Michelle One of my favourite shawl shapes is the kite-shaped shawl. When I think of fall knits I of course think of cozy sweaters and warm socks. But I also think of an oversized kite-shaped shawl knit in sock/fingering yarns. It’s the perfect compromise between the lingering warm summer weather and the fall chill that’s coming in the air. I love the combination of a light yarn in a big shawl. The kite shape is perfect because it’s an easy one to knit and an easy one to wear.
What Is A Kite-Shaped Shawl?
The kite-shaped knitted shawl is a specific style of shawl knitted in a distinctive geometric shape which resembles a kite. The shape is achieved with clever increases and decreases throughout the pattern.
The kite-shaped shawl typically features two long, pointed ends and a wider middle section. The unique shape is flattering when worn, as it drapes nicely around the shoulders and can be styled in various ways. This shape is not only visually interesting but also practical, providing good coverage and warmth.
I have two kite-shaped shawl patterns in my pattern store. My Halcyon Shawl is shown above on the left. And my From Summer To Fall pattern is shown above on the right.
Both patterns use three colours (either complementary or contrasting, take your pick!) and various combinations of garter stitch sections and stripes. From Summer To Fall also has some eyelet sections, keeping it a little bit lighter and airy. Each section is not too long and the constantly changing patterns make the knitting go quickly.
Both patterns are well-written and easy to follow. The instructions are divided into sections with plenty of explanation.
Kite-Shaped Shawl Construction
This example of the From Summer To Fall Shawl shows the first sections of the pattern in progress. There is a central double decrease that continues through the entire shawl while each of the right and left sides increase as seen here. When the shawl has been worked to the middle only one side continues to increase. This gives the shawl its triangular kite-like shape. It is worked on a circular needle, not because it’s a circular pattern, but because the circular needle is long and will accommodate the stitches as the shawl grows.
The shawl is worked on a slightly larger than expected needle for sock/fingering weight yarn. This will allow for it to grow even bigger when it gets washed and blocked. This will also make it light and airy.
For anyone looking for the perfect fall shawl pattern, I highly recommend a fingering-weight kite-shaped shawl. Choosing colours is always fun and seeing how they play together in the patterns mentioned above is the best part of the process. In Part 2 of this post I’ll talk about finishing, washing, and blocking this great big project!