One bag full

     I bought this bag at the Mindroom sale of work on Sunday, and it's perfect for holding my small collection of Shetland yarn while I plan my first trial piece of Fair Isle....

    One of the astonishing things I read in Ann Feitelson's The Art of Fair Isle Knitting was about the speed of the Shetland women who do this remarkable knitting: one eighty-five year old lady Ann Feitelson interviewed makes a beret, or a glove, every night in winter. As if that were not impressive enough, the most remarkable story dates from the 1920s when handknitting was a vital supplement to a family's income from fishing or crofting and time was of the essence in making a garment - "a 45 inch 'allover' [a sweater with patterns all over it] begun on a Tuesday was completed in the wee hours after midnight on Thursday to fill a special order which had to be mailed on Friday. The knitter never slept...and every bite of food she ate was set down next to her..."


     I once had a sweater made specially for me in Shetland by my friend Jimmy's mother. I asked Mrs. M. for a pattern of fish and waves in blues, greys and white, and two weeks later back came exactly that, perfect in every respect. I wish I still had it.

 

Comments

[Barbara]

It looks like quite a large collection to me, and beautiful. I wouldn't like to be knitting against the clock but I wish I could knit faster than I do.

[Rebecca]

Beautiful bag and such lovely yarn colours. I like the idea of people bringing me food while I knit!

[Charity]

What a lovely bag! I look forward to hearing about your Fair Isle experience - I haven't braved that world just yet. :0)

[Georgina]

I'm probably putting this in too late for you to see it. In the long ago 70s (that's 19...) I knitted up a couple of fairisle patterns from Patricia Roberts books. I still have the books but not the beautiful sleeveless pullovers. I remember that once one had mastered the stranding across the back technique it wasn't difficult at all. So good luck. This time round I'm being less ambitious and sticking largely to socks, gloves/mittens and scarves.

[Mrs C]

I am always amazed at the stories as to what people used to be able to knit in such short periods of time when money was coming from it. It really is quite amazing and something that I just can't imaging people doing in the same way today.