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McGregor started working on ''The Complete Book of Traditional Fair Isle Knitting'' in the mid-1970s,<ref name="shetlandmuseum" /> motivated by her concern over changes to Scottish traditions caused by the oil industry. She travelled to the [[Shetland Isles]] and other remote places in Scotland to visit knitters, and studied pieces of historic knitting in private collections and museums across [[Shetland]], elsewhere in Scotland, and in London. In her book, she attempts to debunk many of the romantic stories surrounding the traditions of [[Shetland]] [[knitting]], seeking to provide a more accurate history.<ref name="shetlandmuseum">{{Cite web|title=Sheila McGregor Collection|url=https://www.shetlandmuseumandarchives.org.uk/collections/museum/textiles/sheila-mcgregor-collection|access-date=13 November 2020|website=Shetland Museum & Archives|language=en-GB}}</ref>
McGregor started working on ''The Complete Book of Traditional Fair Isle Knitting'' in the mid-1970s,<ref name="shetlandmuseum" /> motivated by her concern over changes to Scottish traditions caused by the oil industry. She travelled to the [[Shetland Isles]] and other remote places in Scotland to visit knitters, and studied pieces of historic knitting in private collections and museums across [[Shetland]], elsewhere in Scotland, and in London. In her book, she attempts to debunk many of the romantic stories surrounding the traditions of [[Shetland]] [[knitting]], seeking to provide a more accurate history.<ref name="shetlandmuseum">{{Cite web|title=Sheila McGregor Collection|url=https://www.shetlandmuseumandarchives.org.uk/collections/museum/textiles/sheila-mcgregor-collection|access-date=13 November 2020|website=Shetland Museum & Archives|language=en-GB}}</ref>


Her fascination with Scandinavian knitting began in 1955, when coming across a jersey in a shop located in [[Copenhagen]], Denmark. Unable to buy the jersey as she was a penniless student, she instead bought a knitting pattern which she used to make one in the same style.<ref name="scandi" /> For her book "The Complete Book of Traditional Scandinavian Knitting," she journeyed to Scandinavia, engaging with local knitters and examining traditional knitted items in various museums and collections.{{fact|date=November 2023}} In this book, she illustrates how the [[Scandinavia|Scandinavian]] tradition is connected to the Shetland Tradition.
She became interested in Scandinavian knitting in 1955 after discovering a jersey in a Copenhagen shop. Despite being a broke student and unable to purchase it, she bought a knitting pattern and recreated the style herself. <ref name="scandi" /> For her book "The Complete Book of Traditional Scandinavian Knitting," she journeyed to Scandinavia, engaging with local knitters and examining traditional knitted items in various museums and collections.{{fact|date=November 2023}} In this book, she illustrates how the [[Scandinavia|Scandinavian]] tradition is connected to the Shetland Tradition.


''[[The Scotsman]]'' said in 1983 that ''Traditional Knitting'' "discards many of the myths surrounding this craft ... [and] gives a stimulating insight into the key influences in folk knitting around the world".<ref name="Scotsman_1983">{{cite news |title=Folk knitting around the world |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000540/19830729/116/0008 |access-date=2 December 2023 |work=The Scotsman |date=29 July 1983}}</ref>
''[[The Scotsman]]'' said in 1983 that ''Traditional Knitting'' "discards many of the myths surrounding this craft ... [and] gives a stimulating insight into the key influences in folk knitting around the world".<ref name="Scotsman_1983">{{cite news |title=Folk knitting around the world |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000540/19830729/116/0008 |access-date=2 December 2023 |work=The Scotsman |date=29 July 1983}}</ref>

Revision as of 05:07, 6 December 2023

Sheila McGregor
NationalityScottish
Occupation(s)Writer, fibre artist, historian
Notable workThe Complete Book of Traditional Scandinavian Knitting, The Complete Book of Traditional Fair Isle Knitting

Sheila McGregor is a Scottish fibre artist, author, and historian who published The Complete Book of Traditional Scandinavian Knitting and The Complete Book of Traditional Fair Isle Knitting.

Career

McGregor started working on The Complete Book of Traditional Fair Isle Knitting in the mid-1970s,[1] motivated by her concern over changes to Scottish traditions caused by the oil industry. She travelled to the Shetland Isles and other remote places in Scotland to visit knitters, and studied pieces of historic knitting in private collections and museums across Shetland, elsewhere in Scotland, and in London. In her book, she attempts to debunk many of the romantic stories surrounding the traditions of Shetland knitting, seeking to provide a more accurate history.[1]

She became interested in Scandinavian knitting in 1955 after discovering a jersey in a Copenhagen shop. Despite being a broke student and unable to purchase it, she bought a knitting pattern and recreated the style herself. [2] For her book "The Complete Book of Traditional Scandinavian Knitting," she journeyed to Scandinavia, engaging with local knitters and examining traditional knitted items in various museums and collections.[citation needed] In this book, she illustrates how the Scandinavian tradition is connected to the Shetland Tradition.

The Scotsman said in 1983 that Traditional Knitting "discards many of the myths surrounding this craft ... [and] gives a stimulating insight into the key influences in folk knitting around the world".[3]

In 2014, McGregor donated some of her research to the Shetland Museum. The collection is open to researchers by appointment.[1]

Personal life

McGregor lives in Edinburgh[4] and was Chairman of Council at the Clan Gregor Society.[2]

A Fair Isle pullover

Published works

  • McGregor, Sheila (1981). The Complete Book of Traditional Fair Isle Knitting London: Batsford. ISBN 978-0713414325
  • McGregor, Sheila (1984). The Complete Book of Traditional Scandinavian Knitting London: Batsford. ISBN 978-0312156381
  • McGregor, Sheila (2003). Traditional Fair Isle Knitting (revised edition of former publication) Dover Publications Inc ISBN 978-0486431079
  • McGregor, Sheila (2004). Traditional Scandinavian Knitting (revised edition of former publication) Dover Publications Inc ISBN 978-0486433004

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Sheila McGregor Collection". Shetland Museum & Archives. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  2. ^ a b McGregor, Sheila (1984). The complete book of traditional Scandinavian knitting (1st U.S. ed.). New York, N.Y.: St. Martin's Press. ISBN 978-0312156381.
  3. ^ "Folk knitting around the world". The Scotsman. 29 July 1983. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  4. ^ McGregor, Sheila (1981). The complete book of traditional Fair Isle knitting. London: Batsford. ISBN 978-0713414325.
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