Shetland Fine Lace Knitting

By Carol Christiansen.

Recreating Patterns from the Past

The craft of Shetland knitted lace-making involves fine openwork knitting, used to make shawls, stoles and scarves, among other garments. These were considered luxury items because of their fineness, complexity of design, and the length of time required to make them.

This book reveals historical knitted lace pieces held in the Shetland Museum collection. It details individual lace motifs, together with instructions and charts for how to recreate them. Each lace pattern includes written knitting instructions, a photograph of the original sample, and  a photograph of a modern knitted swatch, along with the knitting chart. The book is a must for anyone with an interest in lace knitting, historical knitting, knitwear design and the Shetland Islands.

Hardcover, 208 pages, published August 2024.