Shetland wool week and local studies

On Instagram there was a lot of recent activity for #shetlandwoolweek. I found out about it last year and it looked amazing, and something to add to the "to visit" list. I am interested in it because of the knitting, but also because of the local studies.

The image below brings in a library partnership as a participant reports back on the Shetland wool week

Come hear about my Shetland Wool Week adventures and my sheepy mayhem tour of North Yorkshire England. I will be presenting at the Newfields NH library this Wednesday night 7 PM. Free event. #shetlandwoolweek #shetland #newfieldsnh #newfieldslibrary #knittersofinstagram

A photo posted by Wendy Booth (@hivetender) on Oct 10, 2016 at 7:05pm PDT

I hope the local public library in Shetland is collecting some of these images as there are twists on the traditional, for example (inclusion of runes)

Knit from handspun by Sue Arthur. Displayed at the Guild Tea in Tingwall. #inspiredbyshetland #shetlandwoolweek #knitting #fairisle

A photo posted by Cathy Scott - Stitchmastery (@stitchmastery) on Oct 2, 2016 at 7:43am PDT

It is interesting because there is a focus on the sheep

Oliver, judging fleece on the hoof. #Shetland #grandshetlandadventure #shetlandwoolweek #shetlandwoolweek2016 #sheep

A photo posted by Carrie Sundra (@alpenglowyarn) on Oct 1, 2016 at 4:42am PDT

as well as the finished product. Heritage items were on display

Visited the Isleburgh Community Centre last night and met Elizabeth. The sweater that Elizabeth is wearing plus all the others displayed behind her were knit by her mother and aunt in the 1920s and 1930s. Aren't they amazing? #shetlandwoolweek #knitting #knittersofinstagram #artificialsilk #fairisle

A photo posted by Cathy Scott - Stitchmastery (@stitchmastery) on Sep 28, 2016 at 1:22am PDT

as new pieces were being made...

Sheila Fowlie teaching us about lace knitting with organic wool 👌 {on a side note, we found the other two Icelanders attending wool week!} #shetlandwoolweek #hjalti2016 #allthelace

A photo posted by Lára Þórarinsdóttir (@larathor) on Sep 26, 2016 at 2:28pm PDT

Bright swatches from our class with @mjmucklestone . We tested out different fair isle color combos, and were supposed to all use the same colors of yarn. It turns out we were all a bunch of terrible cheaters - some of us added colors and some of us used entirely different colors because we decided to immediately swatch for a sweater. 😁 playing with colors is pretty addictive - I just wanted to keep rearranging and swatching! #swatches #fairisle #colorwork #knitting #shetland #shetlandwoolweek #grandshetlandadventure

A photo posted by Carrie Sundra (@alpenglowyarn) on Oct 7, 2016 at 10:42am PDT

I think this is very interesting from a local studies perspective, and would have great potential for oral history and other recording of current experience. There was even a readers' advisory element as well

Luckily snagged tickets to Ann Cleeves new book launch. #shetlandwoolweek #anncleeves

A photo posted by kschneibolk (@kschneibolk) on Oct 2, 2016 at 8:16am PDT

Sheep and local studies

There has been an interesting discussion on Instagram encouraging people in the UK to share photographs of rare sheep breeds...

Thanks to Emma @girlinknits for suggesting we use the #woolworks hashtag again during UK Wool Week; we thought it would be amazing to take this opportunity to highlight and celebrate the different British Sheep Breeds. Here's a lovely Southdown sheep to kick things off #showusyoursheepbreeds #woolworks #ukwoolweek #britishwool #notjustmerino

A photo posted by Team Wovember (@wovemberwool) on Oct 9, 2016 at 8:33pm PDT

This is from the UK, and many of these sheep are connected to local areas. This has led to some lovely photographs of sheep...

Hurrah for the diversity of #uksheepbreeds and #WoolWorks #ukwoolweek a glimpse of the hashtag action so far today!

