Haapsalu shawl or Haapsalu scarf is a traditional knitted

Knitting

Knitting is a method by which thread or yarn may be turned into cloth or other fine crafts. Knitted fabric consists of consecutive rows of loops, called stitches. As each row progresses, a new loop is pulled through an existing loop. The active stitches are held on a needle until another loop can...

 lace

Lace

Lace is an openwork fabric, patterned with open holes in the work, made by machine or by hand. The holes can be formed via removal of threads or cloth from a previously woven fabric, but more often open spaces are created as part of the lace fabric. Lace-making is an ancient craft. True lace was...

 shawl originating from the small town of Haapsalu

Haapsalu

Haapsalu is a seaside resort town located on the west coast of Estonia. It's the administrative centre of Lääne County and has a population of 11,618 ....

 in Estonia

Estonia

Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...

. Haapsalu flourished as a seaside resort in the late 19th century and shawls made by local artisans became first popular among Russian aristocracy as souvenirs and gifts. Later the Haapsalu shawls became known also in Germany and in Scandinavia, they were also displayed on various exhibitions.

The traditional technique is still alive today. A traditional Haapsalu shawl is a rectangle measuring 100x100 to 150 x150 cm. It consists of three parts: a center section, a border and an edge which is knitted separately and sewn to the main part. Fine lamb wool yarn (mostly white) and wooden needles are used. Traditionally the shawl had to be so fine it was possible to drag it through a ring.