Fair Isle and Andalusia

The Shetland Museum windows are home to two woven banners which come with intriguing backgrounds. 

Inspired by the idea that Fair Isle knitting motifs came from shipwrecked Spanish sailors in the 1580's, Simone Landwehr-Traxler has been exploring the story by making interesting and unusual links including with Alex Begg, luxury weavers. By focusing on this story, Simone is unravelling the reality of the patterned knitwear from the story, looking at how the constraints of pattern and material have affected the knitwear, and at how trade has had a similar effect. 

Have a look at the banners here, and pop into the Museum to see the pieces hanging in the front windows.