Sunday, March 13, 2011

Because I'm (half) Danish

My mother's parents emigrated to the US from Denmark, which in my eyes makes me half Danish.  When my mother's brother converted to Catholicism, I went around telling people I was "half Catholic" (I was about ten at the time).  While I was told that was not accurate, no one really explained why.

Because of my Danish "heritage" I always chose Denmark as the subject of history reports, lorded over my friends the fact we opened our xmas gifts on xmas eve, and periodically bugged my mother to teach me to speak Danish.  As an adult, I am drawn to Danish films and knitting.  So when I stumbled across the

Kællingesjal shawl, I had to knit it.


Starting out the border

The shawl dates from the late 1800's.  Mette Rørbech created her "recipe" for this shawl based on one she saw in a museum.  The yarn I am using is some alpaca I purchased at a fiber arts festival from Weavers Loft, yarn I now realize was designed for weaving and not for knitting.  It comes in 8-oz. hanks and is single ply with little twist, which makes it split easily.  The k2tog's are particularly vexing.  But the good news is only the borders are lace; the body of the shawl is garter with stockinette and reverse stockinette bands.  And I like to think the yarn is similar to yarn used 100 years ago - a little roughly spun.  At least, that is what I tell myself each time I have to rework a k2tog, which is almost every one. 

4 comments:

Qutecowgirl said...

Love the idea. I am Irish and Dutch with a little Italian and German thrown in and I too always seem to gravitate toward Irish and dutch things.

I also liked that shawl and the story behind it (and just had to queue it) = )

CeltChick said...

Hmm, drat the filters we've got on the Innerwebs here at work! I'll have to write down the name of the shawl & try to get on Ravelry tonite--it does sound interesting, and I like your idea that the yarn may be like that used circa the published date of this shawl. Not sure they'd have had alpaca, altho the shawl wearers of ye olden daye might have appreciated its warmth!

Toni said...

I love it! And I love the idea, though I'm going to try to forget the whole idea of doing an ancestry-based shawl until I get a few of my existing WIPs finished up.....:)

Enabler.

A. Warped, knitter said...

You, or whoever you're knitting it for, will so enjoy the shawl. It is so wonderful for wrapping up in. The yarn looks interesting. I can't wait to see it finished.