1964: SHETLAND SHAWLS are more valuable than GOLD | Tonight | Fashion

1964: SHETLAND SHAWLS are more valuable than GOLD | Tonight | Fashion | BBC Archive

Рет қаралды 165,307

Күн бұрын

Cathal O'Shannon reports from Unst, northernmost of the inhabited British Isles, where he has discovered a material more valuable than gold or platinum - the island's intricate gossamer shawls.
Shetland shawls are made from the gossamer wool that surrounds the neck of Shetland sheep, which must be hand-plucked, not sheared. There are fewer than half a dozen people left with the skill to spin this incredibly fine wool into thread, and a single shawl can use as much as six miles of the stuff. Allied to the relative scarcity of the material, there are perhaps as few as a dozen women capable of knitting these extraordinary garments - which can incorporate more than half a million loops - so they're probably only going to get more valuable.
This clip is from Tonight. Originally broadcast 5 May, 1964.
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Пікірлер: 326

@SineNicD Жыл бұрын

My grandmother was in high demand for making these. She knitted 2 baby shawls for me when she started to loose her sight when I was a teenager. My mum kept them for me for 20 years before I had my first child. They are beyond precious to me

@barbarawright5774 Жыл бұрын

God please bless you and you descendants. Thank you for sharing with us.

@frederiquecouture3924 11 ай бұрын

Merci ♾️

@ramonagabaldon2394 10 ай бұрын

So remarkably beautiful !

@RowanMorrell Жыл бұрын

The two ladies are not identified, but I believe their names are Jackie and Lizzie Sutherland. They were sisters and great-great aunts of mine. I met Great-Great Auntie Lizzie on a visit to Unst in July 1984. She was one of the sweetest and kindest people I have ever met. Sadly, Great-Great Auntie Jackie had died by then. Great-Great Auntie Lizzie has subsequently died. Even in 1964, they were getting on in years. I'm so glad I at least got to meet one of them. My maternal grandparents, who were both from Unst, had accents much the same as these ladies.

@nikiTricoteuse 6 ай бұрын

Thank you. I'm so glad you've given these incredibly talented women a name.

@Aromagirl70 3 ай бұрын

They are such amazing artists... and seemed like absolute sweethearts!

@wingedhybrid16 3 ай бұрын

That's incredible! Thank you for sharing their names with us. :)

@Padraigp Ай бұрын

What are the accents are they dutch or danish or something?

@mickaylao.9744 17 күн бұрын

@@Padraigp The Shetland Islands are in the far north of Scotland, in the sea between Scotland and Norway, and the video says they're on the northernmost one.

@eddavanleemputten9232 Жыл бұрын

Around 15 years ago I decided on a whim to knit a lace pattern meant for a sweater with the finest yarn I had… a love affair was born. I found books on lace knitting and traditional Shetland patterns. The world of gossamer knit shawls opened up to me. Shetland lace. Ohrenburg lace. Estonian lace with its nupps that are meant to increase the weight of the work as it used to be sold by weight and the nupps would make a finished piece heavier. I’m working on a piece using Shetland lace patterns right now. The hardest part for me is sourcing the right yarn. I knit to ‘switch off’ from my day job and will often take a piece with me to knit during my lunch hour as it takes me only 10 minutes or so to finish my sandwich. Colleagues often wonder about the patterns and if it’s hard. “Not once you’ve memorised a pattern” usually is my answer. Doesn’t your thread break easily? “Not if you use quality yarn.” One ot the reasons why I love lace knitting with good quality yarn is that it feels really nice in your hands while working it, and it’s so lightweight. One panel of a sweater makes my arms and shoulders seize up after a while. Lace knitting rarely does even when knitting a full-sized shawl. To those who wonder: yes, they’re deliciously warm. 😊

@DivinityBleu Жыл бұрын

Wow...I didn't know that about the nupps! I just started my first ever pattern that includes nupps. Some people that have knitted the pattern complain about the nupps, but they look so beautiful that I'm in it for the long haul, nupps and all! Ironically, the yarn I'm using is some of the best, finest yarn I've ever worked with. The colors are just spectacular, I can't wait until this one is finished!

@eddavanleemputten9232 Жыл бұрын

@@DivinityBleu - That sounds so wonderful! Did you know that there are two kinds of nupps? The five-fold ones (five stitches from one) and the nine-fold ones (nine stitches from one)? I’ve never seen patterns with seven-fold ones. I’ve always wondered why… At any rate, I agree they’re beautiful and add wonderful dimension and depth to a piece! I’m guessing one of the reasons you do appreciate them as well is that you’re using quality yarn. That makes them so much easier to do. Or should I say “less hard”. A matter of how you look at them, probably! I wish you all the joy in the world with your piece!

