Shetland

Although I was born, brought up and have now returned to live near Chester,  when i was just about primary school age, the whole family moved to The Shetland Islands where we stayed for 5 years. This was during the 80's.   It was here that I initially learnt to knit as at school. We  had a lesson where the girls were taught to knit whilst the boys made exciting, but still unknown, things out of balsa wood. This, I thought,  was extremely unfair!

I seem to remember that our knitting teacher was tall, slim and with short white hair. Probably someone that came into school from the local area rather than a  teacher.

I have  distinct memory of us having to knit a small stuffed toy. I knitted a small dog in stocking stitch in beige wool. In fact, when i went rummaging in my Mum's loft looking for knitting needles, I came across some patterns and  one of them was of a dachshund,  i wonder if that was the one?

So that was the start of it.  I can't really remember knitting anything else but know that i did.  Mum still has a red knitted coaster with a blue fairisle pattern on it. I don't know if this was made by me or my sister. 

So that was many years ago and this is the second skill I was taught in Shetland that i have resurrected to see if I am any good. So far my knitting seems to be more successful than my fiddle playing!

A fantastic place to grow up with amazing open spaces. Definitely worth a visit http://visit.shetland.org/

2 days ago was the Lerwick Up Helly Aa, a spectacular viking procession with roots deep in history. There are some great pics and videos explaining it but here is a good 10 minute video i found on YouTube  Lerwick Up Helly Aa 2015: http://youtu.be/Q5euzvdqdD0  we went to many of these all over Shetland. Spectacular!