The Anderson High School Maakin’ and Yakkin’ lunchtime group met up for the first time in February 2013. Originally it was the idea of Biology Teacher Caroline Simpson who is a keen knitter and thought it would be a good way of getting staff and pupils of all ages together to learning a new skill and spend a relaxing lunchtime together.
From the outset it was clear there was a lot of interest and enthusiasm for the group. It started out, in conjunction with UNICEF week, as a way of making baby hats and tunics of the Malawi project in Africa. Staff, pupils, grannies, parents, and other family members got involved and there ended up with an overwhelming array of tunics, bootees, teddy bears, crochet blankets and 120 hats produced. Two 6th year AHS pupils who were heading to Malawi, took some of the knitwear with them but they were very limited with the weights they could carry. At about the same time the “Hand in Hand for Syria” appeal was launched in Scotland and with the help of free transport to Edinburgh by Shetland Transport the remainder of the garments made their way to Syrian orphans.
Since then the Maakin’ and Yakkin’ group has gone from strength to strength. It has changed over time to become more focused on teaching the pupils new skills such as fair isle. Thanks to the Peerie Maakers initiative the group are now the proud owners of 6 traditional maakin belts and these are well used.
There are some very keen, talented young knitters involved. As you will see from various entries the group are involved in knitting activities outwith the school including visits to the Shetland Textile College and Shetland Wool Week.
Great to see the group going from strength to strength. Well done to the staff and students involved!
I took a trip to Knockando wool meal recent – you should check out their website!
Im so excited that i get to show everybody the pictures from woolweek! This is the best blog ever 🙂
Thank you for letting me join you yesterday and for helping me start my granny square !
Really enjoyed it and looking forward to next week
Brill tae see da blog up and running! (-:
So happy to have a blog!!!
I loved reading this brilliant blog. It was so great to see your photos and learn of your events. Thank you for posting them on this very good website. It gave me quite a boost!
I am a retired Biology teacher, living in Hertfordshire, about 30 miles from London. The connection I have with you, as well as Science, is that I am the daughter in law of a Shetlander, and I love Shetland knitting. My children had Shetland jumpers that their Granny made, She was born in Yell in 1917, the tales she told me were of a very different age.
I have knitted Fair Isle patterns, including the Baable Hat and the Crofthoose Hat, and I have a note book where I dot down patterns. I plan to do more Shetland knitting now I am retired, and I love it that so many young people are keen to knit such beautiful items and to develop this skill which they will be glad of throughout their lives.
Your ‘Tak your sock night’ sounded just like the nights my mother in law spoke of, in the 1930s, when people from the nearby crofts would come round in the evenings with their knitting and sit chatting by the fire while their knitting grew.
Very best wishes