Flying Birds is a single-skein fingering weight knitting pattern, featuring garter stitch knit on the bias, unique yarn over increases, and two-stitch i-cord edging.
I wanted to make a shawl in a shape that is less common than what I’ve seen. The shape of this shawl is inspired by the way that most people illustrate birds flying in the distance.
This shawl can be worn multiple ways, just like traditional shawl shapes. As an added bonus, since this is an accessory, you can choose a different yarn weight and a corresponding needle size. If you are working with limited yarn, weigh your yarn, knit the pattern to the halfway point of your yarn, then begin decreasing.
Happy Knitting!
Difficulty Level: Easy
Social Media: Please use #FlyingBirdsShawl and tag me @justwhitneymarie on Instagram, Threads, TikTok, or YouTube.
Yarn Over Increase Tutorial: https://youtu.be/DwHoB-6PpYM
Materials and Tools
- 100g – 460 yards of Fingering Weight Yarn • Sample yarn: Passion Knits Yarn, Spellbound base (75% SW Merino Wool, 25% Nylon)
- Needle size: 4.5mm (US 7)
- Yarn Needle
- Scissors
- Optional: Scale to measure if working with limited yarn
Measurements
Gauge
4” x 4” = 32 rows x 20 sts (Garter Stitch)
Finished Measurements
Depth: 12” Length: 90”
Stitches and Abbreviations
- Knit (k)
- Knit two together (k2tog)
- Make one (m1)
- Place Marker (pm)
- Purl (p)
- Remains (rem)
- Repeat (rep)
- Slip Marker (sm)
- Slip one Purlwise with yarn in back (s1pwyib)
- Slip one Purlwise with yarn in front (s1pwyif)
- Slip Slip Knit (ssk)
- Stitch/stitches (st/sts)
- Yarn Over (yo)* *Yarn Over Increases: YO by bringing the working yarn over then under your right needle (counterclockwise) when indicated in this pattern. Work the YO through the front loop to twist the stitch. This will create a smooth increase rather than an eyelet hole. Tutorial for this increase.
Notes: Before beginning this pattern, locate the bold and highlighted sections. Bolded text indicates a sequence of rows to be repeated 1-2 times. Highlighted sections indicate a larger sequence of rows that will be repeated several times.
Pattern Begins
Setup Section
CO 4 sts.
Row 1 rs: k1, [s1pwyib]x 2, k1.
Row 2 ws: s1pwyif, p2, s1pwyif.
Row 3: k1, s1pwyib, YO, s1pwyib, k1. (5)
Row 4: s1pwyif, p1, k1, p1, s1pwyif.
Row 5: k1, s1pwyib, k1, s1pwyib, k1.
Row 6: s1pwyif, p1, k1, p1, s1pwyif.
Rows 7-8: rep rows 5 & 6.
Increase Section
Row 9: k1, s1pwyib, YO, k1, s1pwyib, k1. (6)
Row 10: s1pwyif, p1, k to last two sts, p1, s1pwyif.
Row 11: k1, s1pwyib, k to last two sts, s1pwyib, k1.
Row 12: s1pwyif, p1, k to last two sts, p1, s1pwyif.
Rows 13-14: rep rows 11 & 12.
Row 15: k1, s1pwyib, [YO, k1] x 2, s1pwyib, k1. (8)
Row 16: rep row 12.
Rows 17-20: rep rows 11 & 12 two times.
Row 21: k1, s1pwyib, [YO, k1] x 2, k to last two sts, s1pwyib, k1. (10)
Row 22: rep row 12.
Rows 23-26: rep rows 11 & 12 two times.
Row 27: k1, s1pwyib, [YO, k1] x 3, k to last four sts, k2tog, s1pwyib, k1. (12)
Row 28: rep row 12.
Rows 29-32: rep rows 11 & 12 two times.
Row 33: k1, s1pwyib, [YO, k1] x 3, k to last four sts, k2tog, s1pwyib, k1. (14)
Row 34: rep row 12.
Rows 35-38: rep rows 11 & 12 two times.
Row 39: k1, s1pwyib, [YO, k1] x 3, k to last six sts, [k2tog] x 2, s1pwyib, k1. (15)
Row 40: s1pwyif, p1, k to last two sts, p1, s1pwyif.
Row 41: k1, s1pwyib, k to last two sts, s1pwyib, k1.
Row 42: s1pwyif, p1, k to last two sts, p1, s1pwyif.
Rows 43-44: rep rows 41-42.
Note: Rep highlighted section (rows 39-44) until you reach half of your total
desired length or 60 sts for a single skein fingering weight shawl.
Decrease Section
Row 1: k1, s1pwyib, [SSK] x 3, k to last four sts, [YO, k1] x 2, s1pwyib, k1. (62)
Row 2: s1pwyif, p1, k to last two sts, p1, s1pwyif.
Row 3: k1, s1pwyib, k to last two sts, s1pwyib, k1.
Row 4: s1pwyif, p1, k to last two sts, p1, s1pwyif.
Rows 5-6: rep rows 3 and 4.
Rows 7-34: rep highlighted section until you reach 14 sts.
Row 35: k1, s1pwyib, [ssk] x 3, k to last three sts, YO, k1, s1pwyib, k1. (12)
Row 36: s1pwyif, p1, k to last two sts, p1, s1pwyif.
Rows 37-40: rep rows 3 and 4 two times.
Row 41: k1, s1pwyib, [ssk] x 3, k to last three sts, YO, k1, s1pwyib, k1. (10)
Row 42: s1pwyif, p1, k to last two sts, p1, s1pwyif.
Rows 43-46: rep rows 3 and 4 two times.
Row 47: k1, s1pwyib, [ssk] x 2, k to last two sts, s1pwyib, k1. (8)
Row 48: s1pwyif, p1, k to last two sts, p1, s1pwyif.
Rows 49-52: rep rows 3 and 4.
Row 53: k1, s1pwyib, [ssk] x 2, s1pwyib, k1. (6)
Row 54: s1pwyif, p1, k to last two sts, p1, s1pwyif.
Rows 55-56: rep rows 3 and 4.
Row 57: k1, s1pwyib, ssk, s1pwyib, k1. (5)
Row 58: s1pwyif, p2tog, p1, s1pwyif. (4)
Row 59: k1, s2pwyib, k1.
Row 60: s1pwyif, p2, s1pwyif.
Row 61: k1, s2pwyib, k1.
Row 62: Bind off purlwise.
Finishing
Weave ends and wet block to add drape.