Slew - 12 hour knit Deckchair Challenge - 2023
Slew - Online Knit Deckchair Challenge - Helen Robertson
I have long held an image in my head of a deckchair sitting on a beach, it has a Shetland Lace knit seat that casts a shadow on the beach, the sea can be viewed through the lace. Although I have had this image for 20 years, it remained always just out of my grasp. I could never quite decide on the exact pattern, the material to use, what colour it should be and how embellished. As the years passed, the image grew clearer til I knew it had to be visually simple, knit in a ‘Print and the Wave’ pattern and not look like it was trying too hard to communicate its message.
The message I wanted it to send was one of respect, memorial and hope. Respect for our ancestors who worked so hard at sea or on land, a memorial to those who perished in the process and hope for the future and the preservation of our heritage. A tall order for a deckchair you might think!
There is a photo of my Great Grandfather, John Henderson, sitting as an old man in 1930’s Unst gazing contemplatively at his fire. The title refers to him as ‘An old Haaf Skipper’. The Haaf is the name given to the fishing grounds up to 40 nautical miles off Shetland’s shore. The fishing was undertaken in open wooden boats called sixareens, named after the number of oarsmen. The boats were owned by the Laird who claimed part of the value of the catch, and the value of the boat from the widows if the boat was lost.
His story is one of survival. In July 1881, he was in his early 20’s and his first year as skipper of a sixareen. He had onboard 1 older man and 4 teenagers. An unexpected storm blew up out of nowhere and 10 boats with a total of 58 men were lost.
In 1885, he married and his wedding photo, tucked in an old family album, shows his wife, Charlotte (my Great Granny) wearing a fine lace knitted Unst stole. He is a handsome man with a far away look, gazing into their future but with a slightly haunted look, perhaps thinking of his lost neighbours and friends.
It is this background that inspired the Slew Lace Deckchair. I wanted to celebrate the sea, the strife of the seafarers and the skill and ingenuity of the lace knitters of Shetland, specifically of Unst, juxtaposed with celebrating the relative leisure we enjoy today. I wanted to create a contemplative piece.
Shetland Arts was offering funding for Performance projects and I took the opportunity to create the deckchair as a performance. I knew that a deadline would finally see my vision realised. The funding allowed me time to engage a professional film and broadcast crew. The idea to broadcast over the Shetland Webcams network was a vague one until JJ Jamieson’s enthusiasm saw Andy Steven on board. Unst had to be the location and we booked Noosthamar, a converted croft house overlooking Burrafirth beach.
As the deadline approached, I was still to decide on the fibre to use. I experimented with a variety but nothing seemed right until I received a gift of some DK Shetland handspun from Mary Kay. Its use made sense symbolically and visually. I added a strand of retro reflective thread as it can give an interesting effect when photographed and is literally reflective.
My Mam (John and Charlotte's Granddaughter) volunteered to come along to cater for us, Liz Musser and JJ were to film and Andy did some magic and set up a new webcam channel to stream creative events from Shetland and broadcast ours for 12 hours. We chose midday to midnight to accommodate different time zones.
I had rehearsed and made a sample seat so I knew I could knit one repeat of the pattern in 40 minutes. I needed 12 repeats of the pattern with a plain knitting at the beginning and end for attaching to the frame so I thought I had plenty of time! I used 10mm needles and 33 stitches. I wanted the performance to be exciting and not finished too early so decided I would begin by winding the yarn from a hank to a cloo (ball) as part of the performance. This proved to be both a genius move, as it got my Mam in front of the camera , AND a dangerous one as it meant I nearly ran out of time! a recent bout of covid had left me at a low ebb and I found it hard to muster much energy and confidence to share my, slightly daft, plan. Thankfully JJ was much more on it than me and created and shared online adverts. I took out an ad in the Shetland News. 
