{"id":2145164,"date":"2025-11-09T21:00:31","date_gmt":"2025-11-09T21:00:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2145164"},"modified":"2025-11-09T21:00:31","modified_gmt":"2025-11-09T21:00:31","slug":"shetland-islanders-accuse-tom-daleys-knitting-show-of-cultural-appropriation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/shetland-islanders-accuse-tom-daleys-knitting-show-of-cultural-appropriation\/","title":{"rendered":"Shetland islanders accuse Tom Daley\u2019s knitting show of \u2018cultural appropriation\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div data-article-body=\"true\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/travel\/destinations\/europe\/united-kingdom\/scotland\/articles\/Shetland-Scotlands-wild-awe-inspiring-islands\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Shetland;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\">Shetland<\/a> islanders have criticised a television knitting competition hosted by <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/health-fitness\/wellbeing\/mental-health\/tom-daley-calming-power-knitting\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Tom Daley;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\">Tom Daley<\/a> of misrepresenting their heritage.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Shetland\u2019s Organisation of Knitters (SOK) has accused Channel 4 show Game of Wool: Britain\u2019s Best Knitter of \u201ccultural appropriation\u201d, arguing that <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/fashion\/royals\/duchess-cambridge-regal-history-fair-isle-knit\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:ancient knitting traditions;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\">ancient knitting traditions<\/a> were misrepresented on the programme.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The debate revolves around Fair Isle knitting, a specific needlework tradition pioneered by fisherwomen to keep their husbands warm at sea during the 18th century.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/news\/2024\/01\/21\/fair-isle-scotland-photography-remote-island\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Fair Isle;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\">Fair Isle<\/a>, the southernmost Shetland island, is home to a passionate community of knitters and many fear their ancient traditions passed down generations are being lost.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>Tom Daley with Game of Wool contestant Lydia &#8211; James Simpson\/Channel 4<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Terri Leask, a founding member of the group, said residents were furious about errors strewn across the programme.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cThe main thing folk were up in arms about was the terminology they used, which was either misused or mispronounced Shetland words,\u201d she told Shetland News.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">According to Ms Leask, the production team had contacted Shetland knitters to ask for advice before the programme aired, but their advice had been \u201ccompletely ignored\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">SOK needlework enthusiasts were particularly upset to see a contestant criticised for successfully cutting his knitting, which Fair Isle knitters say is standard practice.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">They fear the show\u2019s treatment of the contestant perpetuates \u201cnegative misconceptions about Fair Isle knitting techniques\u201d.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Elderly women knitting Fair Isle style in a cottage in the Shetland in 1970\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"599\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/ep8uXBp8phTZMnom9BnkmQ--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU5OTtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/the_telegraph_258\/7b741cf2c877ea13a5bf9666afe59fbb\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>Fair Isle knitting skills are passed down generations. Here, two women are seen in their cottage in the Shetland isle in 1970 &#8211; Chris Morphet\/Redfern<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Ms Leask said: \u201cThe SOK are having to stand up for ourselves. The term Fair Isle is going to be lost. Fair Isle is being used when what they are making is not Fair Isle. It\u2019s appropriation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">One of the errors that particularly frustrated Ms Leask was the use of the term \u201cpeeries\u201d, which she said has \u201cnever been used by a Shetlander\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Small patterns in Fair Isle are referred to as \u201cpeerie patterns\u201d, but Ms Leask has said they \u201cwould never\u201d refer to them as \u201cpeeries\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Elizabeth Johnson, an SOK trustee, said: \u201cI was knitting in the Fair Isle style before I went to school and selling garments by the time I was seven or eight. This is our heritage.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cIt seems disrespectful that they changed our traditions to something else.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"The Olympian with Di Gilpin and Sheila Greenwell.\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"600\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/V3dbiC_BTouwUyskrcGjSw--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTYwMDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/the_telegraph_258\/fb8803a2b263c341c7255c2da7d2e402\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>Daley with Di Gilpin and Sheila Greenwell, judges on his TV show. The diver has 1.4m followers on his knitting-themed Instagram account<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Show host Daley\u2019s knitting-specific Instagram account boasts more than 1.4 million followers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/swimming\/2025\/07\/03\/tom-daley-interview\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:champion diver;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\">champion diver<\/a>, whose debut knitting book Made With Love was published in 2022, credits his needlework hobby with securing his gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">He previously told The Telegraph: \u201cThe fact you only get one opportunity every four years is super-intense, which is why <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/olympics\/2021\/08\/05\/tom-daleys-latest-olympic-triumph-self-knitted-team-gb-cardigan\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:knitting really helped;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\">knitting really helped<\/a>. It took the stress out of it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Recalling long afternoons stuck in his hotel room during the pandemic, he added: \u201c<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/fashion\/people\/tom-daley-owe-olympic-gold-knitting-mistakes-can-teach-lessons\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:I owe the Olympic gold to knitting;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\">I owe the Olympic gold to knitting<\/a> \u2013 mistakes can teach you lessons.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">A spokesman on the SOK\u2019s Facebook group said that disinformation about Fair Isle traditions was \u201cespecially disheartening from a series meant to encourage more people to take up knitting\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Channel 4 said: \u201cWe hold Shetland\u2019s knitting culture in the highest regard,\u201d adding that the challenge on the show\u2019s first episode was to create \u201ca garment with a modern twist that acknowledged and celebrated the traditions of the beautiful Fair Isle technique\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/customer\/subscribe\/01doysa\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \"><b>Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.yahoo.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Shetland islanders have criticised a television knitting competition hosted by Tom Daley of misrepresenting their heritage. Shetland\u2019s Organisation of Knitters (SOK) has accused Channel 4 show Game of Wool: Britain\u2019s Best Knitter of \u201ccultural appropriation\u201d, arguing that ancient knitting traditions were misrepresented on the programme. The debate revolves around Fair Isle knitting, a specific needlework [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2145165,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25172],"tags":[304629,409735,409733,409736,409734,409737,387825],"class_list":["post-2145164","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment","tag-channel-4","tag-fair-isle","tag-fair-isle-knitting","tag-shetland","tag-shetland-news","tag-sok","tag-tom-daley"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Shetland-islanders-accuse-Tom-Daleys-knitting-show-of-\u2018cultural-appropriation.jpeg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2145164","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2145164"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2145164\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2145166,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2145164\/revisions\/2145166"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2145165"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2145164"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2145164"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2145164"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}