Living Lace – a Shetland Story with Gudrun Johnston

In this class we will look at the fundamentals of what makes up Shetland Lace, construction methods, stitch patterns and the wool itself. We will see how knitted lace items, from the intricate and delicate ring shawls to the everyday hap, have played a significant role in Shetland’s textile history.

Using examples from Gudrun and Mary Jane’s new book and other lace samples brought to class we will see how these traditional methods have been kept alive through modern interpretations.

Gudrun will provide a copy of her Hapkerchief pattern which we will start together in class using Shetland wool. This project will introduce knitters to one of the most basic Shetland lace patterns, Old Shell, and as a bonus there are lots of other fun techniques you will get to practice (W+T in the round, spit splicing, purled I-Cord Bind Off).

Skills needed:

Basic lace skills (experience working increases and decreases)

Materials:

• Yarn kits of Jamieson’s of Shetland Spindrift will be available at the workshop as part of a trunk show of yarn!
• Yarn if not purchasing kit: 4 different colors of fingering weight wool
• 2 different stitch markers (one can be a removable stitch marker), tapestry needle for weaving in ends.
• US 7 / 4.5mm or US 8 / 5mm circular needle in 16, 20 or 24 inch length
• One extra circular in one size bigger than previous needle.

Note: The pattern calls for a US 8 / 5mm needle but if you are a loose knitter you may want to go down in size.

About the instructor:

Gudrun Johnston is a Shetland-born knitwear designer currently based in Massachusetts. She is known for accessible modern-day patterns that are greatly inspired by her heritage. She frequently returns to Shetland, where she loves spending time with her family on the Westside.

With her friend Mary Jane Mucklestone, they host popular once in a lifetime trips to Shetland and together they have co-authored Grand Shetland Adventure Knits, published through Laine.