@yvonnerogers6429 Жыл бұрын

Cool! Glad to hear people still do this sort of thing and enjoy it!

@honorata2412 Жыл бұрын

Piękne szale, piękne koronki. Mnie też wydaje się, że najtrudniejszym momentem jest uprzędzenie tak cienkiej nici. Nie jest to wcale łatwe. Runo musi być naprawdę w doskonałym stanie. Samo robienie na drutach wzorów ażurowych nie jest już wcale takie trudne, ale wymaga skupienia i dużej uwagi by nie pomylić wzoru. Szybkość przerabiania oczek u tych pań jest niesamowita. Wspaniale ogląda się taki film z dawnych lat. :)

@jodirauth8847 Жыл бұрын

I can knit but can not knit lace.....I bow to you, you are the finest kind of knitter.

@margaretblank9351 Жыл бұрын

Oh. My. Goodness! The speed of the knitting! The delicacy of the yarn! The beauty of the lace patterns! I'm beside myself with awe.

@jak6326 Жыл бұрын

Incredibly beautiful aren't they? I watched a tutorial video only yesterday about Irish knitting and think perhaps that's also how these ladies were working? The left hand needle works into the stitches on the right and it looks incredibly fast although I've still to attempt it myself.

@famprima Жыл бұрын

My mother knitted that fast. Not lace though! I can too but I don't do it often enough anymore.

@resourcedragon Жыл бұрын

@@famprima: There's another video on Fair Isle knitters where they are zipping across a row of a jumper in a minute or two. They're using knitting sticks (and the ladies in this video seemed to have something similar) and, by some magic I have not figured out, they've found a technique that eliminates the need to wind the wool around the needle to form a stitch, which is the thing that slows the process down. Again, the ladies in this video didn't seem to be wrapping the wool around the needle - but the complexity of the pattern was still slowing them down a little (compared to the Fair Isle sweater knitters).

@pierrettemeinhard970 Жыл бұрын

Ont ne trouvera jamais plus des femmes faire ce jolie travail quel dommages j aimerais apprendre à le faire je m entraîne mais jamais je n aurais ce résulta très bien fait et fin

@wingedhybrid16 3 ай бұрын

My jaw dropped when they zoomed in on one of the ladies knitting. I've been knitting for about 20yrs now (not with lace mind you), and I still cannot move that fast. Their skill and craftsmanship is immeasurable.

@kathrynharrisonrzaa7857 Жыл бұрын

My great-grandparents were from the Shetlands. Great-granny was widowed in 1882 and raised her 4 children, my grandad being the youngest, aged 2, by knitting and selling the Shetland shawls and cleaning office buildings at night. (She had to move to Leith from Lerwick). My mom told me about the pulling of the shawl through her wedding ring to show that her work was fine enough. She provided for them all and they all grew up to be good people.

@barbarawright5774 Жыл бұрын

Thanks be to God. Thank you for sharing with us.

@diane9247 Жыл бұрын

What a wonderful memory, thank you from the USA!

@frederiquecouture3924 11 ай бұрын

Merci 🙂

@nmbsunz1453 6 ай бұрын

Don’t say Shetlands please, shetland isles

@MaryAnnSweetAngel Ай бұрын

This reminds me of Kanjivaram silk sarees that are made from mulberry silk in my country. They are also demonstrated by putting them through a ring as the silk is so fine

@ynotann Жыл бұрын

Its the same with doing bobbin lace by hand. You could never earn enough money per hour to cover all of the work that goes into it. These ladies are gold themselves, wonderful work.

@pandapower5902 9 ай бұрын

Yeah.. money is such a ridiculous concept. It rarely adds up to what it’s worth, especially when it comes to time and effort. That’s why it stifles art, rather than innovates.

@nancycurtis488 Жыл бұрын

I have one Shetland “wedding ring” shawl but it cost me dearly and took me 45 years to find a lady who could make one. I hold it very dear indeed.

@monicas2269 Жыл бұрын

You are so lucky.

@helenaa2487 Жыл бұрын

Sounds beautiful 🙂

@eileenalderman9606 Жыл бұрын

I’ve got one

@lsmith992 Жыл бұрын

Many decades back I collected the Golden Hands weekly magazine of patterns and instruction for all manner of handicrafts. The Shetland ring shawl pattern was in one part . I bought the single ply wool and set off but still haven't finished it.

