Amdam : How it came to be

Amdam is part of the Dwarven Collection

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Amdam means comforter in Khuzdul, the language of the Dwarves in Tolkien's universe.

Source:  the Dwarrow Scholar's Neo Khuzdul dictionnary

In the Hobbit, the dwarves making Thorin's company live on the road, with no real home of their own. They have to make do with what they can carry, and this is where the idea for Amdam stemmed from.

If you have to live on the road, you want things that are multipurpose – convertible. Now, these dwarves do go the extra mile and carry a harp and viols big as themselves around (in the book, that is) but still… there has to be a limit to what they can carry (unless, you know, they get their hands on a bag of holding, but that’s another story/franchise).

In the case of a stole/scarf/cape, you’d want it to be thick enough to help keep you warm/dry, but not too chunky in case you’d have to fold it and stuff it into your bag. Not too heavy, either – you’d have to lug the darn thing about, after all.

And, without a home, you have to find comfort where you can – I've always found handknitted items comforting, and I like to think the Dwarves of Erebor would've found comfort in such things, too.

The shape of Amdam is inspired by dwarven architecture, as it appears in Alan Lee and John Howe’s illustrations and concept art and in Peter Jackson’s movies.

John Howe's concept art of Erebor

Erebor, as seen in the movies

 It uses lots of repetitive patterns and lots of straight lines.

Concept art from The Art of The Fellowship of the Ring.

It’s very geometric - some would say quite block-y. And yet, there’s always a certain hint of luxury, an elegant feel to it. An air of grandeur.

The Fellowship in Moria by Alan Lee.

 Dwarves are a proud people. Their halls are built to impress – at least that’s how I see it.

Erebor: built to impress, innit?

But Dwarves are not fussy. They’re pragmatic (or, well, they like to think they are...) – and their architecture shows it. There are no squiggly lines anywhere to be seen. Squiggly lines and floral motifs are for pointy eared devils, after all...

No, not this kind of pointy eared devil...

...THAT kind of pointy eared devil.

I had all these things in mind when I chose brioche as the main stitch pattern for Amdam: brioche is straightforward, but more luxurious and refined than regular ribbing. It's very geometric and looks good when repeated across a sizable project. It's squishy and comfortable. It drapes well and can be folded rather easily.

The crocheted spine and border add a little flair without being too frilly, and they're also useful. The spine helps keeps the stole in shape and the border, while also keeping the stole in shape, doubles as a button band.

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How to wear Amdam

Amdam: Toolbox

Index
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Amdam is part of the Dwarven Collection