The Faroes are a tiny chain of remote islands in the northern ocean, halfway between Scotland and Iceland. The shawls indigenous to the islands have a butterfly shape and discreet tucks at the shoulder. They thus drape beautifully without shifting, and can even be worn with their ‘arms’ crossed in front and tied in the back!

I had the great good fortune to take a class on Faroese shawls from Marilyn von Keppel, who brought this tradition to North American knitters. Once I had learned the shaping, I knew I wanted to work one up in … what else? Linen Stitch. It makes for a thrilling combination. Fingering-weight yarn on huge needles, and no pooling in hand-painted yarn? Yum.

Your friends will never believe you used such huge needles to work this wondrous, woven-look wrap!