CULTURE KNIT FEST
Knit one, purl one; how to make your own festival
A Danish island knitting gathering was the inspiration behind a new festival in the Highlands
BY WILLIAM PEAKIN C
hristel Seyfarth’s grand- mother taught her to knit when she was five years- old; she has been knitting ever since. She grew up
on Fanø, a North Sea island off the coast of south-western Denmark. “On Fanø, someone is always knit- ting something somewhere, whether from wish or want,” she said, “so it was easy for my grandmother to col- lect bits and pieces of yarn, in every imaginable colour, from her friends on the island. “My muse resides on Fanø; she is
the ocean, the light, the waves, the storms, the birds and the power- ful nature. [It] is a seafaring island and for generations my ancestors were sailors and shipmasters who returned with cloth from every corner of the earth. So even back then, the colours were vibrant and effervescent.” She inherited the islanders’
wanderlust, leaving aged 16 to spend time in America and Canada, but is now back on the island and has her own business, creating designs for people to knit. In 2006, Seyfarth established Strikkefestival, the Fanø International Knit Festival, which has become a huge success. More than 10,000 people from around the world have attended and it has gar- nered millions of pounds in inward investment. Tis year, it features Scottish de-
signer Di Gilpin, whose international couture business began on a croft on Skye, and Catherine Sclater, of Travelling Yarns, based in Drumnad- rochit. And now Seyfarth is return- ing the favour with an appearance at the first International Inverness Loch Ness Knitting Festival, as well as helping in its development. Over three days in September,
beginning with a gala dinner, it features more than three dozen
Christel Seyfarth created Strikkefestival, the Fanø island knitting festival, and is appearing in Inverness
organisation Visit Inverness Loch Ness. “We have already had queries from the US, Canada, Scandinavia, across central Europe, and through- out the UK from people who have heard about the festival and who want to plan a visit around it,” said Alan Rawlinson, business tourism manager. We are hoping the Knit Fest will become an annual event, continuing to raise the profile of Inverness Loch Ness.” It is being supported by Highland
Christel with Willie Cameron of Cobbs Bakery, festival sponsor
workshops, fashion shows, lectures and trade displays. Tere will also be a concert showcasing Highland music and dance, and specially char- tered ‘knit-cruises’ on Loch Ness. It is anticipated that the festival will attract an additional 3,000 visitors to the Inverness Loch Ness area and generate an additional £1m in direct and indirect spending by visitors in the area. Te festival is a project of tourism
14 | EVENTSBASE | SUMMER 2016
Council, the Inverness Common Good Fund and EventScotland. “Scotland is the perfect stage for cultural events, and it is hugely exciting to see [this] festival taking place during the 2016 Year of In- novation, Architecture and Design,” said Paul Bush, director of events for VisitScotland. Highland Council’s Audrey Sinclair added: “With pro- grammes such as Te Great British Bake Off and Te Great British Sew- ing Bee we’ve seen a surge in interest in traditional skills and it would ap- pear that knitting is no exception.”
www.lochnessknitfest.com.
“IT IS HUGELY EXCITING TO SEE THIS FESTIVAL TAKING PLACE DURING THE YEAR OF INNOVATION, ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN”
Paul Bush, director of events for VisitScotland
What: Knit Fest Where: Eden Court, Inverness When: 29 September – 2 October 2016
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