Har

Har Shawl by Bristol Ivy

What Is Being Made

Har is a crescent-shaped knitted shawl designed by Bristol Ivy. The name derives from Old English, meaning hoary or grey, referencing the root of hoarfrost. This downloadable PDF pattern creates a sophisticated wrap-style shawl that begins at the center neck and expands outward, resulting in finished measurements of 17 inches in depth and 49 inches across the wingspan. The shawl is an ideal accessory for layering and draping elegantly around the shoulders.

Techniques Used

The Har shawl employs several intermediate-level knitting techniques that add visual interest and complexity to the finished piece. The shawl is constructed using a center-out construction method, beginning at the neck and expanding through strategic increases at both the center spine and outside edges. This approach allows the knitter to customize the final size by working additional repeats or rows as desired.

The pattern incorporates intarsia colorwork, a technique that allows for the integration of the contrasting color yarn in specific sections without carrying yarn across the back of the work. This creates clean, professional-looking color transitions and prevents the fabric from becoming overly thick in colorwork areas. The shawl is worked back and forth in rows rather than in the round, despite using a circular needle, which is necessary to accommodate the large number of stitches that accumulate as the shawl grows.

Lace blocking is recommended after completion to open up stitch definition and achieve the intended drape and measurements. This finishing technique is essential for shawls worked in lace patterns, as it sets the stitches and allows the fabric to achieve its full, intended dimensions.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch structure is stockinette stitch, which forms the foundation of this shawl. Stockinette stitch creates a smooth, classic fabric with a distinctive V-pattern on the right side, making it an ideal base for both solid sections and colorwork integration. The pattern also incorporates lace stitches, which create openwork sections that add lightness and visual elegance to the shawl design. These lace elements provide breathability and an airy quality appropriate for a crescent shawl silhouette.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The Har pattern calls for two distinct yarns in complementary colors and fiber blends:

• Main Color (MC): Edna Extra by Dirty Water Dyeworks, a luxury blend of 85% Polwarth wool and 15% silk. This yarn provides 730 yards at 280 grams per skein, with approximately 405 yards required in the Slate colorway. The silk content adds subtle sheen and drape to the finished shawl.
• Contrast Color (CC): Meadow by the Fibre Company, a complex blend of 40% merino wool, 25% llama, 20% silk, and 15% linen. This yarn yields 545 yards at 100 grams per skein, with approximately 90 yards needed in the Cornflower colorway. The diverse fiber blend creates interesting texture and visual depth in the colorwork sections.

The pattern is worked on one 32-inch circular needle in US size 5 (3.75 mm), or the size required to achieve the specified gauge. Circular needles are used here not for working in the round, but rather to accommodate the increasing number of stitches as the shawl expands.

Gauge and Finishing Notions

The pattern specifies a gauge of 17.5 stitches and 38 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch using the main color yarn only, measured after moderate lace blocking. Achieving proper gauge is essential for obtaining the correct finished measurements. Additional notions required include a tapestry needle for weaving in ends and stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and increases throughout the construction.