The kea is one of the world’s most intelligent birds, and the only alpine parrot.

In its native New Zealand, its penchant for mischief is legendary – stealing the sandwiches of unsuspecting tourists, laying waste to parked cars and even preying on snowbound sheep.

Their curiosity has not always been so appreciated and that is one reason why they are now endangered. The other reason is that invasive species like the Australian brush-tailed possum prey on their eggs and young.

I’ve been unreasonably obsessed with these birds since I was a teenager, and finally travelled to New Zealand three years ago to see them. I bought some possum yarn, and this is what I made. I like to imagine that the kea would approve.

Size

Scarf version measures about 80” [203cm] from tip to tip and 14” [36cm] depth at the widest point after blocking.

Shawl version measures about 80” [203cm] from tip to tip and 17” [43cm] depth at the widest point after blocking.

Yarn

New Zealand’s ecosystem will thank you for knitting with possum yarn, but you can use any lace or fingering weight wool. Zealana Performa KIWI Lace (40% merino wool, 30% possum, 30% cotton; 445-570 yards [407-522m]/82-105g): 12 Wild Lime (Main Color), 2 balls for scarf version or 3 balls for shawl version; Naturally Amuri 4 ply (75 merino wool, 25% possum; 185-210 yards [169-192m]/35-40g): 4026 Red (Contrast Color), 1 ball.

Needles

Size US 2.5 (3 mm): 32” [80cm] circular

Notions

Tapestry needle for weaving in ends

Gauge

18 sts and 28 rows = 4” [10 cm] in garter st after wet blocking.

Abbreviations

Please see our standard knitting abbreviations.

Sl1&w: German short row wrapped stitch. With the yarn held in front, slip the stitch purlwise, then wrap the yarn up and back over the top of the right needle, hiking up the stitch on the row below to form a “double stitch”.

Pattern Notes

This pattern is worked using German short rows. See our tutorial.

Jeny’s Surprisingly Stretchy Bind-off is used. Watch the tutorial:

The scarf/shawl is made up of 14 short row sections for the scarf version and 11 sections for the shawl version. Each section contains the same number of rows but grows progressively in width. The CC wedges are half the width in the scarf version and 2/5 the width in the shawl.

Stitch counts for short row sections 1-14 are written in the format 1 (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 13, 14). If after a certain point, the stitch count stays the same for all subsequent sections, it will be written as 1 (2, 3, 4, 5~).

To make the scarf version, knit pattern as written.

To make the shawl version, at the start of all RS rows when working in the MC, work “sl1, yo, k3, m1” instead of “sl1, yo”. This will increase two stitches instead of one.

Shawl or Scarf – Knitting Instructions

In MC, CO 16 sts (you cast on the same amount for either version – but remember that the increase is greater for the shawl version).

Row 1 (RS): Sl1k, yo, k to end of row.

Row 2 (WS): Sl1k, k to last st, yo, k1.

Rows 3 and 4: Repeat rows 1 and 2. (20 sts for scarf; 22 sts for shawl)

Short Row Sections

MC short rows

Short row 1 for scarf version:

Short row 1 (RS): Continuing in MC, sl1k, yo, k until last 3 (5, 6, 7, 8, 13, 18, 23, 28, 33, 38, 43, 48, 53) sts, k1, turn work.

Short row 1 for shawl version:

Short row 1 (RS): Continuing in MC, sl1k, yo, k3, m1, k until last 4 (12, 18, 25, 31, 42, 52, 63, 73, 84, 94) sts, k1, turn work.

Both versions:

Short row 2 (WS): Sl1&w, k to last st, yo, k1.

Short row 3: Sl1k, yo, k up to 1 (4, 5, 6, 7~) sts before the double stitch, k1, turn work.

Short row 4: Sl1&w, k to last st, yo, k1.

Short row 5: Sl1k, yo, k up until 1 (3, 4, 5, 6~) sts before the double stitch, k1, turn work.

Short row 6: Sl1&w, k to last st, yo, k1.

Short row 7: Sl1k, yo, k up until 1 (2, 3, 4, 5~) sts before the double stitch, k1, turn work.

Short row 8: Sl1&w, k to last st, yo, k1.

Short row 9: Sl1k, yo, k up until 1 (1, 2, 3, 4~) st before double st, k1, turn work.

Short row 10: Sl1&w, k to last st, yo, k1.

Short row 11: Sl1k, yo, k up until 1 (1, 2, 2, 3~) st before the double st, k1, turn work.

