The Trabant (meaning: “companion”) is a little car that was produced in Eastern Germany during the years after the Second World War. It was the “poor man’s car” – it was something most people could afford, though waiting lists to get one were very long (up to 10 years!). It is a tiny car, can just about accommodate 4 people, doesn’t drive very fast and has the most adorable 2-stroke engine sound.

I have dreamt of a Trabi since I was on a summer holiday in Hungary when I was 17. Back then I didn’t have a driver’s license yet, and my father and I talked about traveling back to one of the Eastern European countries after I got my driver’s license, just to get me a car like that. It would be a fun project to work on restoring from scratch. Things don’t always go as planned however, so I didn’t get my Trabi until 15 years later, when I bought a newly restored one in Denmark.

This shawl is my tribute to my little Trabi – the very Trabant typical sky blue of the yarn combined with the lace that resembles the Trabi’s round headlights. Fun to knit, and a good combination of size and thickness to act as an extra layer when driving the little car!

Yarn: Knitter’s Kitchen Polwarth SW DK (100% Wool), 225 meters / 246 yards per 100g, 2(3) skeins. Colourway: “My Trabi”. Any DK weight yarn of the same approximate yardage can be used.

Needles: 4.5 mm / US 7 circulars, 80 cm / 32 inches in order to accommodate a large number of sts.

Notions: Stitch markers, tapestry needle for weaving in ends.

Gauge: Not crucial (but gauge might affect required yardage and final size). Sample uses gauge of 16 sts & 24 rows to 10 cm / 4 inches in stockinette stitch after aggressive blocking.

Size:
Width from tip to tip: 158 (206) cm / 62.25 (81) inches.
Depth at center spine: 54 (70) cm / 21.25 (27.5) inches.

This pattern has been tech edited and tested. A big thanks to everyone involved!