@monicas2269 Жыл бұрын

@@lsmith992 I used to take that magazine and I think that is where I saw one first. I made enquiries about the wool but never bought any. I would be lovely if you could finish your shawl.

@jennyflockton2810 Жыл бұрын

I’ve been lace knitting for decades and I’m proud to say that I’ve been able to show and teach others to do this.Its very addictive once you’ve mastered it.🐑

@smeastwest Жыл бұрын

I would love to learn how! Where would you direct a middle-aged woman in California with 15 years of knitting experience to get started?

@faribayagoobian7721 Жыл бұрын

Where can I start please ?

@user-hl1hv3oc7g Жыл бұрын

Вы молодец!

@uschilou 4 ай бұрын

This is my goal. I'm pretty much a brand new knitter, but I practice the basics every day, hoping to level up until I can do lace. Maybe, even fine lace someday.

@renee3837 Жыл бұрын

I knit my own Shetland lace shawl, called the Princess shawl by Sharon Miller of Heirloom Knitting, for my wedding day. It took me a year and a week, granted that was knitting between masters classes and a job! But, I love it and cherish it. Hopefully, one day, I'll be able to pass it down to a future generation!

@marymorris6897 Жыл бұрын

Renee, I'm more impressed by your knitting than by your master's. I found that lace knitting boggled my mind. I think you must be a remarkable person.

@annacarter6559 Жыл бұрын

These real, honest, gentle, kind documentaries are equally as precious

@britasmith8008 Жыл бұрын

My mother knitted one for my daughter 30 years ago. It is still safely stored, with our now 125yr old Christening robe and 98 yr old Brussels lace Wedding veil.

@user-hl1hv3oc7g Жыл бұрын

Прекрасно, что вы храните такую память.

@lisbetbruel8382 Жыл бұрын

I make these shawls all my grandchildren have one and I have made about 15 in the last 10 years!

@margoteddy8057 Жыл бұрын

Wow!

@fenellainnis7216 Жыл бұрын

I love their accents,even though Scottish myself,I think the island accents are so beautiful and unique,very different from our mainland accents. I could listen to them all day

@annereidy7981 Жыл бұрын

Yes, me too!

@marianmorley Жыл бұрын

They sound very Scandinavian

@elizabethflynn8455 Жыл бұрын

You can really hear the Nordic influence, can't you?

@annereidy7981 Жыл бұрын

@@elizabethflynn8455 yes, you can! I thought so too as I listened to their answers.

@elizabethflynn8455 Жыл бұрын

@@annereidy7981 indeed.

@baylorsailor Жыл бұрын

For centuries Scotland and England's largest cash crop was wool. The most expensive, luxurious wool in the world. So many traditions were created around the production of it.

@PLuMUK54 Жыл бұрын

My late mother was an excellent knitter, and other knitters have told me that her knitting was so fine that it was hard to tell whether it was hand or machine knitting. She once created a christening robe for her niece's children, which was fine enough to pass through a wedding ring. I believe that she had seen a gossamer shawl, maybe on the original broadcast of this video, and had decided to design her own version. Like these ladies, she did not use patterns for her most intricate. I was regularly given Aran sweaters that she had knitted, and it was not unusual for me to become aware of someone staring intently at the sweater to work out how it was created. Mum died 13 years ago, and I still have the last one that she made me, but I no longer wear it for fear of damaging it. Unfortunately, my cousin split off from the family, and we discovered that she had binned the christening robe! I do love the Shetland accent from this period.

@pandapower5902 9 ай бұрын

They were using patterns, they were using traditional patterns. They just had them memorized.

@uschilou 4 ай бұрын

So special!! Thank you for sharing. Also, your cousin is horrible!

@hellie_el 2 жыл бұрын

mind-boggling! today, that £28 would be about £500. not nearly enough! thank you very much for this fascinating video. :)

@simonpeggboard4004 2 жыл бұрын

Depends how you calculate it. If it is based on the Gold Standard a 2.5 Ounce shawl at twice the price of gold would = 5 Ounces of gold that's £7,500 approx today.

@hellie_el 2 жыл бұрын

@@simonpeggboard4004 hi ya, simon. wow! that sent me back to google! i made my calculation based on currency, making the 2.5 ounce shawl (i couldn’t find the weight of an average shawl) a £1,250 purchase. the average annual income in uk in 1964 was about £1,000 for manual workers. so, even at £1,250, it’s actually not a bad price, speaking strictly labour, and not including skill and artistry. i do hope they actually got a price much closer to your calculation - those rich f*#&$ could afford it!

