The hard work done by Orkney women; knitting for money in Au...
Track Information
Original Track ID
SA1976.248.B5
Original Tape ID
Summary
The hard work done by Orkney women; knitting for money in Australia.
The contributor's great-grandmother and grandmother did most of the manual work. In Australia, they passed on the traditional Orkney and Shetland method of digging, with three people working together. They also told about rooing [plucking] wool, spinning, and knitting while carrying a creel on the back. The island women were strong and hardy. The contributor's great-grandmother rowed out to meet the mail boat in very high seas.
His grandmother's father was too proud to let her do domestic work for the squatters, but she dyed her own wool with plant dyes and earned money by knitting. She knitted feather-and-fan patterned curtains from Indian silk.
Item Notes
Transcribed in the School of Scottish Studies.
Item Location
County - Orkney
Non Scottish Item Location
Australia, Victoria, Port Campbell
Non Scottish Item Location
Astràilia, Bhictòria, Port Campbell
Language
English
Genre
Collection
Source Type
Reel to reel
Audio Quality
Fair