Wear your lace...

Shetland.
2014. Wool Week.

So happy to be there.

Opening Ceremony on Sunday. It was so heart warming to meet a lot of people again or for the first time. You see me (right) here with Ina Irving (left). I was VERY proud to meet her. I had seen her lace on Ravelry and was very impressed. I could see her lace work up close, the colours, the details. All very inspirational. So very much so, that I even frogged a project and started over, the shetland way. Small needles and fine lace yarn.

(I'm wearing my The 12th of Never shawl in fine silk lace).

This is Linda (left) , Ina's daughter. She's a great knitter too, her work is mainly Fair Isle. Amazing projects and love the delicate patterns.

Later, I met Linda at the Bod of Gremista, where she was with the girls from the Whalsay, knitting away during Wool Week (and during lunch time at school!).

           (Holding my shawl The One).

The girls had learned how to knit and they even made their own sweaters!

In the other room of the Bod: Fine handspun and handknitted lace. Three gorgeous white handspun shawls. One is made (not in this picture) by Anne, the lady of the Knitted Fence in Hamnavoe.

On Thursday me and Marieke went off to Unst. For me, almost the purpose of the whole trip. 

See how happy I am! Talking about and looking at very fine lace! 

              My shawls in white and light green were allowed to be on 'show' with the work of local knitters. Rhoda is presenting the new book made in Unst. She's wearing a handknitted lace skirt in 2 colours. 

At Unst was the presentation of the little booklet with all new patterns. They were very kind and helpfull. I was allowed, after I had asked, to show the lace I brought. The 12th of Never raised a few eyebrows, what kind of pattern was that?? It's a shetland mesh pattern in a semi circular shape.
I had a great time, talking lace with Hazel Laurelson. She's so skilled.

Two years ago I had purchased a book at the Museum and Archives (empty pages) with a lady on the cover holding a shawl. I bought it on purpose because I was actually knítting that shawl! (Williamson Stole) The funny thing was, the ladies at the Unst Heritage Museum didn't even know, they had it on display thís WoolWeek! I wasn't allowed to take pictures, so no comparison to prove it.

 

That Monday I was having a spinning class by Margaret Peterson. A lovely lady with a good sense of humor. She learned us a lot! (but nothing on paper for later). She showed us a shawl she was gifted and it's handspun and hand knitted. I was (again) very impressed by the delicate lace. If only I could reach this fine yarn with spinning...

On Wednesday I was having a class by Elizabeth Johnston: Understanding Shetland Lace.
To be honest, I shouldn't have. She didn't bring any examples, or had written instructions. Only a piece of paper to write your own pattern and work that. No casting on, binding off tips or things I give a lace class. She knows so much, though. Perhaps for other students it would be handy to have it all on paper for later. Wool  Week gives many opportunities and information, it could be overwhelming.

This is a knitted dress in the shop of Jamieson & Smith.
The body is worked in stockinette, very fine, and the lace capelet and veil are worked in a nice lace pattern. All in the latest addition to the 1ply fine lace range: Optical white.

Finally, a visit to the Shetland Museum and Archives. Always a happy place to be at. This year, the Hub was at the museum, so lots of WoolWeek people gathered for spinning, chatting, knitting, weaving and just to relax a bit. The most gorgeous fine lace shawls are on display. Even now, for the second time, I saw more things than 2 years ago. Even more impressed how fine it is, now that I know a tiny bit about spinning wool and knitting with it. 

But... (there is always a but....)

At the end of the week, I had a little chat with Oliver Henry, Jamieson & Smith's wool sorter extraordinair. 45 years experience in woolgrading!

I noticed that hardly anybody was WEARING lace. I did realize that it was Hazel Tindall's party this year, so it was logical that most people would bring their finest and most beautiful Fair Isle sweater, hat, cardi, dress, skirt or mittens. I get that. Every lace item I saw was 'On display'. Beyond glass windows or on a mannequin.

WHY ISN'T ANYBODY WEARING ANY LACE???

The yarn is there, the patterns are there, but in every day life, I haven't seen anybody wearing it.
Look back at the pictures in this post; not even the teacher that's giving lace classes is wearing a lace shawl or scarf.
Maybe people don't want to knit that fine yarn or use fine needles?
Could it be that people think it's only for special occasions and too delicate to wear everyday??
We don't know. It might be a good point to get started...

So...

Lace is gorgeous on display, behind glass and to look at. BUT PLEASE: WEAR IT! WEAR IT PROUD.