Fair Isle Knitwear – Scarf – CraftHub European Project

Properties & Qualities

Application

Clothing

Qualities

3D Colourful

Colour

Blue Brown Grey Red White Yellow

Sample Information

Date of Creation

August 11th, 2019

Culture & Context

Fair Isle knitting is specific to the island of Fair Isle in Shetland. It has its own characteristics and differs from other ‘stranded knitting’ which is all too often termed ‘Fair Isle’ knitting. Despite a decreasing population (less than 45 residents as of May 2023) there are still several small businesses in the isle that produce the genuine article that is made here and can truly be described as ‘Fair Isle’ knitting.

Process & Production

Fair Isle scarf – designed by Triona Thomson for ‘Fair Isle made in Fair Isle’, knitted and finished by Rachel Challoner.Knitted in 100% pure Shetland wool from Jamieson’s of Shetland.
The individual pieces – ribs and body – are knitted on a hand-frame knitting machine.
The rib stitches are picked up on a needle.The rib is grafted, by hand, on to the end of the scarf body.
The scarf seam is sewn up, by hand.
All the loose ends are checked to be woven in and then cut off.
Scarf is washed by hand and then ‘dressed’ on a scarf board.Labels are sewn in, by hand.