How to Knit a Kite Shawl

Tutorials / By

If you’ve ever searched for a shawl knitting pattern, you probably discovered the many shapes and varieties that shawls can come in. Triangle shawls are especially popular. Within that broad category we can find the kite shawl, which is just one of many ways to create a bias or asymmetrical triangle shawl.

Like many triangle shawls, it starts by casting on just a few stitches, working a few set-up rows, and then following a basic formula for both the right-side and wrong-side rows.

Within this basic construction, you can have plenty of fun with texture and color. Let’s take a closer look at what you need to know to knit your own kite shawl.

How a Kite Shawl is Constructed

A kite shawl starts at one point by casting on a few stitches and working a few set-up rows. Then, you increase at both edges while working a double decrease in the center on right-side rows. On wrong side rows you also increase at both edges. So the right-side row increases are ‘canceled’ by the double decrease but the shawl continues to expand in width because of the increases on the wrong-side rows.

After the shawl depth is as deep as you want, things change just a little bit. Right-side rows are still worked the same – with increases at both edges and a double decrease in the center. But on the wrong-side rows, you will drop one of the increases made on the right side but still work the other increase at the other edge.

This causes the stitch count to change as stitches are slowly ‘moved’ from one side of the central decrease line to the other. You continue doing this until all of the stitches have been moved to one side of the central decrease.

The image below demonstrates this basic process:

It’s very simple to make a large, enveloping shawl or a small shawlette – just by adjusting when you make the switch and start dropping the decrease on the wrong-side rows.

For either size, just work until the shawl has reached the depth that you want and then start the second half of the basic pattern.

Knitting Instructions for a Kite Shawl

Here are the basic instructions for working a kite shawl in Garter stitch (knitting every row).

Note: to work an SK2P, slip one stitch knitwise, knit the next two stitches together, using the left needle, pull the slipped stitch over the first stitch on the right needle (3 stitches have now been turned into 1 stitch = a double decrease).

Cast on 3 stitches and then work the following set-up rows:

  1. Row 1 (WS): Knit 1, yarn over, purl 1, yarn over, knit 1. (5 stitches)
  2. Row 2 (RS): Knit 1, yarn over, SK2P, yarn over, knit 1.
  3. Row 3: Knit 1, yarn over, knit 1, purl 1, knit 1, yarn over, k1. (7 stitches)
  4. Row 4: Knit 1, yarn over, knit 1, SK2P, place marker, knit 1, yarn over, knit 1.

From that point you will work the following rows until the shawl is as deep as you want:

WS rows: Knit 1, yarn over, knit to marker, slip marker, purl 1, knit to final stitch, yarn over, knit 1. (2 stitches increased)

RS rows: Knit 1, yarn over, knit to 2 stitches before marker, slip marker, SK2P, place marker, knit to final stitch, yarn over, knit 1.

After repeating these two rows until the shawl has reached the depth you like, you’ll change the wrong-side row instructions. And, from this point on, the stitch count will remain the same.

WS rows: Knit 1, drop yarn over, knit to marker, slip marker, purl 1, knit to final stitch, yarn over, knit 1.

Continue working the RS & WS row instructions as set until all the stitches have moved to the right side of the double decrease. At this point, there will be one stitch to the left of the marker.

Then work this final RS row: Knit 1, yarn over, knit to 2 stitches before marker, remove marker, SK2P.

Bind off all your stitches, using a stretchy bind-off method.

While that is the basic method for knitting a kite shawl – there are plenty of ways to take this construction and make it even more interesting. The link below shows twelve different knitting patterns that use this type of shawl construction but make it interesting with color choices, lace, colorwork, and lots of other ideas.

Related: 12 Interesting Kite Shawl Knitting Patterns

Get the Pattern

Fill in the form below to get access to the FREE Resource Library – and get a copy of these Triangle Shawl pattern ‘recipes’.

Adding Stitch Patterns & Texture

While it may seem daunting at first, there are plenty of easy ways to make a kite shawl more interesting – even with those increases and decreases changing things on every row.

Here are a few ways to change the shawl by changing the yarn choices:

  • Choose a gradient yarn that will do all the color changing for you.
  • Work small or wide stripes in various colors in Garter stitch.
  • Fade from one color to another, alternating between colors at intervals to ‘fade’ from one color to another.
  • Add a few small sections of a simple slip-stitch or Mosaic pattern.

An easy way to add texture is by working at set intervals along the body of the shawl (eyelets are worked by working paired yarn overs and decreases across the row). You could also add texture by alternating sections of Garter stitch with sections of Stockinette or Stockinette with reverse Stockinette. This doesn’t really require any extra preparation.

Yarn Estimates for Shawl Knitting

Now that you know all the basic information you’ll need to knit your own kite shawl, you’re ready to get some yarn and start knitting. The table below will give you a rough estimate for the amount of yarn you’ll need. The smaller number will create a small shawlette and the larger number will create a larger shawl.

Yarn WeightYardage Estimate
Fingering500-800 yards
Sport450-750 yards
DK400-700 yards
Worsted350-600 yards

As far as the fiber content of the yarn, the sky is the limit. Choose wool or alpaca and knit a warm and cozy shawl. Try a silk and wool blend for something that will drape beautifully. Or give a plant fiber like pima cotton or bamboo a try for a lightweight summer shawlette.

Now you’re ready to knit your own sideways triangle shawl!

If you want to see this basic construction method in action, watch this video – the second shawl in the video discusses the kite shawl method:

Links below are affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase I may make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See the Disclosure for more information.

Recommended Resources for Shawl Knitting

More Articles about Knitting Triangle Shawls