Hestur — Icelandic Horse Rug Knitting Pattern

Védís Jónsdóttir’s rug for an Icelandic horse, from Ístex’s Lopi 26, is knitted in Álafosslopi in two pieces: a patterned yoke round the neck and chest, knitted in the round from the lower edge up and cut open at the front, and a plain garter-stitch blanket over the back. The yoke has zigzag bands in oatmeal and white and a row of white diamonds on black heather; ribbed bands, three snaps and a buckle close it at the front. One size — the blanket is 136 cm wide and 130 cm along the back — and the pattern says to measure your horse before you start. All three colours are still made.

What you get

• The knitting pattern in English (PDF), emailed right after purchase — nothing is posted
• One size, for an Icelandic horse — blanket 136 cm wide, 130 cm along the back
• One chart for the yoke, with a colour key
• Instructions for four straps to knit — two under the tail, two round the belly
• Yarn and needles are not included. The kit has this pattern and all the yarn: the kit

Yarn used in the pattern (not included)

Álafosslopi — 100 g balls · one size
A 0005 black heather — 15
B 0085 oatmeal — 2
C 0051 white — 1

Size
One size, for an Icelandic horse: width of blanket 136 cm (53½″), length of back 130 cm (51¼″). The pattern recommends measuring your horse before you start, and notes that garter stitch stretches; the blanket is knitted to 95 cm “or as long as you prefer” before its front end is shaped.

Gauge
Yoke: 13 sts × 18 rows = 10 cm (4″) in stocking stitch on 6 mm needles. Blanket: 12 sts × 24 rows = 10 cm (4″) in garter stitch on 6 mm needles.

Needles
6 mm (US 10) circular needles, 100 and 80 cm, for the yoke and the blanket
4½ mm (US 7) circular needle, 80 cm, for the lower edge of the yoke, the front bands, the neckband and the straps

You will also need
One buckle with straps and three large snaps (not included; they are in the pattern’s list). Stitch holders, a sewing machine for stitching the steek before it is cut, and a needle for sewing on the bands and straps and sewing the two pieces together — the instructions use them, but the pattern’s list leaves them out.

How it is knitted
Two pieces, sewn together at the end. The yoke is knitted from the lower edge up: 269 stitches cast on in A on the 4½ mm circular and knitted back and forth for 6 rows — garter stitch with 5 rib stitches at each end, which go on holders for the front bands in the sixth row. On the 6 mm circular 2 purled steek stitches are cast on and the yoke is joined into a round of 261 stitches; the 47-round chart, with four decrease rounds, takes it to 145. The steek stitches are cast off, the ends are pulled through to the right side and the steek is machine-stitched twice. Each front band is the 5 rib stitches with a 3-stitch purl facing, knitted up to the neckline; then the front is cut open between the stitched lines and the bands are sewn on, the facing hiding the machine stitching. The neckband is 3 cm of knit 1, purl 1 rib across both bands and the yoke, 153 stitches, and the yoke is rinsed by hand and laid flat to dry. The blanket is cast on in A with 160 stitches on the 6 mm circular: 3 cm of knit 1, purl 1 rib, then garter stitch to 95 cm “or as long as you prefer”. For the front end the middle 56 stitches are cast off and each side of 52 is decreased by 2 stitches every other row until 1 stitch is left. Four straps of knit 1, purl 1 rib on 5 stitches are knitted on 4½ mm — two of 40 cm and two of 30 and 70 cm. The blanket is sewn to the yoke from the right side, starting at the back of the yoke, without stretching it; the under-tail straps are sewn to the cast-on edge 25 cm from each side and the belly straps to the sides, straight down from the withers. The snaps go on the front bands and the buckle on the neckband.

Design: Védís Jónsdóttir — pattern from Lopi No. 26 (no. 25), Ístex.

How you get it — the pattern is a PDF in English. It is emailed to you right after purchase; nothing is posted.

Yarn — not included. We sell Ístex lopi by the ball in our yarn shop, or choose the kit, which has this pattern and all the yarn in one parcel.

No email? Check your spam folder, then write to support@icelandicstore.is with your order number. A person answers, Monday to Friday.