Introducing our second heritage pattern from this year’s Shetland Wool Week Annual: the striking ‘Jemima’s Jumper and Cowl’ based on an item from the @shetlandmuseum textiles collection and reinterpreted for us by Donna Smith Designs.

You may remember that last year we shared a photograph of the original boldly patterned jumper on our Instagram page. The jumper was created in the 1980s by Jemima Rendall, an accomplished knitter and hand spinner from Unst who lived her adult life in Aberdeen. It immediately sparked interest and many of our followers asked for the pattern. We knew this was something we wanted to do, but where to begin?

We contacted Donna and invited her to take a closer look at the original and revive it for a modern audience. Thankfully she agreed to take on the challenge in what has been a busy year for her personally (with her own pattern book out too!). Reproducing, updating and writing the pattern has been a labour of love and we’re delighted to share the results with you.

This reinterpretation has had a few adjustments which are fully explained in an interview with Donna in the Annual. Some of the most striking changes have been the inclusion of a separate cowl (featuring stripes!) rather than a polo neck, and slightly set in sleeves rather than the raglan sleeves of the original. Donna has also used steeks rather than knitting flat where the front and back are separated after the armholes, so that more of it can be worked in the round.

It’s a beautiful, relaxed knit - perfect for autumn walks

Yarn: Jamieson & Smith Shetland Wool Brokers Shetland Black (2005) and Natural White (2001)

For errata please see:
https://www.shetlandwoolweek.com/2022-annual-errata/