Rauðisandur

Design: Hélène Magnússon

The Icelandic tradition of knitting lace shawls probably dates back to the 19^th century. Triangular or long shawls, they were defined by the beauty of the handspun yarn and the array of colors used, from natural sheep tones to yarn that was hand-dyed using plants or lichen. The color variations were infinite and the shift between the shades almost imperceptible. Some shawls were so fine that they could be drawn through a golden ring.

Rauðisandur is a modern take of a traditional long shawl. It is knitted with my Love Story Einband, the Icelandic yarn that comes the closest to the old handpsun ones. Knitted in the natural white shade, the sample shown on a picture was then hand-dyed with litunarskóf, Icelandic coloring lichen (as part of my Icelandic Yarn Club 3). It will look just as beautiful in a solid color.

It is unusually knitted lengthwise with eyelet lines recalling the traces left by the sea on the red sand beach in the Westfjords of Iceland. Rauðisandur, or “Red Sands”, a beach West Fjords of Iceland, is named for the unique golden-red colour of its sand, in contrast with the black lava sand more commonly seen in Iceland.

Size: one size. Rectangle blocked to 45 cm / 18” large and 190 cm / 75” long.
Dimensions unstretched were approx. 25 cm / 10” and 155 cm / 61.
The shawl can easily be made longer/shorter by adding/withdrawing 10-st rep.

Gauge
10 cm / 4” = 20 sts and 26 rows in Stocking st on 4.5 mm / US6 needle with cobweb/lace weight yarn heavily stretched and blocked.
Check your gauge and if necessary, change needle size to obtain the correct gauge. Gauge is quite loose to achieve the airy effect.
Gauge is not essential but will affect the yardage required.

Wool
Love Story Eiband by Hélène Magnússon, pure new wool, 100% Icelandic lambswool, cobweb/lace weight, 25 g /skein = 220 m /240 yds: 3 skeins
Yardage used: 580 m / 634 yds

This pattern was originally published as part of my Icelandic Yarn Club 3: the knitted sample shown was hand-dyed with Icelandic coloring lichen.

Needle: 4.5 mm / US 6 circular needle (suitable for lace with pointy tips) or size to obtain the gauge.

Notions: darning needle, stitch markers, blocking wires and pins. Towel, pinning board (you can also use a mattress, the back of a sofa, etc…).

Techniques: the shawl is knitted lengthwise in Stocking stitch with lace insertions (eyelets).

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

Errata: No mistake has been found in this pattern