eArNiNG A living
worK to Live... live to work
S
isters Lizza and Jenna Hume live on the Orkney island of Westray, known as
The Queen of the Isles. In mid-winter the sun barely leaves the horizon and
storm waves heap fringes of shells along sandy beaches. In spring wild flowers
clothe the salt marshes before the summers of big open skies and days when it
doesn’t really get dark. This landscape of sea, sky and shore, their childhood here
and mementoes of their family’s history dating back generations on this island are the
inspiration for the sisters’ knitted textile business, Hume Sweet Hume.
LEFt Jenna and Lizza outside their
shop in Pierowall village, Westray.
‘Our customers say they love the distinctive colours, softness and textures of our work,’
CLoCKWiSE FroM ABoVE says Lizza. ‘We are inspired by our surroundings. In this season’s collections, for example,
Lizza with homeworker Jessie
Floral Classic comes from snapshots of our shore gardens and flowers like the lupins that
Rendall; an old island croft house;
pretty corsages, Wisp mittens,
reappear each year. The Wisp designs are based on the fragile, lace-like sandy deposits
Floral Classic hat and scarf and washed up by the tides on Grobust beach. The fringes on the cuff and neck of a Tideline
Stripes cushion; Jenna in the studio;
jacket echo our winter beaches edged with seaweed and shells.’
Lizza, husband Brian and daughter
Aileen take out their fishing boat.
All the fabrics are knitted with natural fibres. The lambswool and silk blends come
from the Scottish Borders, luxury yarns such as mohair are from Italy. The garments and
accessories are hand finished by 16 homeworkers on the island, talented needlewomen in
their own right continuing traditional family skills. The designs appeal to women of all
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