The Harvest of Lughnasadh by Catherine Knutsson

The Harvest of Lughnasadh

Lughnasadh, also known as Lammas, the festival of Lugh, the Festival of Breads, or the Festival of Harvest, occurs on August 1 or 2. This is a sun festival, where ancient peoples celebrated the sun and the coming harvest. Hearths were decorated with barley and oats, with bread and fruit, and cobs of corn. Bread was shaped into the form of the sun, and the name “Lammas” comes from an Anglo-Saxon word meaning “loaf-mass”.

The Harvest of Lughnasadh shawl is an asymmetrical, on-the-bias shawl that features the traditional “Print o’ the Wave” lace pattern, which reminded me of fields of barley and sheaves of wheat. The sample shawl was knit with Crooked Kitchen Yarn’s Bluebella fingering (BFL/silk) in the Bittersweet colourway.

Skill Level
Intermediate

Sizes

One size

Sample dimensions (see diagram)
A – 82”/208 cm
B – 59”/150 cm
C – 45”/114 cm
D – 19”/48 cm

Gauge
1 repeat of Waving Grain pattern = 6”/12 cm wide x 2”/5 cm tall on 4 mm (US 6) needles, blocked.

Tools and Materials
Yarn Requirements
425 - 450 yards/388 - 411 meters of fingering weight yarn

Needles
4 mm (US 6) knitting needles, straight (at least 14”/ CM) or circular

Notions

  • pins, wires, and a mat for blocking
  • tapestry needle for weaving in the ends
  • optional: stitch markers (see general notes, bullet 2)

This pattern has been tested by summbienchensumm, RivendellKnitter, and lizzyangel666. It was tech edited by buzzandfuzz. Many thanks for all of your help!