Freja, the goddess of love and fertility in old Norse myth, is also known by the name Vanadis. This tam was made to match my Freja mittens, which were published in Knitty, winter bis 2011, and it has borrowed many patterns from the mittens. I’ve named it Vanadis to show that relationship – the same but still different. Vanadis is worked as a traditional Shetland tam, and is decorated with a lot of lovely heart shapes.

The pattern is suitable for intermediate knitters and adventurous beginners. Specific required skills are listed below. Colorwork pattern is charted only. The pattern has been professionally tech edited to reduce the possibility for error, but if you have questions or believe that you have found an error, please contact me.

Required skills
Cast on
Knit and purl
Knitting small circumferences in the round
Stranded colorwork
Increase and decrease

Size
This tam will fit a head with a circumference of 21 - 22”/54-56 cm.
Tam diameter is 11”/28 cm.

Recommended yarn
Rauma Gammelserie [100% wool; 175 yd/160 m per 50 g skein] or
Rauma Finullgarn [100% wool; 191 yd/175 m per 50 g skein]; 1 skein each in main color and contrasting color

Approximately 150 yd/135 m in main color and 120 yd/110 m in contrasting color of fingering weight yarn.

Needles & notions
US #1.5/2.5 mm circular needle, 16”/40 cm
US #2.5/3.0 mm circular needle, 16”/40 cm
US #2.5/3.0 mm double pointed needles, or the needles you need to knit to gauge.
Tapestry needle
Stitch marker

Gauge
28 sts/34 rows = 4”/10 cm in stranded color pattern with larger needles.
Gauge is measured before blocking. Blocking a tam will distort the gauge.

To ensure accurate sizing and save time and frustration, check your gauge.