@lisaenglert3202 Жыл бұрын

What’s sad is that you can stick a name brand on something these days with the same price tag and you’ll never achieve this beauty. Truly a treasure.

@marksmith1779 Жыл бұрын

I was born a brought up in Shetland. I remember my grandmother knitting these shawls. I do recall seeing something similar in Malta

@IrishAnnie Жыл бұрын

They make lace in Malta that is beautiful! I got a piece 4 years ago when there.

@tanja-k Жыл бұрын

Some decades back, there used to be villages in Dalmatia where women would do this type of work too. Also from very fine wool. The big thing there was curtains. They used to make very fine lace curtains in all sorts of patterns. It was smaller sized curtains and household linens for the local homes but very large grand home lace curtains for export. It was mostly done by the women of the household as a way to earn some money to help out their families. Sadly, due to the conflict in the mid-1990s that home industry has been mostly abandoned now, and the people scattered to the ends of the earth. Another artform lost :(

@AL-tm1ve Жыл бұрын

Their accents are fascinating, sound close to Scandi accents

@marcowen1506 Жыл бұрын

The Shetlands were scandinavian longer than they were scottish, so their accent makes sense. If you are into your languages, play back the video and listen to the way they say the letter "o". That's a purely scandi sound.

@lisbetbruel8382 Жыл бұрын

The Shetland islands used to belong to Denmark and where part of a Danish princesses gift to the English crown as part of the bride gift

@lydialily846 Жыл бұрын

A very young Cathal O’ Shannon what a wonderful journalist he was & such a beautiful speaking voice .. These women were fantastic & earned their money the hard way …

@theMermaidRhonda Жыл бұрын

As a crocheter and novice knitter, I'm just in awe of those ladies! What beautiful shawls!

@chelamcguire Жыл бұрын

I was 4 years of age when that film was made, being born in 1960. I was Christened in the year of my birth, wearing a shawl knitted in Unst. We still have the shawl in the family and yes, it passes through a wedding ring quite easily. Thinking back, I personally can count that the 'Unst Shawl' has taken centre stage at 23 Christening's. Not bad for a wee purchase my paternal grand mother made on her trip to the island from what we called The Mainland, Shetland itself. This film is now going to be kept safe, along with the shawl!

@anneshields2010 Жыл бұрын

The shawls are gorgeous we have one in our family and it’s very precious I had ancestors that came from the Shetlands turn of the last century and the shawl we have dates from the late 50s these shawls are a work,of art

@Sydroo1969 Жыл бұрын

I don't knit. I crochet, but I can appreciate these ladies work. I can relate to the comment, it's a relief when done. I usually have a few projects going on at once. 😃

@DivinityBleu Жыл бұрын

I started out as a crocheter too. My Grandmother taught me how to do it when I was quite little. I finally decided to teach myself to knit in my 20's. You should take on the challenge, you'll love it. It's going to be really awkward at first, but some knitting patterns are just so gorgeous that you'll stick with it until you get it down. It's harder to keep track of so many live stitches at once and it's common to drop stitches when you're learning, but it shouldn't take you long to get comfortable with it. I tried both Continental and English styles....I'm a kind of English hybrid knitter, as I hold my needle like a pencil with an underhanded grip. It's the fastest way for me. I hope you eventually decide to give it a go...you can do it!

@resourcedragon Жыл бұрын

I'd suggest that you find a friend who is a competent knitter and see if you can get them to teach you some basics. One of the things that makes knitting a bit tricky for a beginner is that working that first row after you've cast on is quite difficult! After you've learnt a few basics there are KZfaq videos, as well as lots of books and websites, etc, and you can use those to learn additional techniques or alternative methods and so on. You'll probably also find that there are some sorts of knitting projects that you are more attracted to than others.

@pandapower5902 9 ай бұрын

@@DivinityBleuI like knitting like that too. But if I’m just doing a lot of knitting and purling, or just knitting, I just do continental. If I want to speed up I may switch to that though. If I have to do a lot of purling, Portuguese is the fastest. I haven’t tried lace knitting yet.. I don’t know if I will, since it seems so time consuming and I like to be fast!

@carolynellis387 Жыл бұрын

My nana talked of these beautiful shawls fine enough to go through a wedding ring. She was a fine knitter too.

@lissablue176 Жыл бұрын

I have knitted two Shetland shawls and they go through my wedding rings.

@dixietenbroeck8717 Жыл бұрын

Congratulations!

@lydialily846 Жыл бұрын

Rings ??

