Wednesday, August 20, 2014

shetland ~ fair isle


hello and if you are new here welcome welcome! this is the third, no, fourth, posting i've made on our group's grand adventure to the shetland islands. up till now we've seen puffins, and ponies and sheep! discovered our home away from home for the next week, visited jamieson & smith, saw an otter! continuing on...


...before we leave for our first field trip, i wanted to share some of the lovely local people we met at burrastow house. ted and nancy had come for dinner at the b & b and we were sharing an intimate dining room together. when ted saw our cameras he insisted his wife show us her beautiful photos of a recent simmer dim, the magic twilight time here in the far north. well done nancy, gorgeous!


in our caravan now, with sorley our trusty driver, these are the views we were treated to everywhere we went in shetland


hay's dock, lerwick and the shetland museum and archives (directly behind me)


we had an agreed upon time to wander on our own, before meeting back. 


oh my goodness


shetland otters are twice as big as ours!


from the museum ...Fair Isle knitwear is the most famous product of these islands. However, many people might not know what “real” Fair Isle is. Our collection has examples, from pre-commercial garments c.1870, to the ever-changing fashion item of the 20th century. The museum has samples from knitwear’s sudden popularity in the 1920s, through later style changes, to machine-made items from the 1960s. Besides clothing, we hold textile tools, like equipment for dyeing, knitting and finishing....


instagraming the museum


afterwards, we enjoyed a waterfront lunch


lovely kathy cadigan, hay's dock, lerwick



back to burrastow and time for an explore before our evenings exciting plans

there may have been some beer sampling in our room



i went out for a wander



(doing my best not to disturb the nearby nesting arctic terns)





...meanwhile the weather was becoming blustery and darkening. i saw a peerie car driving down the hill, towards burrastow house. we are quite remote here, who is coming for a visit?


it is our distinguished guest! it is hazel tindell! hazel is the ambassador of wool week 2014 and has been named the patron of this year's event. her website seems to be down at the moment, but to learn more about this fascinating woman (she has the distinction of being the world's fastest knitter) go to hazel tindall or her raverly group here. and look at her beautiful fair isle jumper! (please note maryjanes lopapeysa too, it was gorgeous).


we gathered in the cozy sitting room (shetland ponies grazing outside the window) while hazel shared many of her samples and a bit of her (vast) knowledge on knitting and specifically fair isle






we were treated to a live demonstration of a steek


and the correct use of a knitting belt (commonly used in shetland)


afterwards, we retired to the conservatory (hee hee) for more instruction



gudrun johnston ~ hazel tindell ~ maryjane mucklestone


i've been sharing a little of my journal in these posts per requests. when traveling i like to bring a small flower press to save (only what is allowed) tiny petals, leaves and grasses


these small bits are ready to add to my book.


 farewell from the shetland islands, until next time! xxx lori

68 comments:

  1. She steeks standing up !!!!! oh my gosh ... =)

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  2. Wow!!!
    More Shetland pictures and stories, please!
    I'm living vicariously through you... ;-)

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  3. Those hats....swoon.
    There is nothing like fair isle- I LOVE it.
    Might have to put this beautiful place on my bucket list- sure reminds me of home.

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    1. shetland is norse in origin, most of the names there are of norwegian heritage. it is closer to norway than the uk!

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  4. Oh Lori - its' all so gorgeous! the knitting is one thing but the scenery - just amazing. I love this - every photo is a picture. what a lovely time you must have had.

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    1. thank you so much mim! it really was fantastic and although the focus was knitting, it was about so much more! thank you for your kind words.

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  5. Lori, it's such a pleasure to see your excellent photographs and commentary about this marvelous Shetland journey. It must have been grand to meet and learn from Hazel Tindell. I am equally sure that Ms Tindell must have enjoyed interacting with everyone in your group.

    The museum looks like a treasure land with its many examples of Fair Isle knitting. There are endless variations possible via changing the stitches and colors, and just seeing the Shetland environment's colors must have been so inspiring.

    Lori, please do keep these posts coming for as long as your energy and interest keeps you going. I have a feeling that Gudrun and Maryjane's future tours are going to be overbooked. And rightly so, too!

    xo

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    1. thank you so much dear frances,
      it is a pleasure to share, especially when there are so many others who have an interest in the things we saw and did, the people we met. hazel was very interesting, and it was lovely to meet her. the museums i could have spent hours in. it was all so much to take in, i think we are all still processing the things we saw and did. thank you so much for your comment. xo

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  6. What an excellent tour guide you make! Loving every post about your Shetland Grand Adventure, I'm so glad you're sharing this special experience with us :) xo

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    1. thank you leigh, i feel i'm kind of all over the place, but trying to share! and hope it's interesting and making some sense! :) there really was so much!

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  7. Love, love, love…everything about this trip! May we see the cover of your journal?

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    1. thank you so much jennifer, i'm sharing in the next post!

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  8. The little flower press is such a lovely idea! I've recently become interested in patches, too, as a way of commemorating travels--thanks for continuing to share!

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    1. thank you wendy! love those little patches, i've just begun to sew mine to a bag, they've been tumbling around in a drawer for too long!

