Gloves – Shetland Designer
Some of my Shetland jumpers, gloves and scarves acquired over the past few years are from Wilma Malcolmson. They are frequently admired, including by the knitters at Winchester School of Art, for their colour, finish and style. Wilma has been the creative the force behind her knitwear business Shetland Designer since 1980 and will be leading a practical workshop for In the loop 3: the voices of knitting entitled “Painting with wool”.
Wilma grew up on a croft and was taught to knit as a young child by her mother. Her knitwear has a contemporary feel as whilst retaining the tradition of Fair-Isle patterns she has had a life long interest in using colour which is integral to her work as a knitwear designer. She likes to blend the hues of Shetland colours whilst also juxtaposing unexpected accent colours. It is this aspect of her work that will be the focus for her workshop at the Winchester Discovery Centre. Even my nieces husband, Sean, sports a Wilma hat in the winter perhaps made popular for men by the naturalist Simon King.
Detail from a new cardigan – Shetland Designer
Detail from lace knit scarf – Shetland Designer
In the loop 