A Knitter's Weekend
A Visit to Fair Isle
Dear Kay,
This is possibly my favorite category of short little movie: a visit with somebody who makes beautiful things.
Today, we’re going on a visit to the most remote inhabited island in the UK. Yes, it’s Fair Isle, population 55.
The maker we’re visiting is Mati Ventrillon, whose website I have visited often with Fair Isle heart eyes on several occasions.
Mati handlooms Fair Isle sweaters. She’ll work with you to cook up your very own bespoke Fair Isle jumper. SIGH!
Here’s the movie. (Apologies for the noisy ad at the beginning! So not in tune with the film that follows.)
And here’s a little Fair Isle history, courtesy of Mati’s website.
Happy Mother’s Day, everybody! Boy David comes home from college today, clever thing for him to do.
Love,
Ann
How lovingly made all the way from hypnotized sheep to “wooly horse.”
Oh! Oh! Thank you for sharing. I loved watching that! An amazing process, a dedicated artist, and a beautiful product. I hope she has daughters or apprentices. May the tradition live on and on.
Or sons!
Helicopter wool drop off? Fancy!
Great quick video. Thanks for sharing.
Enjoyed seeing the process. Love the series, Shetland, which takes place near Fair Isle. Some lovely knits on the program actors.
Thank you for sharing that video. It was lovely.
Everything about this video is beautiful. Thank you!!
Wonderful process to watch from the hand shearing of the wool, designing the pattern, and seeing the beautiful sweater emerge.
Always been fascinated by Joseph Jacquard’s use of a chain of perforated cards to control weaving and knitting machines in the early 1800s.
That punchcard machine thing is so cool! Wow, 55 people is really not many people..
Thanks for posting that short movie. It was a terrific view of her creative making process.