Projects → Shetland Dressing Boards
Shetland dressing boards
2022
Traditional Shetland boards used to dress gloves, socks, hats and jumpers
Earlier this year, I was delighted to be asked to illustrate an article in the Shetland Wool Week annual by Carol Christiansen, all about Shetland ‘blocking boards' in the Shetland Museum’s collection. It was a wonderful experience spending time studying this items from the Shetland Museum and Archives Collection. Used again and again, whether dressing garments for selling on or for the family, I found them to be highly personal objects. Drawing their hand-made shapes, the ingenious repairs made, and the patina given over many years was like drawing layers of time. The original drawings were made with watercolour and coloured graphite pencil on paper.
Shetland Wool Week is a world renowned annual celebration of the Shetland textile industry and the islands’ rural farming community.
Annual published by Shetland Amenity Trust.
Buy your copy of the annual from the Shetland Wool Week shop here!
A handy A5 sized ‘Makkin Notes’ notebook featuring the glove and sock boards was also made for SWW 2022. It has squared paper, perfect for knitting designs.
Published by Shetland Amenity Trust. Browse the merchandise collection and buy your copy of the notebook from the Shetland Wool Week shop here!
EXHIBITIONS
The Art of Dressing, Da Briggiestanes, Shetland Museum, Hay’s Dock, November 8th - January 31st 2023
Casting On Shetland Wool Week, Da Gadderie, Shetland Museum, Hay’s Dock, Lerwick, 24th September - 31st October