Little Yarn Shoppe of Horrors

Lace Lesson Number Two

After being wow'd by our first lesson, we were in awe during the second lesson.  We were treated to a morning with Kathleen Anderson, a knitter whose skills are described by her Shetland colleagues with terms like "brilliant," and "genius."  Those terms and more apply to Kathleen's knitting.

Not that we hadn't met Kathleen Anderson before.  In 2004, she brought her knitting to a meeting of the Shetland Guild, where our tour group were guests, so we knew we were in for a rare treat.  There was no disappointment.

Kathleen has produced a lace shawl that has won prize after prize in the toughest competitions.  It won the coveted Highland Prize for lace knitting.  She actually brought it to the lesson and allowed us to pet and paw it.  (I might not have been so generous.)

Here we see her with her lovely shawl on the left, and some other lace knitting beside it.  The prize winning shawl is made of a wool and silk blend that is feather-soft. 

Since we didn't need help casting up (the Shetland term for a yarn over,) or making decreases, we talked about her design process.  She has certain favorite motifs, and loves to use the "elaborated Print 'O the Wave" motif.  The border of this shawl is actually a design her sister did, years ago.

You can see that it is a complex combination of motifs.  So complex, in fact, that they could overpower the final effect, but they don't.  We were all very aware that we were privileged to be seeing and touching a masterpiece.

As you will have guessed by now, Kathleen did not have a pattern for this wonderful creation -- other than in her head, of course.  Long familiarity with the motifs and their use, coupled with her expert skills, gave her the expertise to produce this final result. 

Here we see the shawl displayed at the fall meeting of the Shetland Guild, with some of the awards it has garnered:


The Shetlanders are rightly proud that Kathleen Anderson has represented their craft so well.  I never asked her how long it took her to knit the shawl -- I didn't want to know.  She is another lightening-fast knitter, so I know it would be too demoralizing to know.

As always, our morning was gone too soon.  I could have listened to her speak about the tradition of knitting on the islands and in her family much longer. We did more than simply oogle her shawl.  She has begun to keep a workbook of the motifs that she uses so well, and generously allowed us to go through it.   Kathleen's day job is post mistress of a small post office in her home, and she undoubtedly needed to get back to that.  We bid her goodbye until the next Sunday, when we knew we'd meet her again at the Guild meeting. 

I've been privileged to experience some really fine knitters in my over fifty years of knitting, but I can't think of anyone of whom I'm more in awe than Kathleen Anderson, not least because of her generosity of spirit and the self-effacing manner in which she approaches her great abilities.  After all, she says, "It's just knittin'."

Good knittin'
MEM
Kathleen's hands:

Now, for a Knitting Interlude

Or something like that. 

Trying to put the instruction I received on my vacation to use, I chose a project to knit -- in Fair Isle, no less!

You recognize it, I'm sure.  The child's Elephant Vest from the Starmore Children's Collection.  I felt that whereas I might overlook some aspects of subtler motifs and make mistakes, surely I could recognize an elephant!  I won't be setting this or any other world on fire while practicing my Fair Isle skills, however, I have achieved one set of elephants.  I was still able to make some mistakes, but my tension is better than it has been in the past with two-handed knitting. 

Eventually, I'll write more about the Fair Isle morning that we spent, learning from the best of the best Shetlanders who knit Fair Isle.  I'll tell you all about their exploits.  But for now, I'm going to bask in the glory of elephants.  It was a popular project, with three of us in the group making them.  I am no doubt, the least skilled and slowest of the group. 

I'm quite proud of my floats, which aren't drawing up the work, as they have been known to do.  And yes -- there will be "steeking," although the Shetlanders were quick to let us know that they never call them "steeks."  To them, a steek is just a stitch.  What we generally call steeks, they call "extra stitches."  So, I'll be cutting some extra stitches, eventually.  Here they are, messy looking, aren't they?

They'll eventually be fine, I'm sure.  I have a deep belief that real Shetland yarn won't run, so I'm just going to go with that, take a deep breath and cut -- when the time comes. 

The yarn is Jamieson & Smith 2 ply Jumper Weight, and it is a delight to work with, as expected.

I purchased enough for two vests, so I may be at this for quite awhile. 

