Knit Along with Betsan Corkhill, Di Gilpin and Sheila Greenwell, Donna Wilson, Lesley O'Connell Edwards, Lynn Abrams, Hélène Magnússon, John Arbon Textiles, Amy Swanson of June Cashmere, Vawn Corrigan

Event description:
Knitting is a communal affair that has the potential to stimulate genuine connection between people from all walks of life. A transportable and lightweight craft, its versatility has contributed to its endurance and popularity, with unique histories and traditions found in cultures all over the world.

Commonly handed down through generations, knitting is steeped in family histories. Family elders often taught their children and grandchildren how to knit, and knitted garments have survived through family lineages.

More recently, knitting's therapeutic qualities have been explored and reputed, even in scientific journals, providing greater insight into how knitting may improve mental and physical wellness.

The talk consists of 5 presentations that explore different forms and histories of knitting, followed by a panel discussion.

List of speakers

Betsan Corkhill
Betsan Corkhill is a Lifestyle Health Coach who specialises in working with people living with long-term health problems, particularly pain. She has many years clinical experience as a former senior physiotherapist and is regularly asked to speak at medical conferences and knitting 4 events.

Di Gilpin and Sheila Greenwell
Di Gilpin is the founder and creative director of Di Gilpin Ltd, the hand-knit design studio which has been based in Scotland for more than 38 years. Di and Sheila are working on a project with the Ettedgui Foundation and the Princes Foundation to create a Knitting Library at Dumfries House in Scotland.

Sheila Greenwell learnt knit at three or four years old, born into a family with close ties to wool and the Borders town dominated by textile industries. Having spent much of her career teaching French, Sheila returned to Scotland where she met Di Gilpin. Recognising they had a lot in common (including a love of colour knitting), they began working together. Since their meeting, Sheila has been Production Manager for Di Gilpin Ltd for over 10 years. They have recently collaborated in writing The Gansey Knitting Sourcebook, as well as consulting for a project with the Scottish Fisheries Museum, helping to catalogue their collection of historical Ganseys.

Donna Wilson
Donna Wilson is a Scottish textile and product designer with a career spanning three decades. She established her studio in 2003 after a sell-out show at the Royal College of Art, London.

She has since collaborated with renowned retailers and global brands including Hermes, LeSportsac, Penguin Random House, Mamas & Papas and the V&A Museums, and her work has been exhibited around the world.

Lesley O'Connell Edwards
Lesley O’Connell Edwards is an independent scholar who researches the history of hand knitting, drawing on both archival sources and extant artefacts as part of her research.

Lynn Abrams 
Lynn Abrams is Professor of Modern History at the University of Glasgow and lead investigator for the Fleece to Fashion: Economies and Cultures of Knitted Textiles in Scotland project.

Hélène Magnússon
Hélène Magnússon is a French-Icelandic designer with a degree in fashion design. She believes the best way to preserve traditions is to keep using them, giving them new life.

John Arbon Textiles
John Arbon Textiles is an independent family run business making Yarns and Fibre Tops in a small scale, worsted spinning Mill in North Devon (one of only a handful still operating in the UK).

Amy Swanson of June Cashmere
Amy Swanson is Creative and Operational Director of June Cashmere, a socially - minded business that works directly with Kyrgyz shepherds toward economic development in Kyrgyzstan through the ethical and sustainable production of cashmere yarn.

Vawn Corrigan
Vawn Corrigan is an author with a passion for textiles. She is based in Ireland’s former textile hub, the Liberties area of Dublin, from where she organises textile-related events, collaborates with makers, and presents slide shows around the country.

CLICK HERE to download the list of speakers and panelists and descriptions of their presentations.

Cancellation policy
All orders for online talks are non-refundable.