29-04-2023

I’ve chosen the Jamieson and Smith colours selected by our 2023 patron Alison Rendall for my first cast on this Saturday morning. I was tempted to cast up da streen but I have learnt from living with my husband who’s a fisherman that you don’t start anything new on a Friday. So instead I enjoyed very much the launch party and good company da streen with many friends, as our new patron was announced and hat revealed in town at our wonderful Shetland museum and archives venue. I wore my recently completed hat by outgoing patron Linda Shearer who was a brilliant patron during the last 12 months.
1 25g ball of each colour in SWW pack from Jamieson and Smith.
Da bask and first peerie pattern complete. All going well with da makkin belt, that I’m using for a peerie change.

30-04-2023

Almost finished the main pattern but now this morning I must go to the farm to see Joe, Glen, Rab and Timmy - take them for a walk. Do some washing up and possibly bottle feed a caddy lamb or more.

01-05-2023

Complete and washed and ready to wear. I’m glad I knit up using the makkin belt for I’m not made anything for a while using the belt as I’m a Northmavine citizen who wasn’t brought up using one, though I saw my mother use one as she grew up in south mainland, Sandwick. I always used double pointed needles and anchored the right needle on my right side often when not using a belt and there was a natural tendency to do this. Growing up on the croft next door to Alice and Annie who both never had any way of making income apart from their knitting and croft, I saw them knit lace haps, stoles and undergarments profusely. They never used a belt but did have a raepin string which meant they tensioned their knitting and as they were knitting fairly constantly, though never on a Sunday - the day of rest - the hap was gathered about themselves on the string so as they could rise up and make tea, put peat on the fire etc without taking off and on the raepin string.
Today I see this method used by Northmavine lady who knits lace who was like me brought up learning to knit without a belt. I learnt basics at home and school but my Auntie Ann who’s on the Northmavine roots side of my family learnt me Fair Isle and to use both hands for my colours therefore I can easily knit with my left and right hand. My Mother learnt using only the right hand. I learnt so little from Mam simply because she was so busy working on the croft and with the makkin machine fulfilling orders to a company who paid her for her bodies of jumpers and the grafted on basks etc. Though she has taught me how she knits in the ends as she joins a new colour and how to hand milk cows, set kale and tatties, hoe them and the neaps plus work with peats and cure hay… and roo a ewe. Plus much more I’m sure

01-05-2023

I’ve weighed up my leftovers = all Jamieson and Smith Shetland wool from newly bought balls - 25g each.

Main colour - Black 77 - 20cm left
Primrose 96 - 2g used
Apricot 90 - 1g used
Red 9097 - 1g used
Blue 14 - 4g used
FC34 mix (blue/green/teal) - used 6g