A photo posted by Team Wovember (@wovemberwool) on Oct 10, 2016 at 10:32am PDT

#daughterofashepherd #Hebridean #sheep - what else would I choose as my #WoolWorks breed! We are on our way to visit @johnarbontextiles to go over future woolly plans, which seems a fitting end to #WoolWeek

A photo posted by Rachel Atkinson (@knittingtastic) on Oct 14, 2016 at 2:32am PDT

As well as photographs of items made with the wool of rare sheep breeds

Celebrating the beauty of different breed wool is something very close to my heart. I am still absolutely in love with this project from last year by @handmadebysigi - she took a range of wools and used each one to make a tiny sock from Sock Anatomy. Single breed yarns + socks = the perfect combo. What a fantastic way to experiment with different types of wool. (Don't forget you can buy Sock Anatomy, or any of the single patterns in the book, with 25% off until the end of the weekend - link in profile) #knitsharelove #notjustmerino #woolworks #knitbritish #lovelocalyarn #woolweek

A photo posted by Clare Devine (@knitsharelove) on Oct 12, 2016 at 8:21pm PDT

These cheeky little guys are starting to get too fresh with the ladies. So they have been banished to another pasture until some decisions can be made about them. @wovemberwool #Romney #Lincolnlongwool #rarebreed #naturalcolored #purebreedwool #britishbreeds #wovemberwool #woolworks #showusyoursheepbreeds #notjustmerino #sheepinPA #chestercountypa #ramlambs #ramlife #BrynMawr #LittleBit #Basil #Bruce

A photo posted by Amanda Barcenas (@pradodelana) on Oct 12, 2016 at 9:12am PDT

It made me hope that some UK public libraries are collecting this for their local studies collections.

A knitting pattern copyright discussion on Instagram

I found out about this discussion because I saw this (you need to read the information under the photograph)

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE; top photo is the amazing Baa-ble Hat designed by @donnasmithdesigns for #ShetlandWoolWeek 2015, the bottom is a "new design" from @chelseayarns bearing an *uncanny* resemblance to Donna's design. This makes me sad because surely there are enough amazing ideas to be had in this world that you can do a sheepy design without ripping off another designer, and because I strongly believe that we must respect each other's creativity and not exploit it. There are ways and means of approaching someone about using their original ideas but publishing a free pattern on Ravelry that directly quotes someone else's design is not one of them. #notok #originalintellectualcopyright #ripoff #baablehat #istandwithmyfrienddonna

A photo posted by Felicity Ford (@knitsonik) on Oct 14, 2016 at 12:56pm PDT

which was reposted by others, and led to one person sharing their photograph of the hat they had knitted with the original pattern, calling others to do the same...

This is a picture of my #baablehat I wore last year when I was in Shetland during the #shetlandwoolweek. I just read the post of @knitsonik about a copycat (#shewhocannotbenamed) used this fantastic design made by @donnasmithdesigns. This morning Donna posted a picture of her baable hats and new cowl and I'm asking you not to use the copycat cowl, but buy the one Donna is designing! #istandwithmyfrienddonna #baablehatisthebomb #godesignyourowncowl #knittersofinstagram #knitting #rhinebeck #knitstagram #knittingaddict #breien #stricken #shetland #shetlandrules

A photo posted by Madeleine (@madeliciousm) on Oct 14, 2016 at 1:22pm PDT

...which led to more people sharing their photographs...

#getyourbaablesoot me and @knitsonik at #shetlandwoolweek2015 opening ceremony in the #baablehat. I didn't make one in time (@helenemagnusson let me borrow hers) Tomorrow I am going to cast one on! 📸 - THE @jenireid

A photo posted by Louise Scollay (@knit_british) on Oct 14, 2016 at 3:03pm PDT

There are more examples at #getyourbabblesoot.

 Only a few days ago the pattern creator had shared

It's the October holidays here at the moment, so that together with working a couple of days this week and catching up with pals has meant that there isn't much time for knitting. I am however working on a Baa-ble cowl and mittens set now the cold weather is setting in. The patterns will be released very soon! #baablehat #baablecowl #baablemittens #knittersofinstagram #knitting #shetlandwoolweek #inspiredbyshetland

A photo posted by Donna Smith (@donnasmithdesigns) on Oct 13, 2016 at 11:21am PDT

I thought this was an interesting way of dealing with copyright misuse. They are working through Ravelry as well.

An update has been posted by the original designer. It is worth checking the number of likes and comments as there is a lot of solidarity being shown.

I want just to say a massive thank you to everyone lately for their support, the woolly community really is an amazing place! On another note the Baa-ble mittens and cowl is now on Ravelry (user name is Peeriedonna). More pictures to follow - I had forgotten how little light we get sometimes when the winter gets near! #baablehat #baablemittens #baablecowl #knittersofinstagram #knitting #shetlandwoolweek #sheep #inspiredbyshetland

A photo posted by Donna Smith (@donnasmithdesigns) on Oct 15, 2016 at 6:26pm PDT

The Hunt Library visualization experience

I really like the way I can find out about some of the amazing things happening at this library.  They are doing amazing things, and are sharing them - which is just as important.