Mermaid Shawl Knitting Pattern: A Detailed Guide to Creating a Sexy Siren Wrap with Lace and Fish Scale Motifs

Mermaid Shawl

Be a sexy siren in this drapey shawl. Tbe main lace pattern resembles fish scales cascading down, witb a spine down tbe center and water waves pooling at the bottom. Beware, this is true lace, and there is patterning on botb sides of tbe fabric, including two types of double-decreases from thbe wrong side, a third type of double-decrease from tbe front, and double yarn-overs. Tbe sbawl is knit from the center outward, and the edging is continuous with the shawl—you'll bave only tbe beginning and cast-off ends to weave in at the end! The lace pattern is adapted from Sbower Stitcb, from Barbara Walker's First Treasury. Size: Length down center back 24". Width across shoulders 50'. This shawl can easily be made bigger by adding repeats of the main pattern. Each additional repeat of the main pattern means one additional repeat of the border pattern.

Gauge: 1 lace repeat (scales chart), ie 12 stitches and 16 rows = 2.5”'x 2.5". Or..because this is a loose lace, gauge is not critical. If you are a very loose knitter, go down 1-2 needles sizes. Otherwise, use the recommended needle size, knit the first couple lace repeats, and stretch out to measure. If you don't know whether you are a loose knitter or not, this lace pattern is probably too advanced for you right now. Yarn: Knitpicks Shimmer (70% alpaca, 30% silk) in Cumulus colorway, 1 skein. For substitutions, you will need just under 400 yards of laceweight yarn. A silvery or glimmery yarn without much fuzz/halo works best. Needles: US size 5 (3.75mm) circular needles, or as needed to obtain gauge Abbreviations: p = purl; k = knit; k2tog = knit 2 stitches together; ssk = slip, slip,knit; pm = place marker; psm = place special marker; sm = slip marker; st = stitch(es)

Main shawl

Cast on 17 stitches Row O: p all Row 1 (RS) is the set-up row: k 2 (garter edge), psm, k1, pm, k1, psm, next 9 st work row 1 of spine chart, psm, k1, pm, k1, psm, k2 (garter edge) Row 2 (WS): k2, sm, row 2 rigbtedge, sm, row 2 of leftedge, sm, row 2 spine, sm, row 2 rigbtedge, sm, row 2 leftedge, k2 Continue in established pattern for 15 more rows, through row 16 for rigbtedge and leftedge charts. Odd numbered rows of any chart are on the RS, even numbered rows are on the WS. Remember, on the RS, charts are read from right to left, and the leftedge chart will be knitted before the rigbtedge chart. On the WS, charts are read from left to right, and the rigbtedge chart will be knitted before the leftedge chart. Meanwhile, k 2 st at both edges of the shawl, to produce a garter a edge. The center spine chart should be repeated over and over, 8 times for each repetition of the main pattern. After 16 rows of the edge charts, there will be two complete lace repeats added to the pattern. At this point these edge sections continue on in the scales pattern, and new leftedge and rigbtedge patterns are added to either side. Next row (RS): k2, sm, yo for row 1 of leftedge chart, pm, work previous leftedge as row 1 of scales, sm, [work any existing scales row 1, sm,] work previous rigbtedge as row 1 of scales, pm, yo for row 1 of rigbtedge chart, sm, row 1 of spine, sm, yo for row 1 of leftedge chart, pm, work previous leftedge as row 1 of scales, sm, [work any existing scales row 1, sm,] work previous rigbtedge as row 1 of scales, pm, yo for row 1 of rigbtedge chart, Sm,k2 Next 15 rows continue in established pattern, through row 16 for leftedge, scales, and rigbtedge patterns. Continue shawl edges in 2 st of garter, and center of shawl in spine. Repeat prior 16 rows 4 more times. (Total 96 rows, excluding row 0)

Border

Next row (RS): k2, sm, [k2tog, yo] until reach next special marker, sm, K1, yo, k1, yo, k1, CDD, k1, yo, k1, yo, k1, sm, [yo, ssk] until next special marker, sm, k2 Next row (WS): k2, sm, p all until next special marker, sm, P5, yo, p6 , sm, p all until next special marker, sm, k2 Next row (RS) is the border set-up row: row 1 of leftgarter, sm, [row 1 of waves while removing unnecessary marker, sm] until reach special marker, row 1 of centerwave, sm, [row 1 of waves while removing unnecessary marker, sm] until reach special marker, row 1 of rigbtgarter Continue in established pattern through row 16 of leftgarter, waves, centerwave, rigbtgarter charts.

Finishing

Bind off very loosely (recommend a suspended bind-off or other loose bind-off). Block as hard as you can, pinning center spine and shoulder edges first to measurements, then pinning out the waves along the diagonal edges and center point.

Copyright 2009 yoelknits. This pattern is for personal use only.