@starsonapollo5281 Жыл бұрын

@@lydialily846 going through a wedding ring is a sign that the work is incredibly fine

@lydialily846 Жыл бұрын

@@starsonapollo5281 What wonderful women & what genius’s at work . Thank You.

@MaryAnnSweetAngel Ай бұрын

Reminds me Kanjivaram silk sarees as they are also demonstrated with a ring

@chtitmog Жыл бұрын

Shetland lace is a wonder of work and design. So sad it is part of the list of craftsmanship in danger but I have heard that a few people are trying to make this last by making and teaching this art, so hopefully this beautiful skill will never get lost. I am a knitter but I would probably never have the courage to work on such delicate, thin yarn - the amount of work is insane! I can not imagine the (well deserved) price such a piece would cost, even though I am pretty sure the price doesn’t align to all the hours and skill it involved.

@dawsie Жыл бұрын

Me Mom use to teach it here in Australia back in the 90’s she spent years knitting and writing down the patterns that Gran use to make to sell to tourists during the summer months just after the war. Like many from the Shetland’s, Mom started knitting as soon as she could walk, same with her sister too. The patterns they knitted were passed down from Mother to daughter. Unfortunately I was never able to knit for very long after I broke both of my wrists as a teenager, I do mostly crochet lace for under garments and fall/winter shawls, crochet is not as harsh on the wrists.non one of the many boxes of Mom’s things are all of the written patterns once I find them I will be sending them to me Aunty back in the Shetland’s

@pandapower5902 9 ай бұрын

I don’t have the courage to do it either. Imagine if it unraveled, or snagged on something!

@uschilou 4 ай бұрын

I was given a pack of knitting needles, passed down. There were some microscopic metal needles, very long, included. They must've been used for this. I dare not attempt anything with those, yet!

@juliajs1752 2 ай бұрын

The subtitles are golden. "A very fine gossip assault". Those ladies are precious and I hope they live in knitting heaven now!

@cocojo2356 Жыл бұрын

I have never seen anything so beautiful. I don't think I could ever knit something so fine and so delicate. This was a really interesting video, I thoroughly enjoyed it, thank you.

@magiccookie22 Жыл бұрын

I just got my first spinning wheel not long ago and I can only dream of spinning that spider’s thread. I’m glad this art was preserved in at least this format for future generations. Maybe one day I’ll try and knit my own wedding ring shawl, just not with my own yarn lol

@faeriefire78 Жыл бұрын

Now I finally have a steady image in my head when I read fantasy books that mention clothing spun/knitted from spider webs. This is incredible! It also made me a little giggle when she said they might sell them to someone in the colonies. 😊I'd love to go back in time and hang out with these ladies for a day.

@LadyValkyri Жыл бұрын

I just tried to do the conversion... If my math is correct, that 70 GBP gossamer Shetland shawl would cost over $1,814 in USD today (04/15/23). STUNNING work! Hugs to all!

@anwe9508 Жыл бұрын

If I worked at that every day and lived to be 150 years old, I would never be able to make one of those shawls. They are exquisite! And worth way more than 70 pounds in my opinion.

@PLuMUK54 Жыл бұрын

Even converted to today's value (£1,376) they would be a bargain.

@searose6192 Жыл бұрын

That's incredible. How terrible that there were only 6 people left who could spin it even then.

@loganpollock1689 Жыл бұрын

I have been spinning for forty years and I make a mile and a half of 2ply yarn to make 5x5 shawl. Nothing like these women, that's another thing entirely.

@dianebrady6784 Жыл бұрын

I have the patterns for several of these shawls. They are sometimes used as winter wedding veils.

@zelena6244 Жыл бұрын

These shawls looked so stunning! Massive respect to the ones who knitted and still knit them.

@Padraigp Ай бұрын

This is the sort of the thing the heritage funding should be investing in. Amazing!

@yx6889 Жыл бұрын

I sure do envy people that can knit these very fine yarns. I can't seem to knit anything thinner than a DK weight lol.

@sunheart_aquarelle Жыл бұрын

Look up square needles, that helped me go down in weights a lot!

@resourcedragon Жыл бұрын

@@sunheart_aquarelle : Oh? I've not heard of them!

@sunheart_aquarelle Жыл бұрын

@@resourcedragon Yes! They're really good. I have a set from knitpro, size 4. Super good.

@lisaenglert3202 Жыл бұрын

@@sunheart_aquarelle I’ve never heard of that either! BRB gotta hit Amazon for a min

@wendytube007 Жыл бұрын

You know there’s rarely something that is so beautiful that literally takes your breath away. How extraordinary, what an amazing arts and crafts product right from the spinning to the knitting .

