Knitting a Nation - On Tour
Our knitted map of Scotland was unveiled in Cupar on 21st June. Since then it has started a tour of Scotland, starting with Edinburgh and Markinch. Look out for the map at a location near you!
July- National Collective Summerhill Exhibition, Edinburgh
July-August Markinch YES
12th to 19th August: Caledonian Connection, Railway Street, Stirling.
21st to 26th August: Scotch Wool Shop, Union Street, Dundee
28th to 3rd September: Buchanavon Heritage Centre, Peterhead
National Collective @Alhambra Theatre, Dunfermline
St Andrews Women for Yes Public Meeting
11th to 20th September: Linlithgow (Star and Garter Hotel)
22nd October to 4th November : McFarlane Gallery, Alloa
December- 5th January: Aberfoyle Wool Centre, Aberfolyle
January 8th Markinch Heritage Society
February 2015: Glenrothes Heritage Museum
March 5-8th 2015: Stitching and Sewing Show, Glasgow SECC
14th-15th March: Edinburgh Yarn Festival (Elena Costella Studio Stall)
April 2015: Aberfoyle Tourist Centre
July- National Collective Summerhill Exhibition, Edinburgh
July-August Markinch YES
12th to 19th August: Caledonian Connection, Railway Street, Stirling.
21st to 26th August: Scotch Wool Shop, Union Street, Dundee
28th to 3rd September: Buchanavon Heritage Centre, Peterhead
National Collective @Alhambra Theatre, Dunfermline
St Andrews Women for Yes Public Meeting
11th to 20th September: Linlithgow (Star and Garter Hotel)
22nd October to 4th November : McFarlane Gallery, Alloa
December- 5th January: Aberfoyle Wool Centre, Aberfolyle
January 8th Markinch Heritage Society
February 2015: Glenrothes Heritage Museum
March 5-8th 2015: Stitching and Sewing Show, Glasgow SECC
14th-15th March: Edinburgh Yarn Festival (Elena Costella Studio Stall)
April 2015: Aberfoyle Tourist Centre
About the Map - 'Ye cannae pull the wool ower oor een'
Women from all over Scotland knitted an A4 rectangle of a map to their own design – with no more than an outline map, technical guidelines and a palette of suggested (but not compulsory) colours. The women worked both individually or in groups, kept in touch through social media and had access to expert advice if they wanted it. Their rectangles were assembled into a large scale map of Scotland, blocked, backed and framed by a textile artist and knitting designer, and were unveiled at a reception on Friday 20th June at the Corn Exchange in Cupar. The map was also displayed at the Art Exhibition at 'Hear the Nation' the next day.
The finished map is a patchwork: a kaleidoscope of impressions, memories and interpretations of women from places as far apart as Shetland and the Borders, Lewis and Aberdeen; women of different ages, backgrounds and political persuasion. It reflects the variety of landscapes and seascapes Scotland has to offer and is a testament to the commitment, vision and creativity of the women, their willingness to collaborate and their love of Scotland. Hopefully, it will also make people laugh at the distinctive, irreverent task we set ourselves.
Apart from approximately 40 knitters involved, and 4 members of the planning/working group, the project was followed by Jo Gill and Francois Lamy, a European based documentary team (journalist and cameraman). They wished to capture on film the essence of how attitudes are changing in Scotland throughout this campaign and decided that 'Knitting a Nation' would be an ideal focus for their work. It has also attracted the attention of National Collective, the non-party political group for artists and creatives who support independence. Their photographer Robb Mcrae (who generously provided the banner image used across this site) took photographs for their Documenting Scotland project.
You can find a blog dedicated to the project here, and can read more about the knitting project here and here. Come and admire the map as it tours the country!
The finished map is a patchwork: a kaleidoscope of impressions, memories and interpretations of women from places as far apart as Shetland and the Borders, Lewis and Aberdeen; women of different ages, backgrounds and political persuasion. It reflects the variety of landscapes and seascapes Scotland has to offer and is a testament to the commitment, vision and creativity of the women, their willingness to collaborate and their love of Scotland. Hopefully, it will also make people laugh at the distinctive, irreverent task we set ourselves.
Apart from approximately 40 knitters involved, and 4 members of the planning/working group, the project was followed by Jo Gill and Francois Lamy, a European based documentary team (journalist and cameraman). They wished to capture on film the essence of how attitudes are changing in Scotland throughout this campaign and decided that 'Knitting a Nation' would be an ideal focus for their work. It has also attracted the attention of National Collective, the non-party political group for artists and creatives who support independence. Their photographer Robb Mcrae (who generously provided the banner image used across this site) took photographs for their Documenting Scotland project.
You can find a blog dedicated to the project here, and can read more about the knitting project here and here. Come and admire the map as it tours the country!