As knitting becomes the latest craze, Jane Moncrieff’s project could mean that Shetland becomes one of the ‘cool’ destinations this year.  TINA ROSE reports. 

As knitting becomes ‘the new yoga’ and celebrities such Madonna, Julia Roberts, Cameron Diaz and even Russell Crowe get their needles out, an unusual initiative should mean Shetland is one of ‘the coolest destinations’ over the coming year.

The Great Gravit, or scarf, is the brainchild of Jane Moncrieff who organises the Shetland Arts and Crafts Association’s Christmas Craft Fair.  At the fair in 2004 the world’s fastest knitter, Hazel Tindall of Aith, knitted the first few rows of the Great Gravit and then handed it on.  The idea is to get knitters of all ages, from eight year old beginners to expert knitters, to knit at least one row on the gravit.

One of the first Great Gravit knitters with a special interest in textiles was Kirsty Scott of Bressay, now national textiles manager at Scottish Enterprise, who learned to knit Fair Isle fingerless gloves during her schooldays at Bressay Primary School.

Students of the Shetland College Textile and Design Department, Barbara Foran, Niela Kalra, Vaila Cummings and Kharis Leggate, with Hazel Hughson of Shetland Arts Trust, organised the beginning of the Great Gravit. 

The knitting will carry on for at least a year at ‘Knitting for All, Knitting for Fun’ events throughout Shetland, organised by the Shetland Arts Trust Indigenous Craft Development Project, where everyone will be invited to knit at least one row.

After visiting Sandwick the gravit then travelled to Yell in February and immediately after landing off the Ferry was taken in by the ladies running the booking office at Ulsta who gave up their teabreak to knit a few rows.

Despite freezing weather, the Wind Dog café was packed with new and veteran knitters from Unst, Yell, Fetlar and the Mainland as baskets of yarns in all textures and colours were transformed into works in progress. With mooring snow outside, the café buzzed with creativity.  Skilled knitters worked on trial pieces in coloured wires, finely knitted plastics, and textured and exotic yarns.  Assistance was given with finishing methods or basic casting-on, and knitted pieces were there for sampling new stitches.

Some knitters had brought along their own projects to share technical details and new ideas.  Beginners were helped to cast on with textured or Italian boucle yarns, combined with metallic threads, and they soon learned effective stitches for making an original scarf.  As stitches and techniques were remembered and shared among small groups, new skills were learned in an informal and enjoyable atmosphere.  All the knitters worked during the afternoon on the Great Gravit, helped along by visitors waiting for ferries.

The Great Gravit is at Clickimin Leisure Centre during March 2005.
 
© Tina Rose, 2005