Visit to Sanquhar

Well, I guess it's a thumbs up for the Hap Shawl then?! Thanks very much for all the compliments on the blog, on Ravelry and in person.
I am really thrilled with it and its snuggerific ways.

To round off our Easter holidays last week we drove home via the scenic route and stopped off in
Sanquhar, to visit its Tolbooth Museum with its exhibits on Sanquhar knitting, particularly the Sanquhar glove tradition. There were a few web-pages about the Tolbooth, but I chose that one because it links to a detailed article about the Sanquhar knitting tradtion.
The exhibit was not that big, but it was well worth it because there were plenty of good examples and the curator Rab (I'm lovin' it) was very knowledgeable and keen to assist. He had plenty of other local stories above and beyond the formal information.
In the first picture you see me standing beside some of the explanations and the following gloves left to right:
Pheasant's Eye; Prince of Wales; Plaid; Duke (THE Sanquhar Pattern); Fleur-de-lys; Un-named; Rose; Rose and Trellis; Drum; Drum and Trellis; Cornet and Drum; Glen.
Pic 2: Closer views of some of the single gloves.


Pic 3: A cabinet with some more glove styles, some old samplers of traditional and made-up designs, knitting needles and sheaths, hand-written and typed notes from various past dignitaries who had commisioned or been gifted some Sanquhar gloves, most notably various Dukes of Buccleuch from the nearby Drumlanrig Castle.




Pic 4: The People's Friend Magazine did some features on Sanquhar designs in the fifties, showing how you can make the gloves or incorporate the motifs into other garments. This series renewed interest in Sanquhar patterns.

I bought the patterns for four styles of glove from the little stall. I may not make any of them but I'll enjoy reading them and having them.

Apparently they were originally knitted from "drugget" but are now made in 3-ply wool. Any definitions I've seen for drugget are a 'course woven fabric' or something you put on your gym hall floor to protect the surface during exams???

Gotta love Sanquhar knitting.

The rest of the wee museum is interesting as well x K