I really shouldn’t be here this evening but today I found a “must share”.  The ‘Follow the Herring’ exhibition of knitting and crafts is travelling down the east coast of England and today I caught a preview in Hartlepool Art Gallery.

How do you knit a coat for a boat?  The coble boat, made by the North East Maritime Trust, will be at the centre of each exhibition, brought to life with locally made artwork.

A travelling show, ‘Get up and Tie your Fingers’, uses the background of the 1881 Eyemouth Fishing Disaster to tell the story of the ‘herring lassies’ who followed the fishing fleets down the coast to meet the catch at each port of call. With knives at the ready and strips of cloths tied around their thumbs and forefingers to protect from the blades, they gutted, salted, and barrelled the ‘silver darlings’, the bountiful herring that were destined for markets across the world. Sometimes at the cost of their menfolk’s lives.

A wooden ‘wave’ has been constructed and at each venue a section of local handiwork is added. The exhibition set off from Musselburgh in Scotland and the shoal will be beautifully and creatively increased by the time it reaches Hastings on 3rd July.

More details about the exhibition and the show can be found on this link to The Customs House.

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An amazing collection of work, isn’t it?  You can even download a ‘Follow the herring’ knitting pattern and join in on the website.

I probably won’t be able to respond to many of your comments until I return from the Algarve next week.  The laptop is going into rehab, but I thought that this was a nice way to leave you.