Triona Thompson
Elizabeth Riddiford
Elena Mera-Long
 Knit by Annie Thomson Your chance to own a bit of the "Legend"As part of this year’s Tall Ships race, the knitters on Fair Isle brought an important part of our history to life by hand knitting Fair Isle fisherman’s keps (hats) and trading them for Norwegian goods with the crew of the Norwegian full-rigged ship Sørlandet. This barter took place on Tuesday 19th July (see blog link below). Only a handful of keps were knitted, each one is unique and could be considered priceless! Fortunately, besides those used for barter, there are a few available to help raise funds for our museum extension - and you can be part of this historic trade with Fair Isle - without a sailing ship! All knitted in Fair Isle by masters of their craft , the keps shown below will be auctioned over the next few weeks. The final one to be auctioned, shown above, was knitted by Annie Thomson, né Wilson, born in Springfield, Fair Isle in 1922; doyen and mentor of us all. Each kep will be sent to the person who gives the highest bid/pledge by the appropriate date. On receipt of the donation the Fair Isle Fisherman's Kep will be sent to the generous contributor when payment has been received by way of cheque or paypal (instructions below). On offer 6 amazing pieces of Fair Isle Knitwear!  |
| Fair Isle Fisherman's Kep # 1 - by Triona Thomson present pledged donation £150.00 Sold Auction ends Oct. 30th 2011 - 10:00 pm. |
Triona Thompson
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| Fair Isle Fisherman's Kep # 2 - by Katherine Montgomery present pledge donation £150.00 Sold Auction ends Nov. 6th, 2011 - 10:00 pm. |
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| Fair Isle Fisherman's Kep # 3 - by Katherine Montgomery present pledge donation £150.00 Sold Auction ends Nov. 13th 2011 - 10:00 pm.  Fair Isle Fisherman's Kep # 4 - by Elizabeth Riddiford present pledge donation £100.00 Sold Auction ends Nov. 20th 2011 - 10:00 pm. |
Elizabeth Riddiford
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| Fair Isle Fisherman's Kep # 5 - by Elena Mera-Long present pledge donation £150.00 Sold Auction ends Nov. 27th 2011 - 10:00 pm. |
Elena Mera-Long
Annie Thomson The Legend...
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| Late 1930s, Annie, 2nd from right, knitting with her mother and sisters outside Springfield on a sunny day. |
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| Annie Thomson in 1958 in Edinburgh demonstrating her skill at the Ideal Homes Exhibition. |
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Annie’s husband, Stewart, noted spinner and maker of spinning wheels, displaying the final kep in this fundraiser. present pledged donation £755.00 - Sold Auction ends Dec 4th 2011 - 10:00 pm. |
Born to Knit!
Annie (Wilson) Thomson - born 1922 and still knitting!
Traditional Fair Isle Fisherman's Keps on displayed in the Museum prior to the tall Ships barter. Fair Isle, a name synonymous with a rich heritage of colour and pattern in knitwear, is the most remote inhabited island in Britain. A stepping stone in the seaway between Orkney and Shetland, the Isle lies at the centre of a major sea route, and our tradition of bartering with passing vessels is a long and strong one. From Viking times fresh produce and textiles have been traded for whatever the Isle could not manufacture, and the beautiful knitwear for which Fair Isle is renown has been traded for hundreds of years with passing ships. |
Bidding on all hand knit Fair Isle Keps is now open
Bids start at £100.00
Bids start at £100.00
Bid by posting in comment below.
confirm bids to: email tommyartgallery@yahoo.com , or call me - 01595 760 349
or contact George Waterston Memorial Centre & Museum - 01595 760 244
payment - Cheque or Paypal at the end of Auction.
Present bidding:
Kep # 1 £150.00 - end date Oct. 30th 2011 - Sold
Triona Thomson
Triona Thomson
Kep # 2 £150.00 - end date Nov. 6th 2011 - Sold
Katherine Montgomery
Katherine Montgomery
Kep # 3 £150.00 - end date Nov. 13th 2011 - Sold
Katherine Montgomery
Katherine Montgomery
Kep # 4 £100.00 - end date Nov. 20th 2011 - Sold
Elizabeth Riddiford
Elizabeth Riddiford
Kep # 5 £150.00 - end date Nov. 27th 2011 - Sold
Elena Mera - Long
Elena Mera - Long
Kep # 6 £755.00 - end date Dec. 4th 2011 - Sold
Annie Thomson
Annie Thomson
Bid now it is for a good cause
The first Fair Isle Fisherman's Kep raised a £300.00 donation - see details:
The first Fair Isle Fisherman's Kep raised a £300.00 donation - see details:
Fair Isle Fishermens’ KEps: Hand-knitted Fair Isle Fisherman's hats knitted in Fair Isle are currently not sold on Fair Isle and haven't been for years. Until now they had been made only by a few people for family members. The skill have been revitalized throughout the island by the women of a few households who have handed down the history stitch by stitch. The project was sponsored by Jamieson Spinning in Shetland, who donated the pure Shetland yarn used.
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| Thank you Jamieson's for supporting our heritage. |
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| George Waterston Memorial Centre & Museum |
Thousands of pounds are need to add this small but much needed extension. Designed to mimic in shape the kjyls (kilns for drying grain) built onto some of the barns on the Isle, the new extension will house a much needed office and toilet. The new wind and weather buffering entrance will help to ensure the collection is doubly protected from the elements every time the door opens. The Museum & the Islanders are very appreciative of any donations of any size beyond this fundraising event. The museum has charitable status (SC005177) and is a member of Museum Galleries Scotland. Donations can be sent to:
George Waterston Memorial Centre & Museum - Fair Isle - Shetland - ZE2 9JU - UK.
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| Museum Extension Floor Plan. |
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| Museum Extension Elevation Rendering |
To see more of the Fair Isle Tall Ships barter with the Sorlandet follow this link to an earlier post.
1774 - The dairy of Janet Schaw, passenger 'Jamaica Packet' travelling to North Carolina.
The yoals coming out to trade with the ship off the coast of Fair Isle.
"were loaded with the Island manufactures; such as knitted caps, mittens, stockings and the softest coarse cloth I ever saw made of wool"
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