Swedish Heart-Warmer Shawl by Priscilla Gibson-Roberts

Swedish Heart-Warmer Shawl

Knitting
October 2005
Fingering (14 wpi) ?
36 stitches and 44 rows = 4 inches
in Stockinette stitch (St st)
US 1 - 2.25 mm
2.25 mm (B)
2450 yards (2240 m)
English

Pattern description from Handknit Holidays: “The winter solstice is an important date in northern climes, especially in Scandinavia, where entire days of darkness make people hunger for the return of light. Priscilla Gibson-Roberts fount it appropriate, then, to take inspiration from the old folkwear shawls of Sweden and Finland--especially the "heart-warmer shawls," which, like this one, warm the heart (as well as the spirit) by wrapping around the back and shoulders, crisscrossing in the front, and then wrapping around once more before being tied. The colors and patterning in this particular shawl also carry meaning for the winter solstice. The shawl is worked form the top down, first in a dark color called mountain twilight that signifies long dark days. When the main field of color nears its end, the light returns in pale sunbursts, as it does at the end of the winter. As the sun begins its long journey to the north, there is the promise of blue skies, the flowers of spring, and the long twilight to come.”

Finished Measurements: Approximately 84 inches by 25 inches without ties

Yarn: Mountain Colors Bearfoot (60% superwash wool / 25% mohair / 15% nylon; 350 yards / 100 grams): 2 skeins each mountain twilight (grey tones), Yellowstone (yellow tones), and ruby river (red tones); 1 skein winter sky (blue tones)

Needles:

  • One 60” circular (circ) needle size US 1 (2.25 mm)
  • Two double-pointed needles size US 1 (2.25 mm)

Notions: Crochet hook B/1 (2.25 mm), yarn needle

The Stranded Group KAL for this project has a lot valuable information.