Scotland - Local Products - Traditional Crafts -

Knitwear

Knitwear is part of Scotland's heritage, and two centuries of tradition are behind the innovative colours and designs used today.

On the east coast of Scotland the Aran patterns originate from the interweaving motifs found on the Pictish Standing Stones. The patterns became localised, with each pattern signifying a specific fishing village. By the 19th century fish wives along the east coast knitted the jumpers on circular needles and making a garment without seams and including their village pattern in oiled wool.

On the west coast of Scotland the patterns were vertical and identified individual families, usually reflecting the family's occupation. In the Seventeenth Century, it was mostly men engaged by the Knitting Guilds, training for seven years to qualify as a member.

Margaret and Ian Thomson
1A Brae Street
Dunkeld PH8 0BA
Tel/fax: +44 01350 728 731
Email: mgt-ian@margaret-thomson.com
WebSite: Margareth-Thomson.com

Stephane Jaeger Knitwear
Littlequoy
Burray
Orkney KW17 2SX
Tel: ++44 0 1856 731 228
Fax: ++44 0 1856 731 228
Email: stephjaegerknitwear@yahoo.com

PhatSheep
10 Bells Place
Lerwick
Shetland

Cashmere

One of the rarest and most precious fibres in the world, cashmere, is grown in the high altitudes of Mongolia and Xinjiang China, and then transformed into cloth, knitwear and garments in Scotland. In the late 19th century the cashmere industry grew in the Scottish borders, specialising in knitting and weaving techniques for underwear.

In the 1920s Coco Chanel discovered cashmere and elevated it from its humble origings as underwear, delivering it to the catwalks of the world. Since then designers have come to Scotland from Paris, Milan, New York and Tokyo to commission their cashmere collections.

Johnsons of Elgin
The Cashmere Visitor Centre
Elgin
Morayshire IV30 4AF
Tel: +44 01343 554 099
Fax: +44 01343 554 080Johnstoncashmere.com

Cashmere's of Scotland
New Bongate Mill
Jedbrugh TD8 6DU
Tel: +44 01835 863 306
WebSite: Cashmeres-of-scotland.com

Lynn Renney Design
15 Douglas Place
Galashiels
Scottish Borders TD1 3BT
Tel/Fax: +44 01896 751 528

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