Thanks to a revival in the skill of kishiemaking this traditional Shetland craft has been saved from dying out and has even been to the Folklife Festival in Washington DC, USA.

The renewed interest began when a kishie, a traditional straw backpack made from oat straw and field rushes, was included in an exhibition in Shetland Museum.

The Scottish Basketmakers Circle realised that there was a danger that the skills of kishiemaking were going to disappear, so harnessing this renewed interest in the tradition, they obtained a grant from the Scottish Arts Council and held a training course run by Lowrie Copland, the last remaining kishiemaker on the island.

A kishie is made from 20 fathoms (40 meters) of simmins (string) which is made from “floss” (soft rush or Juncus effuses). The simmin is wound (made into string from the rushes) then the gloi (black oat straw) is threshed and twisted into hjorgs to make the kishie.

The course was such a success that Ewen Balfour, a student of Lowrie Copland, is holding a second four day residential course on Shetland in 2004. The course is so popular it is already full; however a waiting list has been started for the next course. In a further step to preserve the technique and stories of kishiemaking they raised money to make a video - 'Kishiemaking with Lowrie Copland' – which is available for £16.50 including postage & packing. If you are interested in a future kishiemaking course or wish to buy the video contact Lise Bech at earthrite@gn.apc.org

Ewen Balfour is continuing to develop the tradition of kishiemaking, and in the summer he travelled to the Smithsonian Center in Washington and fascinated Americans by demonstrating kishiemaking at the outdoor annual Folklife Festival.

You can find out more about Scottish basketmaking at www.scottishbasketmakerscircle.org

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