Lùb|Loop by Deirdre Nelson celebrated socks, culture, people and the communities producing wool in present day Skye. Sock knitting has long been a part of the textile history and economy in Skye. In the past much of the wool in Skye was spun and developed into thread for weaving with a small amount kept for knitting. The wool used for making socks often came from the left over scraps at the fanks after shearing. Knitting socks was common, and these were sold or sent on to companies outside Skye.
For this project, Nelson visited crofters from a range of stock clubs across Skye and Raasay, gaining an insight to the nuances of each flock and the way they are reared. Along the journey of ‘Lúb|Loop’ crofters donated a fleece to be spun by a Skye spinner, which will then be knitted into socks by Nelson – creating a LOOP. Highlighting the skills embedded in crofting, crafting and all the aspects of wool production and use, Nelson sought to celebrate the collaborative skills of the people involved showing the thread that binds them together whilst also celebrating the value and potential uses of locally sourced wool.
Commenting on the project and the processes she hoped to uncover, Nelson comments: