Haapsalu shawl

November 27, 2020

More than a year ago, I think, I got the idea of knitting a Haapsalu shawl. As I had never made one before, a proper Haapsalu shawl that is, I wanted to buy a book with instructions.Haapsalu shawlUnfortunately I could not get hold of it, so the yarn just sat there. Then I thought, what is our all-knowing Google for? I am a little impatient, of course, and did not research very thoroughly. Good thing I at least looked up how to cast on. I did have to unravel it once as well, too many stitches… And then came the nupps. I made them and did not like them at all. Eventually I searched Google for “knitting nupps Haapsalu shawl” and realised my mistake. Shame I had already made so many incorrectly. Out they came. I had been making the nupp and closing it immediately. The correct way is to close it on the return row. Now I like them. I also chose the wrong needles. I thought I would use circular needles. I cannot. At least I cannot. So I took shorter 3.5 mm needles.A fairly simple pattern and not especially wide. We shall see how I cope with the lace edging. Knitting it and sewing it on… 😊 I filmed myself making a nupp. It is entirely possible that my technique is completely wrong 🤔, but the nupps get made. And what is wrong with them?

Knitting the lace was quite an opera too. Fortunately the wise women in the Facebook handicraft group came to my rescue. They have been knitting these shawls for years, and with their help I managed. First, calculating the stitches:

This is 190 garter ridges, 88 stitches wide, with 11 corner stitches.

According to Ivika’s instructions –

Actually, the formula is very simple:

Number of width stitches + 18 = x

((number of length garter ridges) – 11) divided by 3 + 18 + number of length garter ridges = y

Now add x + y = Z

Choose the edging lace you want, count the stitches in its main repeat (let us say 10) + the edge stitches (for the most ordinary lace, say 5 + 6).

Now subtract 11 from z and increase that number until you reach a number divisible by the number of stitches in the main lace repeat (in this case it should divide by 10) = Ü.

Ü + 11 = the number of edging-lace stitches needed for half of your shawl.

So: 88 + 18 = 106

((180 – 11) : 3) + 18 + 180 = 254

254 + 106 = 360

Now choose the edging. I am doing the calculation for a pattern with a 10-stitch main section and 5 + 6 edge stitches to form the outer point.

360 – 11 = 349. I increase that to 350 so it divides by 10, then 350 + 11 = 361 stitches for half the shawl.

At first I had fewer garter ridges, but I knitted another ten ridges for length.

Selle pildi alt-atribuut on tühi. Failinimi on img_20201210_072333.jpg

I finished the lace. At first I intended to make it in one piece. But… I am apparently hopeless and kept unravelling it. In the end I made it in two sections and actually managed rather well. I even found a long needle in the shop for sewing the lace on. I could not be bothered to go to Karnaluks, so mine has a sharp point. The proper needle for sewing on lace is apparently rounded at the tip so it does not split the yarn.

There was nothing left to do but stretch it on the frame, let it calm down for a while and… put it into Santa’s sack.

And the new owner seems pleased with the shawl. At least I hope so 🙂