SWW Film Series: Makkin and Yakkin - meet the new generation of Shetland knitters

It’s been well-documented that knitting has experienced a resurgence of interest in recent years. Even in a place such as Shetland with its strong knitting heritage, it is a skill that to some has been forgotten or remains a mystery.
Meet some of the new generation of Shetland knitters ‘makkin and yakkin’ and hear what inspired them to begin knitting, or to return to a childhood hobby and pick up their wires again.
Please click on subtitles if required.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Find us online:
Facebook - shetlandwoolweek
Instagram - shetlandwoolweek
Website - www.shetlandwoolweek.com
#shetlandwoolweek #shetland #shetlandislands #fairisleknitting #shetlandwool #shetlandsheep #shetlandknitwear #shetlanddesigners #knitweardesigners #shetlandknitters #shetlandknittingtechniques #shetlandwoolweekfilm

[@lindarobbie]

It felt like I was right there in the room with you all. Janette asked all the questions I wanted to ask. I was makkin along with you. Wonderful video. Thank you!

[@jacquelineslavich591]

So happy to see younger folk knitting.

[@christinevalentine3373]

What a wonderful treat! All the people are so generous in sharing their stories, thank you all so much. I really like that there is so much encouragement of people who may be interested. Such a gift to us all who live in countries which don’t have such a long tradition of knitting. Thank you.

[@chickadee04287]

Oh, how wonderful to have knitting in school. I would have loved that experience when I was young. As I am watching all of you knit these lovely fair isle hats and cowls, I can't help but be amazed that there is not a pattern in sight! Congratulations, ladies, keep the tradition alive.

[@resourcedragon]

The teacher needs to be a nice person - or you'll end up hating knitting for life. We had a _very_ off-putting sewing teacher at my school. She cleared her throat constantly and very loudly, and paired that with being as racist as she could get away with and a tendency to being sly. I was fortunate that my mother taught me a lot about sewing, or I wouldn't be able to sew a stitch. EDIT: So I hope they can find good knitting teachers who are also nice people, to keep the tradition alive, along with people who can teach the Norn dialect and keep that alive. Sadly a lot of the dialects and languages spoken in Britain were despised by the mainstream English ruling classes and children were punished at school for using them. Film, television and the internet haven't helped, either. Forty years ago I needed subtitles for a lot of Scots, when I visited in 2017 I had no difficulties understanding them, they pretty much spoke standard English with a mild Scottish accent.

[@aibhilinskye]

nice, I have spun some wool to the chat, it was lovely to have the company!

[@clearandbright2685]

The colors in the hat and scarf of the young lady to the far left are beautiful. It is a very good idea to classify the different types of hats. I am a beginner knitter in America, but I love our ancient heritage in our ancient isles.

[@LCharg]

I loved this so much! I was knitting along with them, in the early morning hours here in Washington State, USA. What a lovely video-it was beautiful filmed and with interesting conversation. Thank you!

[@kathleenbrasher5055]

thank you so much for a lovely hour of good company and knitting. I felt like part of the circle. Great to see

[@KKITTYKAT53]

Absolutely loved this. Will watch again. Thank you

[@GiselaT54]

Lovely to watch while knitting! Thank you!

[@glendabathgate4036]

That was so enjoyable thank you all dear ladies for ur time and passion I am in edinburgh but really would love to visit Shetland week maybe next year am off to Thailand soon

[@catnapper3923]

Oh the first row after the cast-on! I dread it. I love a project halfway.

[@grumpynanny7402]

Aw it’s been a long time since I heard the word ‘Petrie’. All the memories came rushing in. I knit too but have lost the speed and holding the needles. I just love watching.

[@rosemarywhitley4494]

Thank you ladies for sharing your skills and knowledge and interesting stories, I thoroughly enjoyed listening. I spent a week in Shetland in August and had a wonderful time. A 1st visit for me, but it'll no be the last! Thank you again. Rosemary (Glasgow) ❤

[@kathrynrose-schultz9218]

Love your group! Nice to hear we have same issues here and there!

