Little Flies Shawl

Hello everyone! Now that fall is here, it's finally getting cool enough to work with yarn comfortably. I see a lot of neat and eye-catching knitting patterns while browsing the web, and I especially like ones that are inspired by botanical or geometrical shapes. So, for this piece, I joined two of these exceptionally beautiful patterns into one. I had a fun time while making this shawl because the pattern knits very smoothly. It can be flexibly made as small or as large as you prefer. I made it using cotton yarn so that it’s suitable to throw on whenever it gets a little chilly. I hope you enjoy yourselves while you knit it and have a great time!

Skill level: Intermediate

Get printable PDF for this pattern:   or 

Materials:

• Yarn: Kartopu Baby Natural Cotton, 51% acrylic, 49% cotton, 3.53 oz. (100 g), 219 yards (200 m), in the color K6259: 4 skeins.
• Circular knitting needles, 32" (80 cm) long, size US 6 (4 mm).
• Ring stitch marker.
• Tapestry needle.

Measurements: width = 31.5" (80 cm), length = 67" (170 cm), approx.

Yardage: 775 - 780 yards (710 - 715 m), approx.

Gauge: 18 sts and 24 rows = 4"x 4" (10 cm x 10 cm) in stockinette stitch.

Knitting Terms:

• st: stitch.
• sts: stitches.
• k: knit.
• p: purl.
• yo: yarn over.
• k2tog: knit 2 sts together.
• ssk: slip, slip, knit the 2 sts together through back loops.
• rsm: ring stitch marker.

Instructions:

Note: always purl ssk stitches through back loop. 

Cast on 3 sts, knit 7 rows, turn work 90 degrees clockwise, pick up 1 st out of each purl row side (3 sts in total), turn work 90 degrees clockwise again, pick up 3 sts from bottom. (9 sts)

You can also watch this video tutorial to learn how to do this type of cast on:

Row 1 (wrong side): k 3, p 3, k 3. 

Row 2: k 3, yo, k 3, yo, k 3. 

Row 3 and every odd number row: k 3, p to last 3 sts, k 3. 

Row 4: k 3, yo, k 1, yo, k 3, yo, k 1, yo, k 3. 

Row 6: k 3, yo, k 3, yo, k 3, yo, k 3, yo, k 3. 

Row 8: k 3, yo, k 5, yo, k 3, yo, k 5, yo, k 3. 

Put a ring stitch marker before and after the center stitch of each k 5 sts (center st of the pattern on each side), and also before and after the center st of the shawl, as shown in the image below.

Row 10: k 3, yo, k 2, k2tog, yo, k 3, yo, k 3, yo, k 3, yo, ssk, k 2, yo, k 3. 

Row 12: k 3, yo, k 2, k2tog, yo, k 1, yo, ssk, k 2, yo, k 3, yo, k 2, k2tog, yo, k 1, yo, ssk, k 2, yo, k 3. 

Rows 14 and 16: k 3, yo, k to center 3 sts, yo, k 3, yo, k to last 3 sts, yo, k 3.

Row 18: k 3, yo, *k 2, k2tog, yo, k 7, yo, ssk, k 2*, yo, k 3, yo, repeat between ** once, yo, k 3. 

Row 20: k 3, yo, {*k 2, k2tog, yo, k 1, yo, ssk, k 1*, repeat between ** once more, k 1}, yo, k 3, yo, repeat between {} once, yo, k 3. 

Rows 22 and 24: repeat row 14.

Row 26: k 3, yo, k 2, k2tog, yo, k 4, k2tog, k 2, yo, k 7, yo, ssk, k 2, yo, k 3, yo, k 2, k2tog, yo, k 7, yo, k 2, ssk, k 4, yo, ssk, k 2, yo, k 3.  

Row 28: k 3, yo, k 2, k2tog, yo, k 1, yo, ssk, k 1, k2tog, k 2, yo, k 1, yo, k 2, ssk, k 1, k2tog, yo, k 1, yo, ssk, k 2, yo, k 3, yo , k 2, k2tog, yo, k 1, yo, ssk, k 1, k2tog, k 2, yo, k 1, yo, k 2, ssk, k 1, k2tog, yo, k 1, yo, ssk, k 2, yo, k 3.  

Row 30: k 3, yo, k 8, k2tog, k 2, yo, k 3, yo, k 2, ssk, k 8, yo, k 3, yo, k 8, k2tog, k 2, yo, k 3, yo, k 2, ssk, k 8, yo, k 3.  

Row 32: k 3, yo, k 8, k2tog, k 2, yo, k 5, yo, k 2, ssk, k 8, yo, k 3, yo, k 8, k2tog, k 2, yo, k 5, yo, k 2, ssk, k 8, yo, k 3.  

Row 34: k 3, yo, k 2, k2tog, yo, k 4, k2tog, k 2, yo, k 2, k2tog, yo, k 3, yo, k 2, ssk, k 4, yo, ssk, k 2, yo, k 3, yo, k 2, k2tog, yo, k 4, k2tog, k 2, yo, k 3, yo, ssk, k 2, yo, k 2, ssk, k 4, yo, ssk, k 2, yo, k 3. 

