My Colours of Shetland Throw was created for the 2025 Shetland Hogmanay Box curated by Anne Frost of the “I Thought I Knew How” podcast. The throw was designed to highlight Shetland yarns from several producers to show how versatile and inspirational these yarns can be.
I was keen to show the knitter how these yarns “play” together by
demonstrating how they can appear to change by using them against different shades and tones of yarn. I have used a mix of both heathered and plain colours to again show how this can alter the appearance of the colours when used in different settings. For the purpose of the pattern I’ve used the colours in a set order but feel free to have fun, play with the yarns and learn how they
work!
My colour choices came from my life here in Shetland - the heather on the hills, the lichen on the rocks and even the buoys stacked up in my neighbours garden. I hope you feel inspired by the colours of Shetland too!
The pattern is knitted in the round following a crochet provisional cast on. A steek is inserted for cutting open prior to picking up stitches around the edge of the blanket for a garter stitch border and i-cord bind off.
Links are included in the pattern for those who may be unfamiliar with these techniques.
The Fair Isle knitting is based on a traditional Shetland motif although I have tweaked this for a contemporary feel.

Yarn

Colourwork
One 25g ball or skein of each of the following
Laxdale 2ply jumperweight 90m/25g
A - Teal
B - Campion
C -Clover
D - Begonia
Uradale jumperweight organic unbleached dyed yarn 86m/25g
E – Ling Heath
F – Meadowsweet Heath
G – Raspberry Meal
H – Tormentil Meal
I – Bilberry Meal
J- Moss
Aister ‘Oo’ 2ply jumperweight 75m/25g
K - Aisterlea
L- Fjord
M - Flakki
N - Bessaquoy
Jamiesons of Shetland spindrift 105m/25g
O- Burnt Umber
P - Flame
Q - Mantilla
R - Titanic
S - Fuschia
T- Tan Green
West Lynne Wool jumperweight 87m/25g
U- Lichen
V- Heather
W- Orange
X- Light Blue
The Silly Sheep Fibre Company 25g skein
Y- Hollyleaf
Z- Crowberry
AA- Xanthoria
BB- Bog Asphodel

1 x 100g skein ofDonna Smith Designs 2ply
jumperweight in Deark Purple for border

If you wish to use oddments, you will need approx 20g of each colour and around 60g of border shade if gauge is met.

Notions

1 x 3.25mm circular knitting needles a minimum of 100cm (or preferred method of knitting in the round) plus a further 2 circular needles of the same or similar size ie 2.75mm, 3mm or 3.5mm. You only require these extra needles for the border and due to the stretchiness of the garter st used for the border gauge is not vital. I used a mix of similar sizes to work mine.

Stitch markers

Waste yarn and 3.5mm crochet hook for provisional cast on

Darning or tapestry needle for weaving in ends and securing steeks