Era of knitting lessons in schools to come to an end

Knitting lessons are to cease in Shetland schools after councillors voted 10-5 to remove the £130,000 annual budget. However, efforts are to be made to increase the amount of knitting taught during existing craft and design classes, which are part of the statutory curriculum, and by encouraging the museum service and Shetland Arts Trust to play a bigger role.

It is expected that many of the 14 part-time knitting teachers will retire or be offered work in other areas which the council has been unable to recruit into.



Shetlands Islands Council is believed to be the only remaining local authority in Scotland to offer free knitting classes in primary schools. They were only introduced in the early 1970s, although pre­viously domestic science teachers had offered some instruction.

Council policy states: “Knitting is taught … with a view to ensuring the continuation of a traditional craft which has been, is and, hope­fully, will be one of the mainstays of Shetland’s tripartite traditional economy together with crofting and fishing. Shetland’s name is synonymous with Fair Isle and lace knitting and it would be unthinkable that this craft be allowed to die.”