E is for Estonian Lace

Before my wedding, I had planned to make the Lily of the Valley Shawl in wedding white from Interweave’s Lace Style book. It’s based on a popular  Estonian Lace pattern lily of the valley. The stitch requires nupps which are an Estonian version of bobbles. In the lily of the valley pattern, they  look a lot like the stalks of white bell shaped flowers that I remember dotting a patch of my parents’ house. Since I wound up with a champagne colored dress with grey beading, I abandoned this shawl which looked funny next to the dress in favor of a less design intense pattern in charcoal grey. (Unfortunately, as a result, the shawl still lingers in my UFO pile in hopes that I will eventually finish it.) 

Thanks to Kathy at Grumperina, I discovered Lace Knitting of Estonia by Nancy Bush. The book explains that nupps were used to show that the piece was handmade and to add weight since the lace was sold by weight. Since getting this book, I have renewed zeal for nupps. I have started three other lace projects, of which one is finished. 

 

Triinu Shawl With Estonian Nupps

 

Estonian Lace Shawl on the Needles - Brooklyn Handspun Yarn

Lace Scarf in Blue Alpaca Fingering Weight

(Note: While Evelyn Clark’s Swallowtail Shawl requires nupps as part of the lily of the valley border, I didn’t have enough yarn to make them. As a result, this shawl isn’t included in this list.)

Have you tried Estonian Lace yet? Please let me know. I strongly recommend the book!

Submitted by Knitted Yarns Editor-in-Chief

More Estonian Lace Inspired Shawl KAL Eye Candy

While I didn’t have a lot of time to stop by The Point this week, I was able to get a photo of Georgia’s first repeat of the Estonian Lace in magnificent purple. Other knitting friends have been joining us on this lace journey. 

 

Estonian Lace Repeat in Purple

 

Looking at several repeats, we thought that the Estonian lace pattern for the center of the shawl looked a lot like a cathedral. Initially, I thought that the loopy line looked like a serpent. What do you think?

For your copy of the free Estonian Lace Scarf Inspired Shawl instructions, click here.

Entry submitted by Heidi Cohen, Editor in Chief of Knitted Yarns

Estonian Lace Inspired Shawl KAL-Eye Candy

 

Estonian Lace Pattern-1 Repeat

Since it’s difficult to visualize a lace pattern without seeing it in the light of day, here’s what one repeat (or 34 rows) of the center pattern look like. In this photo, you can see two repeats (as marked by the green stitch markers.) 

I love the way that the Brooklyn Handspun has a gradual color change when knitted up.

This lace looks a lot more complicated than it is. Since the 10 stitch repeat is repeated 8 times per row, you get the rhythm of the knitting. In addition, there are 4 rows that are repeated.

For those of you who want more information about Estonian Lace, check out Nancy Bush’s Knitted Lace of Estonia: Techniques, Patterns, and Traditions

Estonian Lace Scarf Inspired Shawl KAL Begins-Please join us!

 

Estonian Lace Inspired KAL ready to knit

The Estonian Lace Scarf Inspired Shawl KAL begins. You’re invited to join us. I am so excited since this is my first KAL and I’m the one who has written the instructions.

 

I am knitting the shawl using sock yarn (aka fingering weight). I am using the Brooklyn Handspun which I bought at The Point’s Thanksgiving Weekend Sale. It’s similar to the colorway that I used for my mother’s shawl although the reds are a more brick colored than the yarn I used for my mother. The yarn is thinner than I remembered,

 

Due to schedules, only two of us started together at one of our favorite knitting establishments, The Point. We weren’t able to convince any of our other knitting friends to join us that day.

 

Estonian Lace Inspired KAL at The Point NYC

Estonian Lace Scarf Inspired Shawl KAL

A few of my knitting buddies and I are planning to start an Estonian Lace KAL inspired by the Triinu Shawl that I made my mother.  As the basis for the pattern that we plan to knit, we are using The Estonian Lace Scarf by Helene Wallin 2006. It has 21 projects on Ravelry.

The Estonian Lace Scarf contains three different lace patterns and requires grafting (a no-no in my book, at least for now). Therefore, I’ve made some modifications to create a no-grafting needed Estonian Lace Shawl.

Estonian Lace Scarf Inspired Shawl Notes Source: http://entill.typepad.com/estonian_lacescarf.pdf

Two other online sources that might be of use:

Estonian Lace Study Good for visual help

Create Along Good for documenting lace patterns

Disclaimer: I am knitting this shawl for the first time as my friends in yarn and I progress. I am working ahead of them to ensure that any potential glitches will be worked out in advance.