I think everyone needs a hug right now, and this is a big shawl to give you a big hug whenever you need it.

Somebody said that in knitting there are many traditions but no rules, and in this shawl, I’ve taken some traditional Estonian motifs and stitches, and used them in a non-traditional way, with both the shape of the shawl and the direction of knitting. The shawl is a crescent shape, and is knitted in one piece from the centre top down. The Estonian stitches include nupps and gathered stitches, and the motifs include a leaf pattern and Queen Sylvia’s Lace. The lace stitches are all on the right side, the wrong side is all purl, including purling to complete the nupps and gathered stitches.

The shawl in the original version was knit in 8ply, but it can be knit in lighter weights of yarn. Test knitters also used both 4ply and laceweight yarn, with some brilliant results. There is also an option to add an extra layer of lace to enlarge the shawl if you want to and are using a lighter weight yarn.

The blocked and relaxed piece as knitted in 8ply measured approximately 54cm deep with a total span of 220cm, but the final size will vary according to your own choice of yarn and needle, as well as your own knitting tension.

Requirements
8ply/DK: 800m/874yd yarn 3.5mm US4 – 4.0mm US6 needles

4ply/Fingering: 550m/600yd yarn, 3.25mm US3 – 3.75mm US5 needles

2 ply/Laceweight: 520m/570yd yarn 3mm US2.5 needles
600m/660yd yarn for the larger version.

Stitch markers, if you use them.
Wool needle to sew in ends.
Blocking wires and pins.

I want to give a big thank-you and a virtual hug to all of my testers, who not only created beautiful shawls and gave the pattern a thorough work out, but also created a wonderfully supportive group throughout the test.