Get WIP free tags and exclusive discounts by signing up for my newsletter here!

Weeki Wachee Springs State Park is home to one of the deepest, naturally formed underwater caverns in the U.S. It is filled by a spring of clear, fresh 74-degree water that bubbles up from below. Weeki Wachee Springs is one of Florida’s oldest roadside attractions, entertaining audiences since 1947 with its mesmerizing mermaids who swim in the crystalline waters. Weeki Wachee Springs became a state park in 2008, but the mermaids still dwell there doing their beautiful underwater ballets in the City of Mermaids.

The City of Mermaids Shawl is crescent shaped, with garter stitch and lace waves. The stitches form ripples and bubbles caused by the swish of a mermaid’s tail as it spreads out to a generous wingspan with a gently undulating border generated by the lace sections. The sections of garter stitch make for a relaxing knitting experience, as do eyelet bubbles and lacy waves. An adventurous beginner will find the lace stitches easy to memorize but will keep seasoned knitters interested.

Mermaids are legend and lore, but also live in the dreams of those who claim to have seen the flip of a jewel-scaled tail or heard their siren’s song. If you stand with your shawl spread out to feel the ripple of the breeze as it rises from the ocean, you can imagine the lightness of sea spray. The sections of ripples, waves and bubbles carry you upon the seafoam, where you can dance with delight among the wave crests under the light of a full moon. The City of Mermaids is not only a physical place, but a state of mind too.

Yarn Used in Sample:
Sunshine Dye Works Sunny Sock Yarn (75% Superwash Merino / 25% Nylon, 400 yds / 366 m, 3.5 oz / 100 g skein)
The sample used the colors Beach, Please, Mermaid For You, and Crystal River.

Yardage:
C1: Beach, Please – 296-353 yds /270 m - 323 m
C2: Mermaid For You - 343 - 403 yds / 313.5 – 368.5 m
C3: Crystal River – 365 - 420 yds / 334 – 384 m

Yardage estimates include 10% +/- those used in sample.

You may also use the following minimum amounts for your yardage estimates:

C1: 400 yds / 366 m
C2: 420 yds / 384 m
C3: 440 yds / 402.5 m

Needles:
US 5 (3.75mm) circular, 50” (125cm)

Notions:
Tapestry needle
Stitch markers to mark border (2)
Stitch markers to separate pattern repeats (optional)
Lifeline thread (optional)

Gauge:
20 sts and 38 rows = 4” / 10 cm for Garter Stitch (swatch worked on US 5 needles after blocking).
20 st and 32 rows = 4” / 10 cm for Stockinette Stitch –for reference (swatch worked on US 5 needles after blocking).

Size:
One size only, can be adjusted to suit personal sizing preferences by adding or subtracting repeats.

Special Techniques:
Increases using kfb, yo, and (k1, yo, k1) in 1 stitch
Decreases using k2tog, ssk, sl1 k1 psso, and sl1 k2tog psso

Final Measurements:
Inside wingspan of shawl: 98”/ 249 cm after blocking
Depth of shawl: 29.5” / 75 cm after blocking

This pattern was professionally tech edited.

This pattern was tested by the following lovely knitters who I could not do this without and are listed in alphabetical order:
bjeanclapp, BKKesterson, ladydoc442, pbarne01, Sungal01, and thisDebknits.

Thank you all for your help in making this pattern be the best it could.