


The "Lerwick" pattern was inspired by the traditional fair isle patterns of Shetland. Many of these were based around "OXO" patterns with each knitter having her own version of this. Jumpers were a way in which a women could show a diversity of patterns in one garment. Unlike many "high street" versions of a fair isle jumper in which the same pattern is repeated every few inches down the length of the jumper, the Lerwick pattern has a much longer pattern stretching to nearly the full length of the body in the same way that traditional hand-knit jumpers for the Shetland isles would have done long ago. This style was made popular in the 1920s when stylish trend setter Edward, The Prince of Wales (who later abdicated his role as King Edward VIII) was depicted in the portrait "Royal Friends" wearing his fair isle jumper.