May 2003 | The Shetland Labs

The On the Edge Research team of Grey's School of Art, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, commissioned PAL to design and deliver a Lab programme for traditional and contemporary hand and machine knitters of the Shetland Islands.

The brief was to explore how this economically and culturally important industry can be developed and sustained. The knitters worked with artists and academics from a range of disciplines.  The two parts of the programme were called the Maakin’ Lab and the Langerin’ Lab.


Lab Director
Susan Benn

Lab participants
Kathleen Anderson - lace knitter
Norma Anderson - knitter
Christine Arnold - artist/lecturer
Winnie Balfour - lace knitter
Mary Blance - storyteller
Gordon Burnett - Reader in Design Gray’s School of Art/product designer
Heather Delday - researcher
Ann Eunson - lace knitter
Frankie Geeson - textile artist/knitter
Carole Grey - co-ordinator, On the Edge Research
Margaret Hamilton - knitter
Hazel Hughson - knitter
Sanna Isbister - knitter
Mary Kay - lace knitter
Maggie Marr - Department of Textiles and Design, Shetland College
Bertha Reid - lace knitter
Freddie Robins - textiles artist
Mary Thomson - knitter
Zena Thomson - lace knitter
Stephanie Tristram - Department of Textiles and Design, Shetland College

Funded by
Arts & Humanities Research Board
Shetland Development Dept
Shetland Local Enterprise Company
National Lottery - Access and Participation Scheme
Scottish Arts Council
Shell Expro Social Investment Fund
Sustainable Creative Practice Research Cluster, Grey’s School of Art, The Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen