Product Description
In the Swedish medieval ballad Havsfrun, Herr Olof rides to the realm of the Sea Witch. She welcomes him and says she's been waiting for him for 15 years. She asks where he is from and where his fields are, and his parents and his beloved. He answers they are all in the king's realm. The Sea Witch then offers him the clearest wine from her jug and then asks all the same questions again. Herr Olof now answers that his fields and his home are here in the realm of the Sea Witch. She is his beloved and he would like to live and die with her.
The stole shows the flowing, swirling waters of the Sea Witch's realm, and in the centre the waters separate to make way for her lands and fields.
Havsfrun is the first shawl in a set of three released as part of the Folk Song KAL by Knit & Knag Designs.
Havsfrun Lace Shawl by Anna Dalvi
What is Being Made
The Havsfrun Lace Shawl is an intermediate-level knitted shawl inspired by the Swedish folk tale of Herr Olof and the Sea Witch. This downloadable PDF pattern creates a luxurious rectangular lace shawl with generous dimensions suitable for wrapping, draping, or displaying as a finished textile art piece.
Finished Dimensions
When blocked, the completed shawl measures 62 cm (24.5 inches) in width and 180 cm (71 inches) in length, making it a substantial wrap-style shawl ideal for layering or elegant evening wear.
Materials Required
- Yarn: 2 skeins of Pure Cashmere Lace from Hedgehog Fibres (100% cashmere, 437 yards/400 meters per 50 gram skein) in the Ink colorway or similar lace-weight yarn
- Needles: 4.0 mm (US 6) knitting needles
- Notions: Tapestry needle for weaving in ends
Knitting Techniques
This pattern employs fundamental shawl construction methods appropriate for intermediate knitters. The cast-on uses a two-strand knitted cast-on technique, where knitters cast on 86 stitches using doubled yarn, then cut away one strand to continue working with single-strand yarn. This approach creates a secure, elastic edge suitable for lace knitting.
Stitches and Stitch Work
The Havsfrun shawl utilizes lace knitting stitches characteristic of traditional shawl patterns. Lace-weight yarn combined with 4.0 mm needles creates an open, delicate fabric with the characteristic drape and transparency of fine lace shawls. The pattern structure requires attention to yarn-over and decrease sequences typical of lace knitting, making it suitable for knitters with intermediate experience and familiarity with reading lace charts or written lace instructions.
Yarn Weight and Fiber Content
The pattern specifies lace-weight yarn, the finest standard yarn category. The recommended Pure Cashmere Lace from Hedgehog Fibres provides exceptional softness, warmth, and luxury fiber characteristics. At 437 yards per 50 grams, this yarn allows the two-skein yardage to create the full 180-centimeter length while maintaining the delicate, open structure essential to lace shawl design.
Design Context
The Havsfrun shawl draws inspiration from Swedish folklore, specifically the ballad of Herr Olof and the Sea Witch, adding narrative depth to this wearable textile. The pattern was designed by Anna Dalvi and is presented as a downloadable PDF, allowing knitters worldwide to access this intermediate-level lace project.
```Specifications
| Brand: | Independent Designer |
| Yarn Weight: | Lace | 2 Ply |
| Pages: | 35 |
| Designer: | Anna Dalvi |
| Craft: | Knitting |
| Format: | Downloadable PDF |
| Languages: | English, French, German |
| Number of Patterns: | 1 |
| Skill Level: | Intermediate |
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