North Road Hat

It was a sunny day in June when Kate Larson first walked along the North Road in Lerwick, Shetland, to visit Jamieson & Smith. Handspun and knitted textiles produced in the Shetland Isles traditionally used both woolen- and worsted-spun yarns. To learn more, visit the textile collection at the Shetland Museum and Archives in Lerwick.

The original hat was designed with handspun Shetland yarn using fleece purchased at Jamieson & Smith. The company’s signature 2-ply Jumper Weight is a similar size and comes in more than 100 colors, so you can choose natural grays and browns or something from the color wheel. Be sure to work a generous swatch and experiment with several needle sizes to find the fabric you like.

MATERIALS

Yarn Jamieson & Smith 2-ply Jumper Weight (100% Shetland wool; 125 yd [115 m]/25 g; fingering weight): 4 moorit (MC), 3 pinky fawn (CC1), 1A natural white (CC2), 5 dyed Shetland black (CC3): 27 mid-grey (CC4), 1 skein each.
Needles Size 2 (2.75 mm): circular (cir) and set double-pointed (dpn), optional. Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain correct gauge.
Notions Markers (m); tapestry needle.
Gauge 28 sts and 34 rnds = 4" in St st after blocking.
Finished Size 20½" circumference and 7¾" tall, after blocking and slightly stretched.

Visit farmfiberknits.com/abbreviations for terms you don’t know.

About Kate Larson: Kate Larson (she/her) is Senior Editor of Farm & Fiber Knits. For nearly as long as Kate has been handspinning and knitting, she has been helping others find their paths as makers and forge deeper connections with the landscapes that produce the wool and cotton, flax, and silk that they hold in their hands. While Kate has published a book, many articles and patterns, and several instructional videos, she especially loves celebrating the work of other fiber folks. The editor of Spin Off from 2018–2025, she directs spinning events in addition to editing Farm & Fiber Knits. If you can’t find Kate, she’s most likely in the barn having a chat with her beloved Border Leicester sheep.

All items in the library are intended for personal use. Please do not distribute without written approval.