St. Kilda

11/01/2016

St. Kilda

I first learned the story of St. Kilda as I was wandering around Kelvingrove Art Museum last year. Photos of sheep on a wall and knitted things in a case...of course, I'm going to stop and see what it's all about.

St. Kilda is an archipelago on the western-most edge of the Outer Hebrides...40 miles from the closest land. It most likely was inhabited for close to two millennia, although never boasting more than 180 or so residents at any one time. It was officially evacuated in 1930; the population now consists of some military personnel and archeologists....and sheep. The islands' native Boreray and Soay sheep are two of the oldest and rarest of all British breeds, so there is only enough wool to make a limited amount of St. Kilda yarn every year. The fibers are combined with native Shetland wool to create a lovely yarn with plenty of bounce....perfect for shawls.

Pattern: Kelpie (Jared Flood)

Yarn: Blacker's St. Kilda (limited edition) in Isle of Dun and Stac Lee colours available from Claire at The Woolly Thistle.

Reading: I'm reading a book that I apparently read (or at least started) a while ago...I finally got to a part that I really remembered reading. (How could you forgot Winston Churchhill making the main character join him while he painted pyramids?) Up until then, I thought I might have read something similar. Obviously, if it wasn't a good enough storyline to remember, than it probably isn't good enough to recommend...and anyway, the book is in the other room, and I can't remember the title.

I'm old.

Nov 1, 2016 8:43:48 AM | knitting, scotland, WIP, yarnalong