Merrie Dancers Toorie Yarn Pack - SWW 2018

Shetland Wool Week 2018 pattern by Elizabeth Johnston.

Elizabeth writes, “My Merrie Dancers Toorie (knitted hat) is based on a fisherman’s kep on display in the Shetland Museum and Archives’ Boat Hall. It was knitted about 1950 by an old woman from the island of Yell, who remembered patterns knit by the womenfolk for the fishermen in her family. Such keps were worn when the men rowed to the far haaf (deep sea fishing grounds) in large open boats. The kep has three small patterns but is not a Fair Isle design. I kept the small stars for one band of pattern, just as it is in the kep. For a second band I have combined all three small patterns to form a nine-row pattern. The kep has a dark background with colours that remind me of the northern lights, or ‘merrie dancers’ in Shetland dialect, and a familiar sight to fishermen.”

Elizabeth’s other patterns can be found here.

Packaged with permission of the SWW Committee.

Skills:
Knitting in the round, two-color stranded knitting, following a chart. 

Size:
Adult average. 

Included:
Three colors of Jamieson’s Spindrift, 100% Shetland wool (56 g total). 

You will need:
Pattern, available here. 
Needles and notions US 4/3.5 mm needles for circular knitting or size to achieve gauge.
Stitch marker, tapestry needle.

Hand wash in cold water. Lay flat to dry. 

Design by Elizabeth Johnston for Shetland Wool Week 2018

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