Knit to This
Susan Crawford’s Vintage Shetland Project
Dear Ann,
Recently you emailed me a link to a video about the Vintage Shetland Project. It’s just 19 minutes long, and it had us both in tears. Tears of beauty? Is that a thing? Just watch it, above.
The Vintage Shetland Project Book and Video
The subject of the video is Susan Crawford’s recently released book, The Vintage Shetland Project. Susan worked on this epic book for years, painstakingly creating modern knitting patterns for Shetland knitwear from the first half of the twentieth century. She did this by examining archival garments inside and out, stitch by stitch, in effect reverse-engineering them. With the same care, she researched the stories of the makers and wearers of the garment. It’s social history through handmade clothing.
I’ve seen this wonderful book, and want to spend hours and hours with it. It’s fascinating, deep and moving. The photographs are perfection. It’s a tour de force that belongs on our shelves forever. It makes me proud to be a knitter and to “know” a person of Susan’s strength and talent, if only from following her on Instagram and reading her work.
Get your copy direct from Susan. We will be carrying this book in our Shop as soon as we can locate a schooner to float them over to us. And stay tuned for surprises ahead. We are so thrilled about this book.
An Interview with Susan Crawford on Fruity Knitting
In episode 48 of the phenomenal Fruity Knitting podcast, Andrea Doig interviews Susan at her farmhouse in Cumbria. It’s a must-see.
In the interview, Susan shows garments from the book, pointing out the many wonders achieved when they were created, without patterns, out of the minds of their knitters. With Susan’s expert, witty guidance, we see the quirks, work-arounds, and genius moments embedded in these garments, and we hear the stories of their makers.
Prepare for some exciting knitting, and an emotional experience. (Part 1 of the interview starts at 13:00; part 2 starts at 55:00.)
One More Thing
Also in this episode, the featured knitter from around the world is Karen Clerke of St. Louis, Missouri. Amazingly, we met Karen at Vogue Knitting Live in Chicago just last weekend, before we had seen this episode of the Fruity Knitting podcast. Karen is an incredibly skilled and prolific knitter with a great story. At our MDK “knit and chat” lunch last Saturday, we were privileged to see Karen’s version of Janine Bajus’s spectacular Salmon Coming Home vest. (Karen’s segment of the video starts at 45:00.)
I can’t believe that right this minute you are in Edinburgh for the Edinburgh Yarn Festival. Right now, you may be meeting Susan Crawford! Please give her a soggy hug from me.
Love,
Kay
The Shetland Islands are my favorite place on earth
What a wonderful project and film vignette… thank-you for sharing, Kay!
Thank you for sharing this wonderful video. It was a lovely way to quietly begin this Sunday morning. Very much looking forward to having a copy of this book!
Beautiful story
I need the book
Absolutely loved this video! Thank you for sharing and I can’t wait for the book.
Beautifully filmed !
Loved the video! Does anyone know the title/poet of the poem that Susan read?
If it’s the video at top, with the poem about Vaila – the verses are also printed in the back of the book itself. The credit there says “Verses from Vaila by George Sands, 1888.” I believe it’s Louise Scollay (of Knit British) reading the verses in the video.
Yes! I saw it somewhere–in the book? On her website? I will try to figure it out and let you know.
What a remarkable artist and historian. I need that book in my collection. And, a red shetland pony.
We all need a red shetland pony. For now we have to settle for small dogs.
Such inspiration for my Sunday! Thank you for posting!
I;m sure the stories of the people at that time would be very interesting.
We lived in England for 6 years. My husband is a Scott and the tour is so very beautiful. I am sure my mother-in-law knitted some of those patterns when she worked as “A Land Girl” during the war. Fair Isle is my favorite knitting and always one piece is on my needles. Thank you.
My favorite part of knitting is the many ways it connects us to other people—-family, friends, and strangers all over the world. Thanks for sharing this beautiful film.
I contributed to the PubSlush crowdfunding in summer 2015, and this was going to be my 2015 Christmas present. I’m glad to get this gift from my younger self. 🙂
What a BEAUTIFUL film. Visually stunning!
A 19 minute symphonic poem. Photography, film, music, sky, air, color, patterns, wind, shagginess…ALL…exquisitely beautiful. Thank you for leading me here!
I really must get this book!
(And I’m blessed to know Karen Clerke and call her friend. She is a lovely and inspiring person!)
I don’t know how I missed this but it’s so beautiful and so moving, I will invest in both book and video.
My heart yearns for the simplicity of this life
Stunningly beautiful.