[@carolyngethings]

What a wonderful vlog and so inspiring. I'm in my 60's now and I remember my mum knitting 2 fair isle yoke jumpers for my sister and me when we were just 4 and 5. Wish I still had that jumper. I don't know how she learned because she was born and brought up in Glasgow. There was no KZbin or internet then. Sadly, I can't ask her as she's not with us now. I've often thought I'd like to learn fair isle. I've knitted Arran but never got the hang of colour work. Shetland Wool Week is now on my bucket list and I've challenged myself to start learning fair isle.

[@jillsheffield3690]

What a great time I had learning from your sharing stories. Felt like I was there with you all. Thank you!

[@maggieedberg574]

Thank you ladies😊

[@lynntimmer1620]

What a delightful time to "participate" from Minnesota! I'm working on a Jamieson's 2-ply color work cowl. Special hello to Jolene! I was on the first MOWTS tour and loved it so much! And hello to Janette; you taught our class remotely, and I enjoyed "meeting" you that way! All the best to everyone for SWW.

[@lynnemoir8523]

This is truly the most wonderful, generous video. Thank you so much for sharing a bit of your lovely selves with all of us who wish we too were Slanderers.

[@paigemckelvey8781]

I now know what those interesting pouches with the holes are used for. I have never seen anything like it. I have enjoyed many of the videos that I have just found about SWW and the Shetand Isle knitting as a whole. We were very lucky to had the opportunity to visit Foula a few years ago. Unfortunately, the weather didn't allow us to get to Shetland. Someday, we will.

[@margaretmorgan4682]

I have my grandmother's makkin belt which she took from Shetland to New Zealand. I do knit Shetland lace, but use a circular needle.

[@dominiquebilodeau2225]

Your discussion about the word beanie was interesting, we hear it more and more here in Canada also. I thought it came from the U.S.. In Canada we typically use the term Toque or Tuque in french , but with Ravelry and the influence of KZbin and other social medias the younger generation has been replacing the word Tuque for the American beanie.

[@fionagray8492]

That was just lovely. Thank you all so much.

[@llessard]

This has been a wonderful experience ladies!! Thanks so much!

[@dee4174]

I loved this video. The accents and dialects are wonderful. ❤

[@feltaria9177]

What a charming and enjoyable video. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and thoughts. Very interesting to see Shetlanders using circulars. I’m hoping to get to SWW 2023 and I’d like to try a knitting belt.

[@davidhensley76]

I want to go to Shetland to learn to talk.

[@lucillecooper3600]

Love this group...ans a cup and a saucer!

[@gailcullinan349]

How lovely. The knitting is so beautiful. I shall download some free patterns from You Tube and take the classes

[@biaberg3448]

Interesting to listen to, while knitting. They used the word spret. In Norwegian the word sprette means to rip up a seam, on purpose. The word for unraveling knitting is “rekke opp”. You have the word gansey, we call all kinds of sweaters for genser. It’s probably the same word. 😊

[@sheil3884]

I hear you call your knitting needles "wires". I'm from North East Scotland and another word for "knitting" used in the villages outside Fraserburgh is "wyvin"....and am wondered if it comes from "wires"?

[@anitanielsen6222]

Thank you all for the makkin and yakkin. Are there afternoon or evenings like that at SWW ?

[@islandvistashetland543]

Yes, there are :-) There are a variety of them all over Shetland :-)

[@2charliep]

How can they concentrate with that scene out the window?

[@resourcedragon]

The window was behind them! And, as one of them said, she knitted while watching television.

[@jfager100]

I loved this video. Thank you so much for sharing your markings with us. I would love to have a bag with the markings terms/ definitions on it. Where did you find it. Could the Museum sell one like it ? I would buy several and my three knitting groups would be interested as well. I will listen to this again and again. 🤗😊💕

[@paulalarueduke3671]

Please tell me how you are knitting with the strange waist method. I have never seen this technique. Do you have a tutorial?

[@marleenneil7542]

Too much talking