitting
tuition at school. They used two short needles knitting stocking stitch (knit 1 row, purl one
row) and then added small 3 row borders. This age group need more adult input and we
tried to keep the ratio of 1 adult to 4-5 bairns. We helped build their confidence by sitting
beside them and offering encouragement whilst they learned the basics. Once their
confidence grew they were happy to be left. At the end of the session many had
progressed onto Fair Isle headbands using longer needles and knitting belts.
During summer 2014 we were invited to Fetlar as part of a World Café Community
consultation to gauge interest in providing knitting classes to Shetland children. Pierre
Cambillard, Brough Lodge Trust Chairman, wanted to support getting voluntary knitting
tuition into local communities to help ensure our textile heritage continued into another
generation. Meetings continued over the next year and as a result we became a pilot
project for ShetlandPeerieMakkers in 2015, alongside the Anderson High School drop-in
knitting group, Burra School knitting club, Cunningsburgh School lunchtime knitting club,
and latterly Skeld school knitting group.
This year we have had 13 knitters aged 9-11, including 7 beginners who began by learning
the basics and knitting pincushions, using garter stitch, stocking stitch and also including a
3 row Fair Isle pattern. As part of the ShetlandPeerieMakkers project we have had the
opportunity to build on our resources such as knitting notebooks, makkin belts and folders
for the bairns to keep their instructions and dotted out patterns. Jamison's of Shetland, the
Shetland wool spinners based in Sandness, Shetland, kindly offered to sponsor the yarn for
the whole ShetlandPeerieMakkers project, which has allowed the bairns to choose their
colours of wool and to plan out their garments such as yoke lumbers.
We have strived to keep things light hearted and have fun. We love sitting yarning with
the bairns and their enthusiasm makes it all worthwhile. To see the smile on their face
when they complete a garment is priceless!
Amanda Pottinger Tutor
Items made at the Burra ShetlandPeerieMakkers group which Anne Eunson tutors
Burra
In October 2015 a ShetlandPeerieMakker pilot project was started in my local community
in Burra, to offer Shetland knitting tuition for 8-11-year old children.
This was fitted in as an extra-curricular activity at my local primary school and run as an
after school club. The pupils in the upper primaries were offered one-hour tuition, each
week during the school term.
We had ten pupils who signed up for that first term. This proved to be about the right
number for myself, and a couple of helpers, to work with.
Some of the bairns had done a basic knit stitch before but for the others it was a whole
new experience.
For their first project I decided we would make a small pincushion and within that they
would learn some of the basic stitches i.e. knit, purl, moss stitch, stocking stitch, garter
stitch, a small cable and a row of button holes which would also serve as their first
introduction to lace. To get them off to a quick start on the first day, I had laid up the
loops needed and knitted their sweerie-geng.
The first few weeks were quite intense because the bairns were really all needing 1/1
tuition. Not only were they learning to knit but they also had to try and understand a
knitting chart and get to grips with using a makkin belt, for those who wanted to try. As
the weeks went by and their confidence in their own knitting skills grew, they could relax a
bit and allow their own personalities to come through. This is when it stopped being just a
knitting session and started to be, very much, a fun time as well.
From the word go I have been amazed at their enthusiasm and eagerness to learn. They
have turned up each week keen to get on with their knitting and wanting to get to the end
of one project so that they could start on the next. In this short period of time they have
all completed their pincushions and a fair isle phone cover knitted in the round, using three
wires.
Now they are getting interested in what is going on in the knitting scene out with the
Peerie Makkers group and starting to come up with their own ideas of what they want to
make next. Some of the individual projects on the wires just now are headbands and
wristbands adapted from Donna Smith "Baa-ble Hat”, a headband adapted from Ella
Gordon's "Crofthoose Hat", a hat to match a favourite Teddy’s jumper and a lace scarf for
a Great Granny. I think I can safely say that some of them may already have caught the
“Knitting Bug”. Exciting times lie ahead.
For myself and the other adult helpers, this has been such a worthwhile and extremely
rewarding project to be involved with. I do so hope that in the near future we can get
knitting back into all the Primary Schools is Shetland and give every child the chance to
learn this wonderful skill that is such a vital part of their heritage.
Anne Eunson Tutor
Tutor Linda Shearer at Whalsay school with pupils knitting on their Fair Isle garments
Vogue Knitting Live
In January I visited Vogue Knitting Live in New York with Wilma Malcolmson. Wilma is a
ShetlandPeerieMakkers volunteer tutor.
Vogue Knitting Live New York took place over 3 days in January in the Marriott Marquis
hotel, in Times Square. There were many classes dealing with every aspect of knitting,
weaving and a little crochet too. There were lectures, fashion shows and two floors of
sales booths – my favourites were the button stalls as the right button can add so much to
a finished project.
