tak dy sock

taking your knitting for a walk in shetland

barter dy sock

socks were a very important bartering item during 17th and 18th c for shetlanders trading with Dutch fishermen who dominated commercial fishing in shetlandwaters from around 1600. crews lived on board their ships and had supplies to last the summer. however they also got fresh food from shetlanders and most important was the bartering of socks. in return dutchmen gave the shetlanders tobacco , gin and cash.

sock = knitting
sockin =(n) stocking