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  9. Wow! Amazing patterns. I've never heard of a knitting belt. Will have to google it's purpose. It just boggles my mind what folks can do with needles and yarn. Just awesome! Love that little flower press, too. I wanted to collect and press things while I was in Colorado but do you think I did it? NO! :( Have a great day. Tammy

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    1. hi tammy, ysolda just put up a post about knitting belts, you can see it here:

      http://ysolda.com/blog/2014/8/21/technique-thursday-knitting-belts

      some of the women on our tour did purchase one! i found the press at naturespressed.com, it's nice to have a smaller size for travel!

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  10. Oh my goodness, Lori! What a magical experience this must have been for you. Does it feel like it was all a dream? Your photos sure are dreamy! Thanks for sharing : )

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    1. thank you jackie! it does. hard to believe it's already come and gone. :)

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  11. Lori! I am breathless!!!! The colours, the landscape, the knitting!!

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  12. wow. So much to take in. It looks so quiet there- everything is so still and muted. Loved seeing this all through your eyes!

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    1. that is a good description of shetland gale. it's a different pace for sure. thank you!

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  13. wonderful places !!!! and such an amazing lesson of fair isle knitting!!!!
    You really had a special time over there!!!! ;oD
    xxxxx ale

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  14. Fantastic pictures!

    And I'm so jealous of your fantastic visit!

    Penny
    x

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  15. So much loveliness. You know just what we want to see. And I spied that beautiful Robert Louis Stevenson poem that we had that great moment of synchronicity with. Your journalling really inspires me to attend to the simplest of moments in travel to create a truly beautiful work that does more than capture moments, it personifies them. Wonderous, thought provoking stuff so generously shared - thank you.

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    1. thank you for your beautiful comment rebecca. yes, rls, i remember. saw many of his families lighthouses!

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  16. Holy smokes, this looks like an amazing adventure. Also, Mary Jane's yoked sweater... to die for. Thanks for sharing your experience with us via your beautiful photos.

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    1. her sweater was SO pretty jodi! i became convinced i need one too! thank you so much!

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  17. Just beautiful! Keep it all coming. Did you get more pictures of the knitting belt? Thank you so much for sharing your gorgeous pictures!

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    1. thank you very much! ysolda just made a post on knitting belts:

      http://ysolda.com/blog/2014/8/21/technique-thursday-knitting-belts

      she explains it all!

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  18. Just looked thru the pictures a second time! They are just amazing, this trip must have been amazing! Thank you so much for sharing all your experiences. I am very curious about the knitting belt, how does it work??

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    1. hi karin-ida,

      thank you so much, it is hard to explain in a few posts, but it really was an incredible trip. please see ysolda's post for info on knitting belts:

      http://ysolda.com/blog/2014/8/21/technique-thursday-knitting-belts

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  19. oh, my.......fabulous!!!!!! thank you thank you thank you for sharing!!! all this inspiration....what is one your needles now?????????

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  20. Oh my fiber goodness! It looks like such an inspiring place to go!!!!

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  21. Your photos are amazing! I'd so love to go to Shetland... Thanks for sharing, Lori.

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    1. thank you so much fiona! i hope you go someday, i think you will love it!

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  22. What a lovely journey you had! And what a fantastic ambassador for the Shetland islands you've been in these travel posts.

    I'm really curious about that knitting belt - never heard of them before!

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    1. thank you so much irene, it's so easy because i loved it there so much!

      please look at ysolda's recent post on knitting belts:

      http://ysolda.com/blog/2014/8/21/technique-thursday-knitting-belts

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  23. Oh, your wonderful photos are bringing me right back to that heavenly place. And making me miss you and all the other ltps more...

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  24. I just can't get over that otter. I wonder why they are so much bigger? Eat more fish? more fat to protect from the cold water? breathtaking place.xx

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    1. maybe to get away from all the orcas! not sure. it is stunning there!

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  25. Wow that seems more like a dream to me ... And you were right there ... What a blessing ... Bliss.
    When I look at your pictures, your journal and your knitting it brings me right where I want to be someday ... Retirement is coming not too far for me :) amazing, breathtaking pictures.
    I'm trying to strive for better pictures. My son is very interested in photography and I have always loved it, just not patient enough to learn more ... I think I'm ready now.
    I have just posted on my blog about a friend's book which made me think about you. I know u don't know me, but sometimes I feel close to the people i "know" in blogland and I really love your blog.
    This book is written by a friend who also lives here in the NW. I'm from Brazil but I live in portland, or . The book is about intarsia ( not fair isle) but some of the projects reminded me of you... Go take a quick look if you have a second. Have a great weekend .

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    1. thank you so much taciana, i appreciate your comment very much, i hope you will make it to shetland someday, you will love it there. and just keep taking photos, take lots of photos! your friends book looks amazing!

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  26. this is every advanced colour knitter dream - go to Shetland!
    yes, the live demo is very inportant!

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    1. there was an equal amount of lace knitting too, oh my goodness shetland has incredibly talented lace knitters!

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  27. *sigh* what a wondrous trip! I'm in love with all the photos you've shared here and at IG.

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    1. SO happy to know you've enjoyed geninne! thank you for your sweet comment!

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  28. Wow! Thank you for virtually taking us on your trip!

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  29. Hi Lori,

    My sister and I are planning for a trip to Scotland in a couple of months. We won't make it to Shetland, but your photos and words are still making me looking forward to our travels even more! I love the plant press you have brought. I usually stick things in my notebook and then lose them before I get home...maybe a little press is needed.

    Best wishes,
    Erin

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xoxo lori