Kitefish Shawlette

While visiting the Aquarium of the Pacific this spring, I was overloaded with inspirations for new projects. The colors of the water, plants, and sea life were just too much for my little brain to handle. I eventually came up with...

This pattern was inspired by a fish (I know, you are simply stunned!) named Monodactylus argenteus. I wanted to name the pattern after the fish, but it doesn't exactly roll off the tongue, so I chose one of the common names -- kitefish. With its silvery gray body and vividly bright yellow dorsal fin, it translated nicely into an abstract shawlette pattern using short row shaping.

I have been a little obsessed with the "grellow" combo for a while. I am not the only one. The amazing, hand-dyed Baah! La Jolla yarn was the perfect choice, the colors so closely mirrored the kitefish's coloring I couldn't have dreamed up superior shades. Mira of Baah! was very excited to see what I came up with using her gorgeous yarn.

Since the pattern's debut at the Knit Culture booth at Vogue Knitting Live Los Angeles, I have made another version with another set of bright, tropical colors, using Sanguine Gryphon's Bugga! which is heavenly (colors-- Sea Urchin, Adonis Butterfly and Starry Night Cracker). Ooh la la.


If you'd like to make one for yourself, join the Ravelry Knit-A-Long here!

You can also purchase a kit which includes the pattern and the Baah! La Jolla gray/yellow yarn here.

Kitefish Shawlette Knitting Pattern PDF - $6

Intermediate level (must be comfortable with short rows)

Materials needed

Yarn: Fingering or Sport weight. Approx. 250 yards MC and 175 yards CC

Needles: Size 4 32" (or longer) circular. I used Size 5s for the Bugga! version.

One locking stitch marker and one ring stitch marker

Row counter

Crochet hook

Tapestry needle