@coffeebeen65 Жыл бұрын

Oh my word! These are gorgeous! I’m a new ‘Covid Knitter 2020’! I would love to learn how to knit like this!!! I see they are flicking!!!

@robingrimm3443 Жыл бұрын

It looks like a variant of lever or Irish cottage knitting to me. It’s an English style where you throw the yarn with your right hand, but faster than typical English. I prefer Continental (left hand holds the yarn to pick stitches) myself, and it’s generally known as one of the quickest styles but honestly it just works with the arthritis better lol. Take time to experiment and see what feels best for you!

@Betty_Virago Жыл бұрын

if you join craftsy there is several shawl tutorials to get you lace knitting and a tutorial for these shawls.

@lisaenglert3202 Жыл бұрын

@@Betty_Virago thanks for that. I was just looking into crafty

@suem6004 Жыл бұрын

The spinners are getting ripped off. 5 shillings per pound spun yarn. Yet the knitters make 28 GBP? Hm.... Luckily there are more than 6 spinners in the world who can spin such a yarn but I am not spinning it for pennies. I charge 25 cents a yard. (That include fiber prep and plying).

@sharonhoare5790 Жыл бұрын

Finding the right wool is the hardest, so like many I make do. Once wool is sourced then, like a lot of others, I just love knitting them.

@GentleHeart001 Жыл бұрын

For those interested this shawl cost 70 pounds in 1964, in 2023 money that is 1, 374 pounds more than monthly rent for my two bedroom flat.

@dawsie Жыл бұрын

Me Gran use to knit shawls Le this she use to live in Lerwick, I still have my baby shawl she made for me 60 years, Gran would knit smaller shawls to earn extra money to supplement GrandPa’s wage, the wool was fine but not as fine as the gossamer shawls. These were sold to the tourist who visited Lerwick during the summer months.

@dejahdanger 8 күн бұрын

Absolutely gorgeous work. I’ve been knitting and crocheting for years and can’t imagine the skill and time. I wish I believed I could actually make one.

@kadenmoore7918 Жыл бұрын

It's absolutely amazing what simple folks like these can do. Am spellbound!!. And a little envious.

@euchrideucrow1970 2 жыл бұрын

Pure artistry. And no harm to the planet.

@hensonlaura Жыл бұрын

🙄 oh Jesus, leave off!

@maryhardcastle5362 Жыл бұрын

I didn't get to move my spindle and stored my laces and patterns , I am proud for you I shall have plenty to catch up....

@jemmajames6719 Жыл бұрын

Look at that skill and workmanship so beautiful

@schlurpie 3 ай бұрын

those are crazy fast knitting 😱 almost like a machine!

@nz-nz Жыл бұрын

Exquisite ❤️ I’m a spinner and can truly appreciate this art.

@sjain8111 6 ай бұрын

that’s true, the spinning is crucial to end quality - not to forget the special wool from a particular breed of sheep!

@daniellemeadows6965 Жыл бұрын

How wonderful are these ladies and their craft! The shawls are just stunning!

@user-vv4hg7me1q 3 ай бұрын

What a joy to see this. I have a shawl. I found it at a flea market being used to pack crocks. The dealer gave it to me. What a find. At least I could "save" it.

@englishpro.laboulaye691 Жыл бұрын

What a treasure!

@marpro765 Жыл бұрын

The speed alone is both incredibly impressive and intimidating! WOW!

@penelope-oe2vr Жыл бұрын

This spinning and knitting is very difficult to do. And absolutely stunning 😍 worth every penny

@PLuMUK54 Жыл бұрын

Converting the £70 to today's value (£1,376) would still be a bargain, in my opinion

@IrishAnnie Жыл бұрын

These talents to make anything handmade are fading. I know women who cannot even sew on a button. What skill!!!!

@romystumpy1197 Жыл бұрын

Must have amazing eyesight,

@Pippi-Longstocking Жыл бұрын

I really enjoyed this video. He’s so respectful and honors these people and the craft.

@marleenneil7542 Жыл бұрын

Beautiful and so amazing.

@GooberFace32 3 ай бұрын

That is some fast throwing! Wow!!!

@ReallyJillRogoff 9 ай бұрын

The most exquisite knitting in the entire world. I'm in awe of their technique.

@The-Cute-One 8 ай бұрын

As a knitter I appreciate these traditional knitters God bless.

