Blanda is a hat with a veil-like scarf, and was my entry in the Iceland Knit Fest 2020 competition. It features a traditional Icelandic tail cap with a fish tail instead of a tassell, which then flows into a scarf.

The original design uses three weights of Icelandic wool, and features a moss stitch border, eyelet patterns in the hat, and a lacy scarf made by eyelets which suggest bubbles in a flowing river and fish scales - Blanda is one of Iceland’s longest rivers, and is popular for salmon fishing. “Blanda” means blend, and my design is a blend of yarns, traditional and modern garments, and fish with the landscape and river.

There are options in this pattern for recreating the original design, or knitting a cap with a fish tail, or knitting a lacy scarf. To make just the cap, you only need to use one ball of Alafoss Lopi. To knit just the scarf, you only need one ball of Einband. To recreate the original, you will need one ball of each, and a ball of Lettlopi is optional.

The hat is worked in the round, beginning with a moss stitch border, then stocking stitch, and featuring some optional eyelets which form a lace pattern. The crown decreases flow into the tail which hangs to one side of the head, and is worked to and fro. This flows on into the river of the garter stitch scarf, still working to and fro, where you can vary the rhythm of the alternating patterns as you wish.

If you’re knitting just the hat, stop when you’ve finished the tail. If you’re knitting just the scarf, I suggest you knit it in two halves and graft the centre together, because the ends are very frothy!

The design really did “flow” and I liked working on it very much. I hope you will enjoy knitting it too, whichever option you decide to make.