Keeping Scottish Crafts Alive

Growing up, I was instilled with a deep appreciation for crafting. At my grandmother’s house, she dedicated a sunny side-room to ‘making’, calling the supply-covered table the ‘making table.’ On the table, she showed me how to embroider flowers and messages onto my favourite shirts. She let me pick out the shiniest yarn, always purple, and taught me basic knitting patterns. She coached me on collage techniques, turning old magazines into intricate designs awash with texture. Working with my hands in that way was soothing, and these days, amid the busyness of university life, I often find myself missing it. After speaking with peers, it has become clear that I am not the only one longing to pick crafting back up. And further research has revealed that there are widespread movements that have long encouraged, and continue to encourage, us to do just that.

Many of us recognise the name William Morris and are familiar with his work, but his leadership in the Arts and Crafts Movement is less widely known. Emerging in late-nineteenth-century Britain, the Arts and Crafts Movement was a reaction against industrialisation and mass production, pioneered by artists who sought to revive traditional handicrafts. Morris, among many other figures of the campaign, worked to promote traditional handicraft techniques over factory production, emphasising quality and nature-inspired design. Over a century later, fast-paced mass production is more prevalent than ever. In response, a renewed sense of urgency has revitalised the craft movement, embracing eco-friendly and sustainable practices, prioritising slow design, and supporting local artisans. Nowhere is this more evident than in Scotland, which has emerged as a vibrant hub for craft revival culture. 

To better understand Scotland’s efforts to preserve traditional crafts, it’s helpful to look at the country’s rich history of craftsmanship. Traditional crafts were originally practised out of necessity, as practical skills and trades with distinctive styles. Usually produced using local materials, these crafts were closely tied to their place of origin, making them important symbols of cultural heritage. Although functionality came first, many traditional crafts were imbued with expressiveness and creativity, depicting Scottish artists’ enduring innovation. Among the most well-known traditional crafts are hand knitting, handloom weaving, Shetland lace knitting, feltmaking, quilting, basketwork, and pottery. Beyond these skills, many of which are still being practised today, there are hundreds of less common traditional crafts. Heritage Crafts has classified many of these dwindling practices as critically endangered, indicating that they lack sufficient craftspeople to transmit the skills to the next generation. 

In 2023, the organisations Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland, Creative Scotland, and Craft Scotland launched a survey to gain a better grasp of the current landscape of traditional craft makers in Scotland. The survey was launched shortly after Heritage Crafts released its list of endangered crafts, aiming to gather information to support the preservation and revitalisation of Scotland’s traditional skills. Really Interesting Objects, a group of craft specialists, was commissioned to undertake the research and reach as many craft makers as possible. The director of Craft Scotland described the survey as an effort to sustain crafting skills, which are crucial to the vibrancy of Scotland’s arts sector. The organisations aim to use the survey’s findings to develop solutions preventing further decline in the traditional craft sector and to celebrate and share its value.

Beyond these organisations, local communities across Scotland are supporting the revitalisation of craft through grassroots efforts. Communities are initiating projects and local collectives to renew interest in traditional skills, focusing on connecting with cultural identity and embracing environmental sustainability. In Argyll and Bute, a community-focused event called Deep Roots has been launched, dedicated to reconnecting with land-based practices, including traditional craftmaking. The West Moss-side Art Collective in Stirlingshire has launched an initiative that brings together artists and makers to engage in basket making, weaving, knitting, and other traditional crafts.

On a more individual level, recent trends show a rise in hands-on hobbies like knitting, crochet, pottery, and weaving, particularly among younger people in the UK. Research suggests that crafts can be therapeutic, helping young people manage mental health challenges and digital fatigue by offering a slower, more mindful, and environmentally friendly activity. So, if you find yourself with free time and a desire to work with your hands, consider taking up a traditional Scottish craft — and in doing so, help keep it alive.

Illustration from Library of Congress