@fc4660 Жыл бұрын

In love with these marvellous ladies ❤

@devong1414 9 ай бұрын

Thank you so much for sharing this. ❤️

@margotfraser8393 Жыл бұрын

That’s amazing!! I hope the skill remains! Thanks for yesterday! ❤❤❤

@Ivehadenuff Жыл бұрын

Such amazing work.

@corneliabenz9838 Жыл бұрын

I like lace Knitting, too. And I hope that this art stays on earth forever. Thriving life to the grand daughters of the shetland island and to the sheep.

@brendahamblin4559 Жыл бұрын

Superb!

@leonaadamson Жыл бұрын

Wonderful!

@janetmackinnon3411 Жыл бұрын

Wonderful! Thank you.

@merryannmac8096 Жыл бұрын

This is so fascinating and wonderful. They look so pretty on and I'll bet they're warm. Thanks David.

@lydialily846 Жыл бұрын

Who’s David ?

@Emily-mv4cx Жыл бұрын

That £70 shawl equates to about £1137 today

@sb-fc6uj Жыл бұрын

and at 500 hours work even if only £10 an hour thats already £5000 just for labour in theory

@gayleandrus7050 Жыл бұрын

Absolutely gorgeous! They are wonderfully skilled craftspeople!

@br6480 7 ай бұрын

The woman on the left is lever knitting. My grandmother used to knit this way.

@kristine8338 Жыл бұрын

Excellent interview, simply straightforward and down to earth information. Amazing ladies 🫧

@Stranger_Than_Fiction299 9 ай бұрын

Such exquisite art! How gorgeous!

@pamelamckenzie2685 Жыл бұрын

Love the video

@metfraser303 Жыл бұрын

I see what she means about the Spanish American influences, the gossamer nature and relatively open knit remind me a little of mantillas. Thank you for posting this!

@ariadne9876 Жыл бұрын

I think she said 'Spanish Armada' but the lace patterns may still be similar.

@metfraser303 Жыл бұрын

That's wild, I had no idea. Thank you for teaching me!

@flamencoprof Жыл бұрын

@@algrant5293 Wouldn't it be unlikely that anyone with such skills, especially a woman, would be aboard a military ship engaged in an invasion attempt? I'm not trying to be sceptical; as a New Zealander with a Grandmother of Welsh descent, I was told by my mother there is "Spanish blood" in the family, from Armada sailors who travelled North of Britain and then back South through the Irish Sea.

@dixietenbroeck8717 Жыл бұрын

@@flamencoprof I'm a septegenarian (over 70 years old), and many decades ago, in a history class, I was told that, as the Armada ships fled, then ran aground in storms & broke up, many of the sailor's lives were saved by both these Islanders AND by some "mainlanders" of Ireland. People being and doing what people are and do naturally, it wasn't too long before there were families consisting of winsome blue-eyed, Island or Mainland lassies, happily allied with former Spanish soldiers - some of whom had Moorish ancestors from northern Africa, and who had lovely dark skins & curly hair. Hence the creation of what was called the "Black Irish," lovely babies who turned into handsome adults! SOME of _THEIR_ future descendants were born with very dark & curling hair, and surprisingly, BLUE EYES, thanks to the combinations of recessive genes! (Mother Nature has a truly wonderful way with hybridization, doesn't She?)

@flamencoprof Жыл бұрын

@@dixietenbroeck8717 NZ is a UK melting pot. I have brown hair and blue eyes, I have two daughters, one blonde, one a lovely peach/reddish blonde. My grandmother's kid brother was as red as can be, and his two sons were also freckly red-heads. But I have a hand tendon mutation from my father called Viking's Disease.

@AJ-PFbat Жыл бұрын

Beautiful

@NikulinaN72 Жыл бұрын

One of the symbols of Russia is ORENBURG DOWN SHAWLS, which have been knitted from goat down since the 18th century and they also pass through a wedding ring ... The down of Orenburg goats is the thinnest in the world: the thickness of the down of Orenburg goats is 16-18 microns, Angora goats (mohair) - 22-24 microns. Therefore, products made from Orenburg down - shawls and cobwebs - are especially tender and soft. Один из символов России - ОРЕНБУРГСКИЕ ПУХОВЫЕ ПЛАТКИ которые вяжут из козьего пуха с XVIII века и они тоже проходят через обручальное кольцо...Пух оренбургских коз - самый тонкий в мире: толщина пуха оренбургских коз - 16-18 мкм, ангорских коз (мохер) - 22-24 мкм. Поэтому изделия из оренбургского пуха - шали и паутинки - особенно нежные и мягкие.

