Knitting with a traditional Shetland knitting belt

In 2008, Hazel Tindall won the International Championship for the World's Fastest Knitter, completing 262 stitches in under 3 minutes, which is completely amazing, and definitely a knitting speed to aspire to! In Shetland, knitters have traditionally knitted garments with the aid of a special belt. The belt is made of leather and has a stuffed cushion with holes in it, stuffed with horsehair. Into this stuffed cushion, the knitter can shove the end of a very long steel needle, freeing up the hand which would have otherwise held that needle, and holding the garment firmly in place while the knitter progresses with it. Many of the traditional Shetland garments such as "allovers" (sweaters covered all over with a coloured pattern) are knit on long steel needles in this way. Hazel has a beautiful collection of old knitting belts, many of which are worn and show signs of being damaged by repeatedly having sharp steel needles shoved into them! The horsehair stuffing does not lose its grip, making it an ideal material. You can just hear in this recording the needle being stuffed into the pillow, and otherwise the lovely music of Hazel's impressive knitting speed. We were in her kitchen, and visiting Hazel was one of the loveliest parts of my Shetland adventure.