At short notice I had messaged a few of my friends and relations in Unst inviting them along. To my absolute delight the first visitor to arrive was Hazel Laurenson. Hazel is a fabulous lace knitter and is responsible for the replicas and patterns you can see in the Unst Heritage Centre. She is also a Great Granddaughter of the aforementioned couple. I had pledged to memorise the Print and the Wave pattern, just as my ancestors would have done, but a bout of covid earlier in the year left me struggling to do so. Hazel, very kindly assured me that you need to refer to the chart for that design. Freda Gray, Ann Inkster and Mary Robertson, also John and Charlotte Henderson’s great granddaughter, arrived and we were starting to worry that we would run out of chairs! It was so fine to see them. Its hard to convey just how much skill, experience and sheer talent they have between them and I am so humbled that they came to support me in my slightly crazy venture.
Lack of sleep and nerves meant that my first knitting efforts of the day were riddled with errors. As it was a tribute piece, and I’m a bit of a perfectionist, it had to be right and so the spretting and re-knitting began! By 3.30pm I had only made 1 pattern repeat and was already 2 hours behind. With the visitors gone I knuckled down and I knew I had to do some serious knitting.
My Great Grandfather had written an account in 1932 recalling his experience of the Gloup Disaster. When I read it, it brings him closer to me. I read this account out on the day as a way of engaging and informing the online audience. To celebrate National Poetry I read a poem inspired by my work written by Paula Jennings. It always moves me, but on this day it nearly broke me! I was in bits, overwhelmed by the enormity of her words, the warmth from our visitors and the germane location. Stillness followed and then a lovely supportive message from a childhood neighbour set me back on track.
We had discussed making ways of allowing the viewers to interact with me though the day and opened up my Facebook messenger and webcams comment facility. Neither was ideal as registration was required but enough folk commented to keep the engagement going. I am so grateful for everyone who took the time to do so. It was heartwarming to know that folk were tuned in throughout the world; an Australian knitting group joined to watch, American friends messaged in, Wool Week visitors sent greetings from Norway and my brother joked about me suggesting Mam had been alive before 1914!
I didn’t want to eat on camera as I was miked up so whenever I had a ‘comfort break’ I would scoff some dark chocolate Brazil nuts and Liz supplied me with tea throughout the challenge.
The wonderful thing about Noosthamar is that even with the windows shut you can hear the sea rolling in and out over a stony beach, this coupled with the click click of our wires (knitting needles) was very relaxing and helped me remain calm even though I was desperately knitting to beat the clock. I was so grateful that my Mam joined me in knitting, she’s faster than me and so generates a better clicking sound and she has a knowledge of Unst history.
With the clock approaching 10.30pm I was vaguely aware of a rumbling between the doors that signalled our second set of visitors. I could hear the excitement in JJ’s voice as he announced their visit; Cheryl Jamieson of Glansin Glass, Melanie Mouatt of Mella and her aunt, Minnie Mouatt and Angela Fraser with, joy of joys, her fiddle!
In the last few minutes of knitting I was literally seeing spots before my eyes. Our visitors gave me the boost I needed for the final sprint knit to the end.
Throughout the challenge I felt the support and warmth of the local and global textile community and my friends and family. I’m grateful to Shetland Arts for their faith in me and for recognising Shetland Lace knitting as a valid art form. My vision has been realised and I have gained so much more in the process of its creation.
The total number of devices that logged in to watch the event was 3,500, located in 23 different countries. I wonder what our Great Grandfolk would think it of that.
The project achieved its aims - I completed my deckchair, Shetland Lace knitting was broadcast live to the world and we all took a moment to appreciate the sacrifices our ancestors had made. The Slew Deckchair was gifted to the Unst Heritage Centre.
I'm extremely grateful to Mam and all our visitors, to Joanne for letting us use her lovely house, to JJ and Liz for filming and Andy Steven for streaming services. This would not have happened unless Shetland Arts had taken a risk on me, I'll always be grateful to them.
The recording can be viewed at www.youtube.com/@helenrobertsonknits
Continue reading
This is Anne and I just outside Marie's studio! Right on the 'Banks Broo' or cliff edge. My gorgeous rust linen dress was my last purchase before Lockdown. I wore it til in wore in holes. It's now living a new life as a Ragtime Knitting Cowl! 
I truly had the best weekend and was sad to leave. It's thanks to Shetland Arts that projects such as this can take place. People in small islands are used to having to travel to the mainland to attend events and often miss out. Small populations require that a few folk do many jobs and perform many roles within the community. It was a privilege to travel to them and I hope to be back again soon. 