Fína hyrna KIT

Design

This elegant fichu is part of Sigríður Halldórsdóttir’s book Þríhyrnur og langsjöl 1988 (Triangular and long shawls), a reference for Icelandic lace shawls. The pattern first appeared in the Icelandic Handicrafts Association’s annual magazine Hugur og hönd in 1968. It had been written by Steinunn Eyjólfsdóttir from Reykjavík, who for a long time knitted for the Icelandic handicrafts shop and was a highly skilled craftsman. Steinunn had the pattern memorized. Little is known of the pattern’s origin except that Sigrún Stefánsdóttir, the former manager of the Icelandic handicrafts shop, said that she and Steinunn worked together at enlarging the center tongue on the leaf border with the help of a mirror. Previously, the lace border also had a three-leaf tongue at the center, which certainly did not make for enough width.

Fína hyrna, litteraly fine triangle, is probably the most knitted shawl in Iceland, at least the 30-40 years following World War II, first out of extremely fine handspun yarn made of þel (the soft inner layer of the Icelandic wool). The Handicrafts Association owns a few samples that are so light they could easily be drawn through a ring. Hélène is very proud that her soft Icelandic Love Story yarn makes it possible as well.

Fína hyrna is part of the book Þríhyrnur og langsjöl (Triangular and Long Shawls), a reference for traditional Icelandic lace shawls. It is probably the most knitted shawl in Iceland, at least the 30-40 years following World War II, first out of extremely fine handspun yarn made of þel (the soft inner layer of the Icelandic wool) that were so fine they could easily be drawn through a ring. Hélène is very proud that her soft Icelandic Love Story yarn makes it possible as well! Note that Fína hyrna is only available as an individual pattern when purchased as a Kit. It can not been purchased alone.

As well as clarifying, reworking the charts and adding written instructions, Hélène added 3 more sizes to the shawl to make it bigger (up to 195 cm/76″ wide)!  The Volcanic red sample is a size 1 an the Moss green one a size 3.

Sizes: 1(2,3,4). Dimensions after blocking: height at center 60(75,90,105) cm/ 24(30,36,42)”, wingspan 105(135,165,195) cm/ 41(53,65,76)”

Wool: Love Story Einband by Hélène Magnusson, pure new wool, 100% Icelandic lambswool, very fine lace, 1 ply, 25 g/ skein = 225 m / 246 yds), 2(3,3,4) skeins

Shown in Volcanic red size 1 and Moss green size 3.

Needles: 4 mm/US 5 circular needle
Crochet hook 2.5 mm / US 1/B

Notions: darning needle, tapestry needle, optional markers, rustproof pins and/or blocking wires.

Gauge: 10 cm /4” = 18 sts in Stocking stitch. Gauge is not essential but will affect the yardage.

Techniques: the shawl is knitted from the bottom up with a spider lace motif. Stitches are then picked up at the bottom and the lace border knitted with a leaf motif. Make sure to read both the notes and the instructions to the end before starting knitting after the pattern.

Pattern: once you’ve made your payment, you will receive an email with a link to download the pattern PDF. We don’t send patterns by snailmail.

Kit: the kit contains the wool but not the needles or the other material. The kit includes the pattern. Shipping costs are not included

Shipping and returns: see Terms & conditions here