Why Isle’s famous patterns of fashion around the world
Acclaimed knits reveals island inspiration is secret of her wonderful woollies
“I think people have forgotten that the knitting originated here on Fair Isle,” she said. “When I started going to the mainland for Shetland Wool Week, I discovered that many visitors didn’t know Fair Isle was an actual place.
“They thought it was just a style of knitting from Shetland. I realised that people should be coming here to see where this knitting comes from so I started doing Fair Isle tours during the event.”
This year’s Shetland Wool Week, which was due to take place this week, has been postponed for the first time in a decade due to the pandemic, although a number of virtual events have been scheduled.
“The event attracts so many people from all over the world to the Shetland Isles. Even though there will be online events, it is a big disappointment for everyone,” said Mati.
“I’ve always run my business online because we are so remote and can’t always rely on the cruise ships coming here in bad weather. This hasn’t affected me much but it will have a big impact on many knitters who display and sell their garments during the Shetland Wool Week.”
With a small community of around 65 people, Fair Isle may seem the ideal place to ride out the coronavirus pandemic. While there have been no Covid-19 cases, the close-knit island community still felt the effects, especially while isolating during the initial lockdown. “Life hasn’t changed much.
We are very lucky to live in a small community and to be geographically isolated, that brings extra safety,” said Mati. “Obviously, we had to follow social-distancing guidance. Not being able to see friends or older relatives was difficult but we are lucky to have all this open space.”
Mati lives on a croft with her children Sebastian, 15, and Saskia, 12, who are currently boarding at high school on mainland Shetland. “When they’re little, it’s a paradise but life on a tiny island is not a place for teenagers,” added Mati, who still has her sheepdog, 13 sheep and her friendly neighbours for company.
She is determined to continue passing the technique on to other young knitters and hopes to restart her internship program, where young knitters will live and work with Mati for three months to develop commercial Fair Isle garments.
“Since I came here the population has decreased. We are desperate for more young people,” Mati added. “It’s so important to pass this tradition on. I just hope we can get young people back here soon. My two staff left last year, so I was managing the bespoke business on my own over Christmas, and working on the book. Then the pandemic happened. I thought about giving up at one point but I love it too much, so I’m determined to find a way forward and have ideas for Fair Isle knitting kits that I hope to develop.”
Her love of Fair Isle, both the place and the knitting tradition that infuse her life keep Mati going. “If I ever have one doubt about why I’m here I just look out the window. The beauty of this island fills me with such a sense of safety, belonging and peace. I’m very lucky to call this home.”