Row 36: k 3, yo, k 2, k2tog, yo, k 1, yo, ssk, k 1, k2tog, k 2, yo, k 2, k2tog, yo, k 1, yo, ssk, k 2, yo, k 2, ssk, k 1, k2tog, yo, k 1, yo, ssk, k 2, yo, k 3, yo, k 2, k2tog, yo, k 1, yo, ssk, k 1, k2tog, k 2, yo, k 2, k2tog, yo, k 1, yo, ssk, k 2, yo, k 2, ssk, k 1, k2tog, yo, k 1, yo, ssk, k 2, yo, k 3. 

Row 38: k 3, yo, k 8, k2tog, k 2, yo, k 11, yo, k 2, ssk, k 8, yo, k 3, yo, k 8, k2tog, k 2, yo, k 11, yo, k 2, ssk, k 8, yo, k 3. 

Row 40: k 3, yo, k 8, k2tog, k 2, yo, k 13, yo, k 2, ssk, k 8, yo, k 3, yo, k 8, k2tog, k 2, yo, k 13, yo, k 2, ssk, k 8, yo, k 3. 

Row 42: k 3, yo, k 2, k2tog, yo, k 4, k2tog, k 2, yo, k 2, k2tog, yo, k 7, yo, ssk, k 2, yo, k 2, ssk, k 4, yo, ssk, k 2, yo, k 3, yo, k 2, k2tog, yo, k 4, k2tog, k 2, yo, k 2, k2tog, yo, k 7, yo, ssk, k 2, yo, k 2, ssk, k 4, yo, ssk, k 2, yo, k 3. 

Row 44: k 3, yo, k 2, k2tog, yo, k 1, yo, ssk, k 1, k2tog, k 2, yo, k 2, k2tog, yo, k 1, yo, ssk, k 3, k2tog, yo, k 1, yo, ssk, k 2, yo, k 2, ssk, k 1, k2tog, yo, k 1, yo, ssk, k 2, yo, k 3, yo, k 2, k2tog, yo, k 1, yo, ssk, k 1, k2tog, k 2, yo, k 2, k2tog, yo, k 1, yo, ssk, k 3, k2tog, yo, k 1, yo, ssk, k 2, yo, k 2, ssk, k 1, k2tog, yo, k 1, yo, ssk, k 2, yo, k 3. 

Row 46: k 3, yo, k 8, k2tog, k 2, yo, k 19, yo, k 2, ssk, k 8, yo, k 3, yo, k 8, k2tog, k 2, yo, k 19, yo, k 2, ssk, k 8, yo, k 3. 

Row 48: k 3, yo, k 8, k2tog, k 2, yo, k 21, yo, k 2, ssk, k 8, yo, k 3, yo, k 8, k2tog, k 2, yo, k 21, yo, k 2, ssk, k 8, yo, k 3. 

General Pattern

Row 50: k 3, yo, *k 2, k2tog, yo, k 4, k2tog, k 2, yo, repeat from * to first rsm, k 7, yo, ssk, k 2, yo, k 2, ssk, k 4, yo, ssk, k 2, yo, k 3, yo, k 2, k2tog, yo, k 4, k2tog, k 2, yo, k 2, k2tog, yo, k 7, *yo, k 2, ssk, k 4, yo, ssk, k 2, repeat from * to last 3 sts, yo, k 3. 

Row 52: k 3, yo, *k 2, k2tog, yo, k 1, yo, ssk, k 1, k2tog, k 2, yo, repeat from * to first rsm, k 1, **yo, k 2, ssk, k 1, k2tog, yo, k 1, yo, ssk, k 2, repeat from ** to center 3 sts, yo, k 3, yo, **k 2, k2tog, yo, k 1, yo, ssk, k 1, k2tog, k 2, yo, repeat from ** to third rsm, k 1, *yo, k 2, ssk, k 1, k2tog, yo, k 1, yo, ssk, k 2, repeat from * to last three sts, yo, k 3. 

Row 54: k 3, yo, *k 8, k2tog, k 2, yo, repeat from * to one st before first rsm, k 3, **yo, k 2, ssk, k 8, repeat from ** to center 3 sts, yo, k 3, yo, **k 8, k2tog, k 2, yo, repeat from ** to one st before third rsm, k 3, *yo, k 2, ssk, k 8, repeat from * to last 3 sts,  yo, k 3. 

Row 56: k 3, yo, *k 8,  k2tog, k 2, yo, repeat from * to 2 sts before first rsm, k 5, **yo, k 2, ssk, k 8, repeat from ** to center 3 sts, yo, k 3, yo, **k 8, k2tog, k 2, yo, repeat from * to 2 sts before third rsm, k 5, *yo, k 2, ssk, k 8, repeat from * to last 3 sts, yo, k 3.

