My last destination on my Gloril Tour was Fetlar. Nestled between Unst and Yell it takes 2 or 3 ferry trips from the mainland to reach it. I was really excited to see Skerries Lighthouse in the distance from the lovely room in the Fetlar Hall that we met in. I was even more excited that half the isles population comes to the class!! 18 out of a population of 36 made lampshades that weekend including 3 generations of the same family.

Fetlar is famous for fine lace knitting and Betsy Williamson is a expert in this!

her daughter, Elizabeth, runs online Shetland lace classes and has patterns and classes available from www.elizabethwilliamsonknitting.co.uk You may have also seen her designs in the Shetland Wool Week Annuals. 

One of the delights of this tour has been seeing gorgeous hand knits. Check out this amazing cardigan! 

And so my Gloril Tour of the Outer Isles had come to an end. The sun shone on the last day and with the practice of knitting in company and achieving a finished product to really felt like it shone on us all. In the end there were 75 folk that came and knitted lampshades. I love the thought that they're all scattered around Shetland, reminding us all of how easy it is to disconnect and then reconnect with our neighbours, friend and craft. 

I'm so grateful to Shetland Arts for believing in and funding project. Without this it couldn't have gone ahead. I'm also grateful to Kathryn Spence/Gordon for her support throughout. A recurring theme in the feedback is the gratitude and appreciation at have the classes brought to the isles rather than folk having to travel to Lerwick. I think it's good for an island wide organisation like Shetland Arts to enable this as it shows that it can cater for all of Shetland and not just our central belt! 

The design for these lamps was developed from my original lampshades made for the New Shetland Museum an Archives. With the availability of new connectivity worldwide I have since taught this class online to folk from around the world so their lamps join the Shetland ones in lighting us up. I teach it as a  6 hour or 2 x 3 hour class. Knitting with wire is harder on your hands and wrists to knit but the results are great! Maybe I'll see you in a class soon.

I'll leave the Fetlar group with the final words:

Fetlar 

Fantastic workshop. Love the fact it has taken place in Fetlar rather than have to go to Lerwick. Its so nice to meet people and it definitely helps with connecting the community. Would love to have some more workshops come to Fetlar.

Really enjoyed the workshop and to learn a new creative skill. Fascinating initial presentation about the source of inspiration. Great to be in Fetlar, to meet up with Fetlar folk, especially after covid and not to have to travel off island.

Absolutely brilliant! A great way to have a ‘get together’ and good to have it in Fetlar rather than having to travel to the mainland.

How fabulous has this workshop been?! Especially so after 2 years of covid. Thank you soooo much Helen for all your mentoring and the wonderful Shetland yarns! 

I have really enjoyed the wire knitting and the company. Helen is a great mentor. I am a non knitter and I got on quite good. So nice to have something in Fetlar.

I have thoroughly enjoyed making the cover for my lamp get day out and very patient teacher. Lovely. Thank you. 

It has been wonderful to attend a craft class IN FETLAR which was today new to me and which I was able to complete! This gives a great deal of satisfaction, without the tiring journey to Lerwick where most things occur. Thank you so much.