Wilma and I had met June Hemmons Hiatt when she visited Shetland last year. June is the
author of “The Principles of Knitting”. In Shetland, June and I discussed the benefits of
using a knitting belt, something she first used in Edinburgh about 30 years ago. Her son,
Jesse, now makes patented knitting belts in the USA – these are not exact copies of
Shetland belts – the holes are at one end only, come in different sizes, and are more
expensive.
June had a class on using a knitting belt at Vogue Knitting Live where Wilma and I were
volunteer helpers. When June wasn’t teaching she and Jesse had a ‘pop-up’ stall where
they explained what a knitting belt is while Wilma and I demonstrated using them. They
also distributed leaflets giving information about where to buy Shetland made belts. June
gave a short lecture on Shetland during which she and I had a question and answer
session, with prompts from some photos I had with me. The lecture was rounded off by
Donna Smith speaking about her knitting inspiration. Donna, Shetland Wool Week Patron
2015, was in New York at the Shetland Wool Week stand which was very busy – more
about that can be found at http://www.shetland.org/60n/blogs/posts/promote-shetlandsfiery-start-to-the-year.
The ‘pop-up’ stall and lecture gave opportunities to distribute ShetlandPeerieMakkers
leaflets and answer questions about the project.
In May I did some teaching with a large group on a cruise ship – mostly Americans in the
group. It was good to have some of them ask me questions about it.
Hazel Tindall
Left Wilma Malcolmson, Jesse Hiatt, June Hiatt and Hazel Tindall in New York, January 2016, Thanks to
June Hiatt for providing the photograph.
ShetlandPeerieMakkers
Patrons
Below Textile artist Kaffe Fassett
Below Shetland musician Aly Bain
A Big Thank You to Our Patrons, Partner and Sponsors
The Brough Lodge Trust has two Patrons, Aly Bain, the Shetland musician and Kaffe
Fassett, the textile artist. Both are respected around the world for their outstanding
contributions in their respective fields. By offering rewards, they played an important part
in the successful crowd-funding that we undertook between October and December 2015.
Aly also mentioned the project during a cooking challenge – against his long-time musical
partner, Phil Cunningham – prior to a concert at Mareel in Shetland on 4 August 2016. We
are very grateful for their support.
We are delighted to have a continuing partnership with Jamieson’s of Shetland, who, since
ShetlandPeerieMakkers began, have kindly donated the yarn for the pilot project. They will
be joined by more partners in the future as we extend ShetlandPeerieMakkers to every
community in Shetland.
During our crowd-funding appeal, hundreds of donors lent their support and we’re grateful
for the help that continues to flow in through our online donation platform, Just Giving.
Two significant donors were Morrison Construction and the Shetland Guild of Spinners,
Knitters, Weavers and Dyers.
All of us involved in ShetlandPeerieMakkers would like to extend our thanks to everyone
who has helped, in any way, with the project. Without your support, it would not have
been possible for the project to go ahead. There is, of course, a continuing need for
funding and, if you’d like to donate, you can do so on the below link at JustGiving -
You can follow us on Facebook and Twitter, too.
Alastair Hamilton
ShetlandPeerieMakkers Partner
Jamieson's are our first partner and they have supplied our pilot with Shetland wool for the tutors to
use with the children and young people, which has been much appreciated.
ShetlandPeerieMakkers Sponsor
Examples of Knitwear by Children and Young People
at 2016 shows in Shetland
The below pictures were taken by Hazel Tindall and are an excellent display of knitwear
created by children and young people which were entered in this years shows on mainland
Shetland. The 'shows' take place annually all across the islands where the exhibits are from
the agricultural communities and crafts people as well as produce such as jams,
vegetables, flowers are entered in competition.
Shetland Wool Week 2016
Shetland Wool Week invited ShetlandPeerieMakkers to display their knitting at the Islesburgh Community
Centre, Lerwick. There will be completed garments, samplers and swatches displayed from all the groups
in the pilots 2015/16 - from communities across Shetland including Lerwick, Burra, Skeld, Cunningsburgh
and Whalsay. In the opening ceremony in the Clickimin Leisure Complex, Lerwick some of the
ShetlandPeerieMakkers' knitwear will be included in the fashion show.
If you have the opportunity to attend Shetland Wool Week 2016 events some of the
ShetlandPeerieMakkers groups will be attending workshops, events and socially knitting
during Shetland Wool Week which begins on Saturday 24th September and lasts through till Sunday 2nd
October this year.
In our next newsletter we will update you on how ShetlandPeerieMakkers experienced Shetland Wool
Week and let you know about new groups beginning in different areas of Shetland.
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Reg. Scottish Charity No SC 028 725
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