Shetlanders fight to save traditional art of Fair Isle knitting

Published on Friday 7 May 2010 23:14

A WOMEN'S group in Shetland is fighting to save one of the islands' traditional crafts.

The future of the Fair Isle pullover could be under threat after a controversial decision by Shetland Islands Council to axe knitting tuition in primary schools in an attempt to save 130,000 a year from its education budget.

Yesterday the Scottish Women's Rural Institutes (SWRI) , the guardians of Scotland's traditional crafts, led the attack on the threat to Shetland's hand-knitting heritage.

Marion Davidson, the chairwoman of the SWRI , declared: "The only way that traditional skills can remain alive is by passing it to young people. Taking this out of schools in Shetland puts knitting at risk of dying out and could lead to its thriving textile industry being in jeopardy."

"Knitting is a strong part of Shetland island heritage. SWRI has always encouraged members to knit and sew and to use it as a break to clear their minds. Passing on skills such as knitting and weaving to young people is the only way that it can continue to thrive."

Ms Davidson added: "Often knitting is seen as an older person's hobby, but times have changed. Even celebrities such as Julia Roberts and Madonna have admitted to knitting in their spare time."

The decision to axe knitting tuition was taken by ten votes to five at a meeting of the authority's services committee.

Allison Duncan , the councillor for Shetland South, argued that while knitting was a necessity for Shetland families 50 or 60 years ago, knitting machines could now do the job cheaper and quicker. Knitting was "unfortunately a dying art".

Shetland Islands Council is understood to be the only local authority in Scotland which still offers free knitting tuition in primary schools.