Hansel by Gudrun Johnston

This pattern was updated on March 22, 2022 to now include 3 sizes. The pattern also now has lots of video tutorial links to help guide you through making this Shetland shawl.

A ‘Hansel’ is a gift to mark a special occasion, such as the birth of a baby.

Size
Small (Medium, Large): Approx 55 ½ (63 ½, 72 ¼)” / 141 (161, 183.5) cms square

Needles
US 8 / 5mm 24, 32, 40 and 60 inch circular needles (it will depend on which size you are knitting)
US 8 / 5mm spare DPN or short circular (for edging)

Yarn
Fingering weight yarn in the following amounts:
1100 (1300,1600) yards of MC, 132 (170, 170) yards of CC1, 170 (170, 180) yards of CC2, 170 (170, 250) yards of CC3 and 170 (220,170) yards of CC4
Yardages are all based on the stripe sequence provided. If changing the stripe sequence this will affect yardage amounts.

MC Yardage for Centre Diamond Section Only: 500 (700, 1000) yards
MC Yardage for Edging Section Only: 280 (320, 360) yards
If leaving edging off you will still require a small amount of main colour yarn for the bind off.

Shown in Jumper Weight by Jamieson & Smith (100% Real Shetland Wool; 129yd
118m/25g)

Medium Sized Sample
Shade 203 (MC), Shade FC7 (CC1), Shade 202 (CC2), Shade 78 (CC3), Shade FC45 (CC4)

Small Sample (shown on baby)
Shade 27 (MC), Shade 4 (CC1), Shade FC12 (CC2), Shade 29 (CC3), Shade 121 (CC4)

Notions
Crochet Hook size H/8 5mm
Stitch Markers
Row Counter
Tapestry Needle

Gauge
17 sts and 34 rows = 4 inches in Garter st on US 8/5mm needles.

Construction
This shawl is constructed in 3 parts. It begins with the centre square diamond worked in garter st. The square is worked from one point of the diamond to the opposite point increasing in the first half of the square and decreasing for the second half. Yarn overs are formed at the beginning of every row during the centre diamond section. Stitches are then easily picked up from the very visible yarn over loops along the edges and the border is worked outwards from the centre square. The shawl is finished with an edging that is knitted sideways and attached to the live sts of the border as it is being worked.

This construction for a traditional Shetland hap is considered the “modern” method. The older traditional method starts at the outside edging and works in towards the centre, in pieces.