Knitting reached Scotland in the 18th century. Originally a male dominated occupation, it was taken up in succeeding centuries by men, women and children. Machine knitting was introduced in the 17th century and by the 19th century, knitting factories proliferated, with Hawick at the centre. Only Shetland produced hand-knitting on a commercial basis. Regional variations appeared across Scotland – Sanquhar, Fair Isle and ‘gansey’ knitwear from east coast fishing communities. From the 1830s, knitting became a fashionable hobby for Scottish women and, although enjoying a revival during lockdown, it has never really gone out of fashion.
In 1795, a handloom weaving village was set up outside Glasgow – the Calton Independent Village. The technology improved during the century and weavers were highly respected members of the community. In 1787, the Calton Weavers went on strike for higher wages and in a resultant bitter confrontation, three of them were shot by troops. Into the 19th century, power loom factories threatened the livelihood of the handloom weavers. In increasingly desperate straits, Scottish weaving communities formed emigration societies, taking advantage of government grants to move to Upper Canada and finding work in the local woollen mills.
Borders Textile Towerhouse
- Address: 1 Tower Knowe, Hawick TD9 9EN
- Tel: 01450 377615
- E-mail: enquiries@liveborders.org.uk
- Website: www.liveborders.org.uk/culture/museums/our-museums/borders-textile-towerhouse
New Lanark Visitors Centre
- Address: New Lanark Rd, Lanark ML11 9DB
- Tel: 01555 661 345
- E-mail: (Contact form online)
- Website: www.newlanark.org
Paisley Thread Mill Museum
- Address: 12 Seedhill Road, Paisley PA1 1JS
- Tel: 0141 847 1111
- E-mail: paisleythreadmm@outlook.com
- Website: https://paisleythreadmill.co.uk
Shetland Textile Museum
- Address: Bod of Gremista, Gremista Industrial Estate, Shetland ZE1 0PX
- Tel: 01595 694386
- E-mail: (Contact form online)
- Website: www.shetlandtextilemuseum.com
Sma Shot Cottages
- Address: Sma Shot Lane, Paisley PA1 2HZ
- Tel: 0141 889 1798
- E-mail: (Contact form online)
- Website: www.paisley.org.uk/attractions/sma-shot-cottages
Stanley Mills
- Address: Stanley, Perth PH1 4QE
- Tel: 01738 828268
- E-mail: –
- Website: www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/stanley-mills
Verdant Works
- Address: Henderson’s Wynd, Blackness, Dundee DD1 5BT
- Tel: 01382 309060
- E-mail: enquiries@dundeeheritage.co.uk
- Website: www.verdantworks.co.uk
Weaver’s Cottage
- Address: The Cross, Kilbarchan PA10 2JG
- Tel: 01505 705588
- E-mail: –
- Website: www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/weavers-cottage