Thanks for the comments.  You might notice that one is from Joyce at J&S.  She isn't just any Joyce, she is THE Joyce who tirelessly assists us both by mail order, and in person at Jamieson & Smith, when we are lucky enough to be able to go to Lerwick and get the yarn, ourselves.  Joyce is a most skillful knitter in her own right, and all her efforts on our behalf are greatly appreciated.  More about that, later.

Good knittin'
MEM

Lesson Number One

After a couple of days wandering about Lerwick to sort of "decompress" and recover from my jet lag, which was, by the way, much milder than on previous trips, Monday came along and with it, our first instruction in lace knitting.  Our expert instructor, Mrs. Mary Kay, is an eighty year-old retired math teacher, who really knows how to plan a lesson.  I didn't get a photo just of her, probably because she was so spry and always moving, but she's in this photo, with other members of the Shetland Guild.

Mrs. Kay is second from the right on the standing-up row.  Aren't they a great-looking group?  More about them, both individually and as a group, later, but I must tell you that some of the best knitters in the world are in that photo.

Our lessons began in true school teacher fashion with a portfolio of exercises to aid us in practicing the principles of lace knitting that she taught us.  Thinking that I knew quite a lot already and could sit there and smile in leisure, as she explained some of the realities of lace knitting, I had to launch right into the first scarf pattern.  I've worked it several times since, and although it seems to be a simple diamond, there's more to it than one might think.  Our three hours were over far sooner than we'd have liked.  Not only is Mrs. Kay an expert in the knitting, she is, as would be expected, equally expert in relating the practices to math, or "maths" as they say over there.  She also freely dispenses fascinating information regarding the history of knitting on Shetland that she has inherited and lived.

True to Shetlander form, she declined to name a fee for the time she spent with us, although I believe that she had to travel some distance to Glen Orchy, for the session.  We, of course, would have none of that.  It is always important to me to let the Shetland knitters know how much we appreciate them sharing their wonderful craft with us, and they do it generously.  They are universally self-effacing, and when complemented, will say, "Oh it's just knittin'."  If ever I write a book about them, I'm determined to call it, "Just Knittin'". 

We had a lovely, light sitting room for the lessons, which took up our mornings.  Here's just a glimpse of it from another lesson: 

There was ample sunlight, and a good pot of tea about halfway through the morning.  All in all, not a bad way to spend the time, wouldn't you say!

More to come.
Good knitting,
MEM

Hi There,

Yes, I know.  No post since June. 

I really didn't intend to take such a hiatus, but sometimes it works out that way.  If I were really smart, I'd line up some guest bloggers who would fill in for me, but I haven't been that smart.  In spite of my lapse, there have been some exciting things going on around here, and elsewhere.  Some knitting has even been accomplished.  (I said "some," not a lot.)

Last Wednesday, I returned from my vacation -- 10 days on mainland Shetland -- and it was almost like 10 days in heaven.  It was my third visit there.  The other two visits were made with tours, and I always found myself wanting more time there, and more time with the Shetland knitters, themselves.  Others on the tours felt the same way, and we made good out threats to return for further knitting enlightenment.

I felt that I could smell the peat in the air as soon as I got off the little plane that had flung us through the sky from Edinburgh.  The Fair Isle had been clearly visible on our approach to Sumburgh Head, where the airport was.  It took only a few moments to retrieve my luggage and head toward the door, where transportation awaited into Lerwick.  The small airport at Sumburgh always sports a smattering of Shetland knitting, just to whet the appetities of arriving knitters.

In Lerwick, we stayed at Glen Orchy House, a bed and breakfast.  My room was on the top floor (our 3rd, their 2nd,) which I usually don't like, however, this was the view out my window:

I could sit and write in the small dormer window, so what's not to like about a couple of flights of stairs!  It was inspiring, to say the least.  The establishment boasted two nice parlors, where we could knit and talk, when we weren't out loose on the island.  The downstairs parlor was most appropriately decorated for us:

The island was full of musicians, there for a fiddle and accordian contest, with concerts in various venues, but we didn't let it deter us from our mission -- knitting.

I'll be posting more along about the trip: the retail therapy, the excellent knitting instructions, the yarn opportunities, and perhaps best of all -- the Shetland Guild's Fall competition and exhibition on Oct. 15th, a simply splendid day! So check back in, and there will be more.  You will even find out what I bought on the island that I said I'd never buy. 

Good knittin'
MEM