Among the oldest knitted garments we know of in Norway are the so-called nightshirts from the 1600s. They were knitted in a very thin silk yarn and the pattern usually featured eight-petalled roses in purl on a knitted bottom. The garments were highly exquisite with finely detailed wire embroidery around the necks. I have tried to revive this 400 year old tradition back with this rose decorated pillow.
Natural coloured wool: 67 × 62cm (561⁄2 × 541⁄2in)
Yarn
Sterk from Du Store Alpakka
(alpaca/merino wool/nylon)
150g (51⁄2oz) sheep white no. 806
3.5mm (size 4) needles
To create the front panel, CO 136sts, work 2 rows knit, then work 34sts from graph, but knit the first and last 2sts to form garter stitch border. Repeat to create the back panel, but purl the first and last 2sts.
NB: Read the diagram from right to left on the first row and knit black squares p and white squares k.
Knit the next row in the opposite way: read the diagram from left to right and knit black squares k and white squares p.
Alternative description for the first two rows:
Row 1: K2 *k1, p3, k3, p3, k3, p3,
k1, p3, k3, p3, k3, p3*. Repeat from *to * to the end of the row. Finish with k2.
Row 2: P2 *p1, k3, p3, k1, p3, k3,
p1, k1, p1, k3, p3, p1, k3, p3, p1,
k1*. Repeat from * to * to the end of the row. Finish with p2.
Assembly:
Sew in all loose threads. Press (iron) the work carefully. Place knitted front and back right sides together and sew the pillow with fold (see Good Advice).