@halcrochets 9 ай бұрын

Wow! So very interesting. Thanks for sharing.

@TheCarlocaroline Жыл бұрын

Stunning!

@LindaKing-nq6ut Ай бұрын

Wish I knew about these shawls when I visited Shetland…only saw the fair isle sweaters

@ElaineHeeringa 9 ай бұрын

That was fascinating!

@gailcullinan349 10 ай бұрын

Magnificent footage

@MarinaMandarinaWoolyWorld Жыл бұрын

Such a beauty! One day I will get brave enough to make one like this 😍 thank you for this video

@kathhollandful Жыл бұрын

Respect! So skillful!

@annabellelee4535 Жыл бұрын

Those ladies are delightful!

@wiesoimmerich111 Жыл бұрын

Aaaah I may have to pick up lace knitting now 😅😬

@lauranyc4966 Жыл бұрын

BEST VIDEO IVE EVER SEEN ON KZfaq 💗🙏🏻💗🙏🏻💗

@lisaheyob951 9 ай бұрын

Beautiful work I can't knit so it's way out there in my book

@IratusAngelus621 Ай бұрын

Would have been great to hear full shetlandic in this clip.. so many memories of fiddle and cigarettes, whiskey , dancing and laughter and one handed knitting

@Aurora-qn2dx Жыл бұрын

Works of art!

@catic15 4 ай бұрын

There's a fascinating video you might enjoy - it's on KZfaq, so easy to access - "Shetland knitters really did knit 200 stitches a minute!" Thecwoman who put it together has actual film footage from the very early 1900s showing just how fast women in some cultures could knit, and she does an excellent analysis of knitting techniques used back when it was a major part of the economy in the Shetland Islands.

@clah399 Жыл бұрын

Amazing

@iChillypepper Жыл бұрын

I’ve knitted these for my friends’ weddings and they are a PAIN! Literally, it pains the hands! It took me months to make one, and these ladies knit so much faster! You can find the patterns now free online.

@maried3717 Жыл бұрын

You are braver than most!

@DivinityBleu Жыл бұрын

These ladies' knitting skills are mind blowing. I taught myself to knit almost 20 years ago and my top speed is still probably less than half their top speed. I wonder if it's easier to go faster when using yarn as fine as the super fine Shetland wool?

@downtime86stars17 Жыл бұрын

They use knitting belts and a lever knitting style. Once you get the hang of it, your speed REALLY picks up!

@nataliakarlik6107 Жыл бұрын

@@downtime86stars17 What is knitting belts? I never heard of them?

@downtime86stars17 Жыл бұрын

@@nataliakarlik6107 A knitting belt is a small leather pouch which traditionally was stuffed with horsehair. There is a series of holes punched in the surface of the pouch. The belt is fastened around the knitter's waist or thigh, and one end of a double pointed needle is inserted into one of the holes. The belt stabilizes and supports the needle, which helps the knitter work much faster. (Watch the speed of the knitters starting at about 4:08.)

@terramarini6880 Жыл бұрын

@@downtime86stars17 I watched a program about women who would knit using the belt while walking.

@dixietenbroeck8717 Жыл бұрын

@@downtime86stars17 I simply MUST follow through with this! I taught myself to knit at 19 when I was expecting my first child, but managed to learn BACKWARDS, & have never been very quick at it. Thanks for mentioning these things. (Even after more than 50+ years of knitting I'm still TOO DANGED SLOW!)

@lauraandrews1676 Жыл бұрын

I wish I could knit that fast with my knitting belt, lol. I thought I was pretty fast, but I'm slow and clunky compared with that lady.

@user-hl1hv3oc7g Жыл бұрын

Спасибо за такой рассказ. Красота.

@rawforyou5514 Жыл бұрын

So beautiful. Is it a lost world? I hope not!!!

@NickUncommon Жыл бұрын

Ravelry is alive with knitters and spinners who do all sorts of lace. Shetland wedding ring shawl in their search engine will get you boggled. :) I tried spinning so fine, but have only shropshire wool at hand to try.

@rawforyou5514 Жыл бұрын

@@NickUncommon yes, i know Ravelry. very overwhelming.... i always get lost there - but true, a lot of things to find, for those who can.....

@NickUncommon Жыл бұрын

@@rawforyou5514 true, almost like reddit and Insta, fiber related, I found my hand full of groups, I follow there, and outside of it, I go with how much time I want to spend there, set my timer and research, and then log off. It demands loads of discipline, but works for me. The wedding ring shawls I saw on ravelry are far from a lost art, that is, what I wanted to say.