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St. Brigid's Cloak Pattern

Category:

Knitting

Type:

Accessory

Fit:

Petite, Plus-sized, Tall, Women

Item:

Shawl

Skill Level:

Intermediate

Basic Skills Necessary:

Working Twisted Stitches, Increase Stitches, and Intarsia

Pattern Description:

This pattern was developed after I read about Brigid in Deborah Bergman's book; The Knitting Goddess. According to the story there Brigid, a weaver and healer, healed a local pagan chieftain who was threatening to take over all of the local grazing meadow where the peasants grazed their sheep. In gratitude for Brigid healing him he stated that he would grant her anything she wished. Her request was for him to grant her what little land her wee blue cloak would cover. He granted her wish. However, when Brigid spread her blue cloak it magically grew to cover the land the peasants needed to graze their sheep. Brigid would often use a woven cross made from reeds, grass, or wheat shafts in her healing. Therefore, these are represented on the cloak with twisted stitches. Since the story of Brigid is an Irish legend I also included shamrocks work in Intarsia, and naturally I chose blue as the main color of the cloak.

Gauge:

16 stitches/24 rows in stockinette.

Materials:

Size 9 16" circular needles

Suggested yarn:

1290 yards of Worsted weight

Preferred Brand/Yarn:

Berroco Ultra Alpaca