The Fine Art of Fair Isle Knitting
Hello, I'm Hazel Tindall, from Shetland, and I am delighted to welcome you to my website where I present a selection of my unique Shetland and Fair Isle knitting patterns, available for immediate download.
I was privileged to grow up in Shetland where I was surrounded by knitters who needed to knit quickly and to a high standard in order to gain an income. I have been knitting for longer than I've been reading and writing, and have no memory of learning to knit.
It's nearly 60 years since I knitted my first cardigan for myself, and well over 50 since I knitted my first Fair Isle cardigan. Since then I've knitted hundreds, if not thousands, of pieces of knitting. I love knitting Fair Isle - so many colours and patterns to choose I will never run out of ideas.
Through this website, hazeltindall.com, I hope to encourage and help knitters from all over the world by offering a selection of unique, easy to follow patterns. I hope you enjoy what you find.
I have been filmed, by Dave Donaldson and JJ Jamieson, as I knitted a Fair Isle cardigan, which I named "Shetland Star" - this film is The Fine Art of Fair Isle Knitting. It takes many hours to knit a Fair Isle cardigan so they have done well to condense it to just under 3 hours without losing any of the steps taken to knit it. I am delighted with the quality of the finished film. For me the icing on the cake is the addition of my favourite knitting poem, "Da Allover" narrated by its author, the late Stella Sutherland.
50 tips from Shetland Knitters
In 2017 a second film, with Elizabeth Johnston, called "50 tips from Shetland Knitters" was released. This is over 3 hours of information for knitters of all levels. We thought of all the things we usually get asked during workshops and added lots of other tips and techniques which knitters find useful.
Both are available as direct downloads and on DVDs from retailers in Shetland - The Shetland Times Bookshop, Jamieson's of Shetland, Jamieson & Smith, Shetland Museum and Archives.
Hazel's Blog
Crofting assistant
I'm sometimes needed by my sister to help with sheep. This week's task was for her to drench lambs and check the feet of a few ewes which were showing signs of discomfort. The flock behaved very well, allowing themselves to be steered by two elderly ladies without the benefit of a sheepdog, and they...
Casting on and casting off
Recently it's been really good to have the monthtly meetings of Shetland Guild of Spinners, Knitters, Weavers and Dyers in person. We met on Saturday and the activity for the day was to learn a few different ways to cast on and cast off. Members were spread around tables and those who had something ...
Testimonials
I think that the most enjoyable few hours knitting I've ever had was the afternoon I spent last Wednesday with Hazel Tindall at the Braewick Cafe.
I’m in awe. The tips alone are worth the £5 cost. I don’t think I’ve seen a better neck shape on a stranded garment. Having the 6 colour choices is just the cherry on the cake really.
About Shetland
Shetland is the most northerly group of Scottish islands. Apart from mainland Scotland, the other near neighbours are Norway to the east and the Faroe Islands to the north west.
