Knitting is often a hidden part of a national or local collection, yet given the importance of knitted textiles to the story of Scotland, it is imperative to raise awareness and share information and knowledge so that garments which carry so much meaning are appreciated, preserved and interpreted. We know that while our national collections may have specialist curators, many other smaller museums and collections do not. This colloquium will share knowledge and practices amongst curators and custodians.

Presentations will address a wide range of issues including: the traceability, identity and emotional investment in knitted garments; acquisition and display of knitted textiles; the care and conservation of knit collections; the challenges of interpreting knit collections for diverse audiences. There will be time for questions and discussion.

While we are unable to host you at the University of Glasgow, we hope that this online format will permit us to welcome participants from further afield than would have been possible. Pre-registration will be required on Eventbrite. Once you have registered you will receive a programme and zoom link.

Speakers

Carol Christiansen: Curator and Community Museums Officer at Shetland Museum and Archives. As curator, her main responsibility is the Museum’s nationally recognised textiles collection, which has a large knitted textile component.

Jen Gordon and Federica Papiccio: Assistant Curators, Scottish Fisheries Museum, Anstruther, where they are responsible for the Scottish Gansey project.

Frances Lennard: Professor of Textile Conservation at the University of Glasgow, Frances led the University’s Centre for Textile Conservation and Technical Art History until 2020.

Lisa Mason: Assistant Curator within the Art & Design department at National Museums Scotland, Trustee of the Bernat Klein Foundation, and Membership Secretary of the Dress and Textile Specialists.

Helen Wylde: Senior Curator of Historic Textiles at National Museums Scotland, where she is responsible for European textiles and dress from the medieval period to 1850.

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