Meet the team
Sanquhar Pattern Designs is a community project with an exceptional team helping to keep the historic Sanquhar knitting patterns alive.
Here we introduce you to each member of our small and incredibly talented team.
May
Born and brought up fairly near Sanquhar, during her childhood her mother encouraged her interest in anything handcraft. With her mothers instruction, May ‘had a go’ at Sanquhar Gloves in the Duke pattern, that was 50 years ago!
By co-incidence May married a Sanquhar lad and when she came to stay, a friend whetted her appetite for the other 15 patterns.
Over the years she has knitted an unknown number of items using the patterns, met many interesting people and found herself in some diverse places.
May is one of the speakers during our Sanquhar Knitting Visitor Tours, and also tutors Sanquhar Glove knitting workshops. Alongside this, she has authored the pattern books for the gloves which can be found in A’ The Airts Craft Shop or here on our website.
"I feel privileged to have been involved in this sometimes little known but centuries old tradition and made many friends through it."
Frances
Originally from Zimbabwe via South Africa and England, Frances is an incomer to Sanquhar, having moved here in 2013 to assist her elderly father both at home and with the running of his shop.
One of the first things she did on moving here was join the Upper Nithsdale Art & Craft Community Initiative. Frances saw a wonderful business to business link, as she was diversifying her father’s shop to sell knitting yarn and haberdashery.
“My father designed, typeset (and printed for many years) the original glove and stocking patterns for Alison Thompson, renowned Sanquhar knitter. I now do the same for May McCormick, having helped her produce numerous Sanquhar design patterns for her gloves. These patterns are sold worldwide. I have seen the demand for the ancient art of Sanquhar knitting grow incredibly over the years, and I am delighted to be a part of it.”
Kate
Kate is a founding member involved in the launch of Sanquhar Pattern Designs in 2014. Also a board member of Upper Nithsdale Arts & Craft Community Initiative and a passionate member of the Brighten Up Sanquhar Group, Kate has lived in Sanquhar since 1963.
Although not a native to the area, her grand parents were. Her mother and grandmother were talented knitters and in her 20's Kate acquired a knitting machine and taught herself to knit - never thinking that she would still be knitting into her 80's!
'It is a joy to be part of the community project and I am proud of our achievements. I have meet some amazing people through being involved with the story of the Sanquhar pattern and creating some beautiful pieces for customers. It has become popular worldwide, thanks to the efforts of the project and now the internet helps.'
Fiona
Fiona was born and bred in Fife and has lived in Sanquhar for over forty years. She cannot remember not being able to knit, and made her first jumper for herself at the age of six. It was bright yellow and had 81 stitches in the back - and a rather large mistake in the front - but she was proud of it!
When Fiona came to Upper Nithsdale to teach at the local secondary school, she discovered Sanquhar gloves. Not being one to shy away from a challenge, Fiona knitted her first pair, which she still has. Since then, countless more pairs have followed.
Latterly, since her involvement in A’ the Airts, she has become the key glove knitting demonstrator for the Centre’s popular Sanquhar knitting tours. Thanks to the technical whiz of her husband Ted, who sets up a webcam for visitors so that Fiona (seen here) can share the characteristic of the gloves - the main feature being the gusset between the fingers.
the admin team
Behind the scenes providing administration support, updating the website and handling orders are Claire and Aileen.
Both local to Sanquhar, they take great pride in being part of such an old tradition.
"It brings us a lot of joy to support the aims of the Community project, Sanquhar is home for us and our families. We are very passionate about the initiative, playing an active role in the promotion of the Sanquhar Pattern Designs products is a real honour. It is wonderful to watch the historic patterns made into modern garments and giftware."