In solidarity with experienced and fledgling knitters in Shetland, I've taken back up the "monster shawl" project, a pattern in the beautiful book Country Weekend Knits by Madeline Weston. (This is the opposite side to what's posted on my KnitVision Ravelry site) Shetland knitting & its traditions are being threatened for the usual reason : MONEY. A mere 130,000 pounds will be saved by cutting the now free knitting lessons provided by Shetland schools. School children and other citizens from all over the world have written to the Shetland newspapers in protest.
It is rumoured that mega yarn merchants, Jamieson & Smith, are doing something to help out. I hope this is true.
In Shetland, knitting is a WAY OF LIFE and PROVIDES INCOME - it is no fad.
Find a gorgeous, traditional Shetland pattern in a book or on Ravelry and start knitting. Post your thoughts here! Use as much homespun as you can.
Maybe they will be able to raise the money through private funds? Or have parents teach on a volunteer basis?
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