Row 58: k 3, yo, *k 2, k2tog, yo, k 4, k2tog, k 2, yo, repeat from * to 3 sts before first rsm, k 2, k2tog, yo, k 3, **yo, k 2, ssk, k 4, yo, ssk, k 2, repeat from ** to center 3 sts, yo, k 3, yo , **k 2, k2tog, yo, k 4, k2tog, k 2, yo, repeat from ** to 3 sts before third rsm, k 3, yo, ssk, k 2, *yo, k 2, ssk, k 4, yo, ssk, k 2, repeat from * to last 3 sts,  yo, k 3.  

Row 60: k 3, yo, *k 2, k2tog, yo, k 1, yo, ssk, k 1, k2tog, k 2, yo, repeat from * to 4 sts before first rsm, k 2, k2tog, yo, k 1, yo, ssk, k 2, **yo, k 2, ssk, k 1, k2tog, yo, k 1, yo, ssk, k 2, repeat from ** to center 3 sts, yo, k 3, yo, **k 2, k2tog, yo, k 1, yo, ssk, k 1, k2tog, k 2, yo, repeat from ** to 4 sts before third rsm, k 2, k2tog, yo, k 1, yo, ssk, k 2, *yo, k 2, ssk, k 1, k2tog, yo, k 1, yo, ssk, k 2, repeat from * to last 3 sts, yo, k 3. 

Row 62: k 3, yo, *k 8, k2tog, k 2, yo, repeat from * to 5 sts before first rsm, k 11, **yo, k 2, ssk, k 8, repeat from ** to center 3 sts, yo, k 3, yo, **k 8, k2tog, k 2, yo, repeat from ** to 5 sts before third rsm, k 11, *yo, k 2, ssk, k 8, repeat from * to last 3 sts,  yo, k 3.  

Row 64: k 3, yo, *k 8, k2tog, k 2, yo, repeat from * to 6 sts before first rsm, k 13, **yo, k 2, ssk, k 8, repeat from ** to center 3 sts, yo, k 3, yo, **k 8, k2tog, k 2, yo, repeat from ** to 6 sts before third rsm, k 13, *yo, k 2, ssk, k 8, repeat from * to last 3 sts,  yo, k 3.  

Row 66: k 3, yo, *k 2, k2tog, yo, k 4, k2tog, k 2, yo, repeat from * to 7 sts before first rsm, k 2, k2tog, yo, k 7, yo, ssk, k 2, **yo, k 2, ssk, k 4, yo, ssk, k 2, repeat from ** to center 3 sts, yo, k 3, yo, **k 2, k2tog, yo, k 4, k2tog, k 2, yo, repeat from ** to 7 sts before third rsm, k 2, k2tog, yo, k 7, yo, ssk, k 2, *yo, k 2, ssk, k 4, yo, ssk, k 2, repeat from * to last 3 sts, yo, k 3. 

Row 68: k 3, yo, *k 2, k2tog, yo, k 1, yo, ssk, k 1, k2tog, k 2, yo, repeat from * to 8 sts before first rsm, k 2, k2tog, yo, k 1, yo, ssk, k 3, k2tog, yo, k 1, yo, ssk, k 2, **yo, k 2, ssk, k 1, k2tog, yo, k 1, yo, ssk, k 2, repeat from ** to center 3 sts, yo, k 3, yo, **k 2, k2tog, yo, k 1, yo, ssk, k 1, k2tog, k 2, yo, repeat from ** to 8 sts before third rsm, k 2, k2tog, yo, k 1, yo, ssk, k 3, k2tog, yo, k 1, yo, ssk, k 2, *yo, k 2, ssk, k 1, k2tog, yo, k 1, yo, ssk, k 2, repeat from * to last 3 sts, yo, k 3.  

Row 70: k 3, yo, *k 8, k2tog, k 2, yo, repeat from * to 9 sts before first rsm, k 19, **yo, k 2, ssk, k 8,repeat from ** to center 3 sts, yo, k 3, yo, **k 8, k2tog, k 2, yo, repeat from ** to 9 sts before third rsm, k 19, *yo, k 2, ssk, k 8, repeat from * to last 3 sts,  yo, k 3.  

Row 72: k 3, yo, *k 8, k2tog, k 2, yo, repeat from * to 10 sts before first rsm, k 21, **yo, k 2, ssk, k 8, repeat from ** to center 3 sts, yo, k 3, yo, **k 8, k2tog, k 2, yo, repeat from ** to 10 sts from third rsm, k 21, *yo, k 2, ssk, k 8, repeat from * to last 3 sts,  yo, k 3.  

Row 73: repeat row 3.

Repeat the general pattern five times (or more if you prefer), then work rows 50 to 62 once.

Last Rows

First Row: k all sts.

Second Row: k 3, yo, k to center 3 sts, yo, k 3, yo, k to last 3 sts, yo, k 3.  

Third Row: k all sts.

Stretchy bind off row: k 2, slip the 2 sts back to left needle, k2tog, *k 1, slip the 2 sts back to left needle, k2tog, repeat from * to end. You can watch my tutorial video for the stretchy bind off method here: 

Weave in loose ends. Block and enjoy. 

Lastly, feel free to leave a comment if you have any questions or find something confusing in the pattern.

Happy crocheting/knitting! follow me on Instagram @wiams_crafts and Twitter @wiamscrafts to see my upcoming projects.