In J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle Earth, Erebor is the Sindarin name for the Lonely Mountain. Within it are the halls of the Dwarven King under Mountain. Reclaiming Erebor, and its treasure hoard, was the quest of thirteen dwarves, Gandalf the Grey Wizard, and Mr. Bilbo Baggins, of Bag End, burglar Hobbit of the Shire. Their journey and adventures were described by Tolkien in his novel, The Hobbit (1937). More recently, Peter Jackson has turned this novel into a series of three films.

The Erebor Shawl features geometric shapes, but has an organic quality too, just like the intricate carved stonework in the halls of the King under the Mountain. It’s a large shawl, to be draped over the shoulders on those chilly nights deep under ground. It’s quite the fashionable item amongst the more stylish Dwarf women!

The pattern is both written and charted. With its straightforward construction and techniques, Erebor would make an excellent choice for a novice lace/shawl knitter.

This triangular shawl is constructed out of two identical triangles on either side of a centre stitch. There are four increases on each right side row; one on each edge, and one on either side of the centre stitch. There are three border stitches on each edge.

Erebor uses simple (lace) techniques: a garter tab cast on, yarnovers, knit two together, slip slip knit, and slip 2 stitches - knit 1 stitch - pass 2 slipped stitches over.

Gauge is not essential for this project, but will affect the size of the finished shawl and the amount of yarn required.

The sample was knit in Drops Alpaca, but any fingering weight yarn could be substituted. Lace yarn could also be used. as the size is easily adjusted by knitting more or less repeats of the main body of the shawl.