Jamieson & Smith Shetland Wool Brokers Ltd

90 North Road, Lerwick, Shetland Islands, U.K.

Get Real Shetland
100% Pure Wool from the Shetland Islands

Mail Order specialist suppliers of high quality Shetland Knitting Yarns, Shetland Wool, blended Shetland Lace, Raw Fleece, Tops, Knitting Patterns, Lace and Wool Knitting Kits and Hand Knitting Accessories.

Knitting stitches were taken from an old booklet, Beltway K133 '`Traditional Shetland Scarves and Shawls". The particular patterns used in this throw were taken from "The Four-ounce Shawl"_ Knitting as for panel A, detailed below, three wider panels were made, and for panel B, two narrower ones. These were sewn together in the order ABABA Anyone wishing to design a throw a throw could make it to whatever measurement is wished. It is important to remember that when the knitting is pressed, it will be larger than it appears in the course of working.

The instructions below apply to a throw for a double bed. The throw measures approximately lm. 90cm by 2m. 34cm. Panel A is 65 cm. wide, and panel B 20cm.

Materials: 16 oz/hanks 2 ply lace wool for main colour, and 1 oz contrast colour for border: pair 6 mm knitting needles: 2mm. crochet hook for the border

PANEL A

Use a multiple of 14 stitches +13. (Each section of 14 stitches will measure about 10 cm in width, when pressed.)

Cast on 83 stitches (14 x 5 + 13).

Base row; K.13, (w. fwd., k 2 tog., k.12) to end of row. Repeat base row once, then begin the pattern as follows:­

Pattern row 1: (right side) K. l, (w. fwd., k. 2 tog. to end

Pattern row 2:k.13, (w. fwd., k. 2 tog., k. 12) to end

Repeat pattern row 2, 10 times more. These 12 rows comprise the pattern repeat. Continue till the panel is the required length, then repeat the first pattern row, and the two base rows. Cast off: Press under a damp cloth.

PANEL B

Cast on 25 stitches (multiple of 4 stitches plus I).

Base Row: Knit to end.

Repeat this base row once, and then begin the pattern sequence.

1st pattern row: K.

2nd pattern row: K. 1 (w.fwd., k. 2 tog.) to end of row.

3rd pattern row: K.

4th pattern row: K.

Repeat these four rows to the required length: then repeat rows 3 and 4 before casting off. Three repeats of this pattern should match the length of one repeat of the wider panel.

Before sewing the panels together, lengthwise, use safety pins to match the patterns, three to one.

Border

This may be knitted, as in traditional Shetland shawls, and sewn on to the throw or it may be worked in crochet as follows:­

Pick up stitches in double crochet right round the edge of the throw. Use safety pins again to ensure that the number of stitches on one side matches the number on the parallel side: Insert one safety pin every 20 stitches crocheted; this makes counting easier. Mark the corner stitches also with a safety pin.

Continue for 8 rows of double crochet,, making three double crochet stitches into the corner stitches, on each row. A contrast colour may be used in the border, alternating with the main colour, every two rows.

Finish with a row of cluster stitches to make a scalloped edge- For example, l d.c.,*miss two double crochet stitches, 5 double treble into the next d.c., miss 2 d.c., continue from *. Make sure there is a cluster at each corner. Finish off with a slip stitch into the first d.c. of the final row.