Janina Maria Crochet Set

This shawl was designed to commemorate the inaugural Woolly Good Gathering at Summerhall,

Edinburgh in April 2024; its matching hat joined the design when it was developed further for

publication in issue 6 of The Journal of Scottish Yarns.

The set is named after Janina Maria Sokolowska (1914-1994)– the first woman to qualify as a

Veterinary Surgeon in 1945 from The Royal (Dick) Veterinary College in Edinburgh. Women were

disbarred from studying at the Summerhall college until 1942, with students enrolling in October

1943 after a women’s common room had been carved out of space from the Animal Husbandry

Department Museum. The regulations allowed at least 5 women but no more than 10% of any

entrance cohort.

Born in Lwów, Poland in 1914, Janina Maria experienced terrible trauma through WW2 with her

family through the Katyn Massacre, exile to Siberia and conscription as a veterinarian nurse.

After release from captivity and working with the Polish Army, she worked as a veterinarian and

medical nurse across Europe and the Middle East, eventually helping to convoy Polish refugee

women to Scotland. In 1943 Janina Maria was granted leave to continue her studies at The Royal

Dick, where there was a dedicated unit for Polish students. She was the first woman to qualify

from the course in 1945. She married a fellow Polish graduate and emigrated to Minnesota USA,

where she lived a long and fruitful life.

Janina Maria shawl is generous, using up to two skeins, but it can also be adapted to a smaller

shawlette using one skein only. The striped version leaves enough MC and CC yarn to make the

Janina Maria Hat, so that the matching full set can be made from just two skeins.

The double layered hat is designed to match Why not use leftovers from the hat to add to a

striped version of the shawl, or use an additional skein for a single colour version? It is worked

from the top down in continuous spiral rounds; it is recommended that a moveable BOR marker

is used to keep track or rounds. There are no starting chs at the start of rounds.

At the colour change to MC, the hat is ‘flipped’ to work on the WS to set up the folded band

and create a smooth fabric against the forehead. The folded band is then secured before you

crochet a lace overlay. With careful weaving in of ends this hat becomes reversible.

Enjoy playing with colour contrasts between the base ‘beanie’ and lace overlay.

Shawl Requirements:

YARN

The Woolchemist Deluxe Sock, 4-ply, 85%

Extra-fine Merino, 15% Nylon, 400 m / 425

yds per 100g skein.

OR in 4ply weight yarn which works up to the

specified gauge and has similar

characteristics for stitch definition, whilst

maintaining drape and softness against the

skin.

APPROXIMATE SHAWL YARDAGE

REQUIRED

Striped version shawlette

MC: 320 m / 350 yds

CC: 300 m / 318 yds

Single colour version

MC: 720 m / 780 yds

APPROXIMATE HAT YARDAGE REQUIRED

MC: 260 m / 285 yds

CC: 150 m / 165 yds

3.5mm hook required

You can download an A4 'full page' version, or one which you can print and fold to have as a handy A5 booklet.