Sophy & White: The Dunollie Collections Unboxed - April 2025 Update -

As we move towards the conclusion of the second phase of our project; Wear it or Sleep in it, our team is excited to share the incredible progress we’ve made. Over the past two months, we have been deeply engaged in planning and implementing key aspects of this project, from developing a unique shop product to curating a pop-up exhibition that will serve as the grand finale of this stage. Alongside this, our work with the collections team continues to expand our understanding of Dunollie’s textile heritage, ensuring that these remarkable objects and traditions are preserved and shared with the wider community.

At its core, this project has been about fostering a shared passion for textiles, bringing together a group of makers, historians, and volunteers to explore Scotland’s rich weaving and spinning traditions. Through Wear it or Sleep in It, we have aimed to:

✔ Create a welcoming textile group where people can gather, learn new skills, and connect through a shared love of craft.

✔ Deepen our knowledge of Dunollie’s collection, including its blankets, plaids, shawls, and sashes.

✔ Explore the historical roots and production methods of Scottish textiles.

✔ Strengthen the expertise and capacity of our textile collections team.

A New Shop Product: Inspired by Tradition

One of the most exciting elements of this phase has been the development of a creative retail product inspired by Dunollie’s textile heritage. With the help of our Stitch & Spin group, we have sourced Shetland wool, and the team has been enthusiastically crafting a beautiful range of handmade coasters. Their productivity has exceeded expectations, these handcrafted pieces will officially launch at our upcoming pop-up exhibition, giving visitors the opportunity to take home a piece of Scotland’s textile story.

Handmade coasters made from shetland wool by the Stich & Spin Group

Our coasters are based on knitting patterns for traditional fisherman’s ganseys, the origins of which are still debated, though evidence suggests they could originate from the Island of Guernsey in the English Channel, or from the Old Norse garn or ‘yarn’ suggesting Scandinavian connections.

Ganseys were knitted in un-oiled 4 ply wool on four size 14 needles to make a firm fabric that was almost wind and waterproof. They were one-piece garments with sleeves knitted from armhole to wrist, making repair easy since a ragged cuff could just be pulled out and re knit. Their design was practical in nature, for example an absence of buttons on the front made them suitable for working with herring nets, and their lack of seams contributed to their resistance to the elements. Whilst these garments were hand knitted, there were no written instructions, with designs instead being copied from existing patterns or designed by women themselves and passed down to other relations.

Some traditions state that a drowned man could be identified by the pattern on his gansey, with patterns being regional in nature.

In our collection, we have a number of knitted items, as well as textile production tools, natural dye samples and recipes, and other related objects. We have two knitted ganseys, both donated to Miss Hope MacDougall in 1984 by a family in Banffshire. Her typewritten label for one of them reads: “Gansey, heather colour, stripe and diamond. 1984. Given by [donor]’s married daughter who’s mother in law had knitted it. Gardenstown.”

It was important to us that the shop product we produced as part of the ‘Wear It or Sleep In It’ element of Sophy & White related not just to items within our collections, but the industries and stories that Hope was attempting to capture within her collecting.

Capturing the Process: A Behind-the-Scenes Documentary

Throughout this journey, filmmaker Beth Chalmers has been documenting the creative process, capturing the learning, collaboration, and artistry that have shaped this project. Once finished, this documentary will allow us to share our journey with a wider audience, celebrating the revival of traditional textile techniques.

Scottish Textile Traditions: Craft & Heritage at Dunollie

The culmination of this phase will be our special pop-up exhibition, Scottish Textile Traditions: Craft & Heritage at Dunollie, taking place on Saturday, May 10th, from 4 PM to 7 PM at Dunollie Museum, Castle & Grounds. This event will be a unique opportunity to step into Scotland’s textile past, featuring a rich display of historical tools, such as looms and spinning wheels, alongside rare textiles from our collection, many of which have never been publicly exhibited before.

Live demonstrations of traditional spinning and weaving techniques will provide hands-on insight into the craftsmanship that has been passed down through generations. Visitors will even have the chance to try their hand at spinning, gaining a deeper appreciation for the time-honored skills that shaped Scotland’s textile industry.

A highlight of the evening will be an academic talk by expert Catherine Gilles, who will delve into the history of Dunollie’s textile traditions, bringing context to the objects on display and enriching our understanding of the role textiles played in Scotland’s past.

This event will also mark the official launch of our new shop product, crafted by Stitch & Spin, celebrating the heritage techniques we have been exploring. Guests will enjoy exclusive after-hours access to the museum, shop, and castle, along with a specially curated menu and refreshments, including a glass of fizz, to enhance the evening’s atmosphere.

For those with a passion for history, craft, and traditional skills, this is an event not to be missed!

Advancing the Collections Work

Alongside our exhibition preparations, our work with Dunollie’s textile collections has continued to grow. Volunteers have been meticulously documenting key objects, ensuring their histories are preserved for future generations. Others have been carefully selecting items for display at the exhibition, curating a selection that tells a compelling story of Scotland’s textile past.

Looking Ahead

With just weeks to go until the exhibition, we are focused on finalizing the remaining details and ensuring this event is a fitting celebration of everything we have learned and achieved through Wear it or Sleep in it. This has been a truly collaborative effort, and we are incredibly grateful to our volunteers, team members, and supporters who have helped bring this project to life.

We can’t wait to welcome you to Scottish Textile Traditions: Craft & Heritage at Dunollie and share this journey with you!

Tickets can be found at: Scottish Textile Traditions: Craft & Heritage at Dunollie | Dunollie Museum Castle and Grounds

This was made possible thanks to the generosity of National Lottery Players through funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. If you have any questions or wish to get involved in Sophy & White: The Dunollie Collections Unboxed Project, please email anna@dunollie.org