Short row 12: Sl1&w, k to last st, yo, k1.

Short row 13: Sl1k, yo, k up until 1 (1, 2, 2, 2~) st before the double st, k1, turn work.

Short row 14: Sl1&w, k to last st, yo, k1.

Short row 15: Sl1k, yo, k up until 1 (1, 1, 2, 1~) st before the double st, k1, turn work.

Short row 16: Sl1&w, k to last st, yo, k1.

Short row 17: Sl1k, yo, k to end of row, making sure to knit together both legs of the double sts.

Short row 18: Sl1k, k to last st, yo, k1.

Scarf version: 38 (54, 68, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180) sts total.

Shawl version: 49 (76, 101, 124, 145, 166, 187, 208, 229, 250, 271) sts total.

CC Short Rows

Short rows 1 and 2 for scarf version:

Short row 1 (RS): Using MC, sl1k, yo, k to last 10 (18, 25, 31, 36, 41, 46, 51, 56, 61, 66, 71, 76, 81) sts. Leave MC hanging in the back of the work. Join CC. K to 1 st before end of row, yo, k1.

Short row 2 (WS): Sl1k, yo, k3 (5, 6, 7, 8, 13, 18, 23, 28, 33, 38, 43, 48, 53). Turn work

Short rows 1 and 2 for shawl version:

Short row 1 (RS): Using MC, sl1k, yo, k3, m1, k to last 11 (25, 37, 49, 59, 70, 80, 91, 101, 112, 122) sts. Leave MC hanging in the back of the work. Join CC. K to 1 st before end of row, yo, k1.

Short row 2 (WS): Sl1k, yo, k4 (12, 18, 25, 31, 42, 52, 63, 73, 84, 94). Turn work.

Both versions:

Short row 3: Sl1&w, k up to last st, yo, k1.

Short row 4: Sl1k, k up to the double st, knit double st, k1 (4, 5, 6, 7~). Turn work.

Short row 5: Repeat short row 3.

Short row 6: Sl1k, k up to the double st, knit double st, k1 (3, 4, 5, 6~). Turn work.

Short row 7: Sl1&w, k up to last 3 sts, k2tog, yo, k1. Turn work.

Short row 8: Sl1k, k up to the double st, knit double st, k1 (2, 3, 4, 5~). Turn work.

Short row 9: Repeat row 7

Short row 10: Sl1k, k up to the double st, knit double st, k1 (1, 2, 3, 4~) Turn work.

Short row 11:  Sl1&w, k up to the last 5 sts, k2tog, k2tog, yo, k1.

Short row 12: Sl1k, k up to the double st, k double st, k1 (1, 2, 2, 3~) Turn work.

Short row 13: Repeat row 11

Short row 14: Sl1k, k up to the double st, k double st, k1 (1, 2, 2, 2~). Turn work.

Short row 15: Repeat row 11.

Short row 16: Sl1k, k1, k2tog, k up to the double st, k double st, k1 (1, 1, 2, 1~). Turn work.

Short row 17: Sl1&w, k to end.

Short row 18: Skpsso, bind off 5 (7, 9, 11~) more sts. Cut CC, leaving a 4” [10cm] tail. Slip remaining CC stitches purlwise from the left to the right needle. Turn work.

Scarf version: 33 (47, 59, 69, 79, 89, 99, 109, 119, 129, 139, 149, 159, 169) sts total.

Shawl version: 45 (70, 93, 114, 135, 156, 177, 198, 219, 240, 261) sts total.

MC Spacer

Row 1 (RS): Pick up MC. K through the one remaining double stitch, k to end of row

Note: Shawl version – do NOT work the special increase on this row

Row 2 (WS): Sl1k, k to last st, yo, k1.

Row 3: Sl1k, yo, k to end of row.

Row 4: Sl1k, k to last st, yo, k1.

Scarf version: 36 (50, 62, 72, 82, 92, 102, 112, 122, 132, 142, 152, 162,172) sts total.

Shawl version: 49 (74, 97, 118, 139, 160, 181, 202, 223, 244, 265) sts total.

Go back to the beginning of MC Short Rows. Work 14 sections for scarf version and 11 sections for shawl version.

Finishing

Bind off using Jeny’s Surprisingly Stretchy bind-off or a similar stretchy bind-off. If using Jeny’s, work all the stitches knitwise instead of alternating knit and purl. Weave in ends. Wash and block according to instructions on ball band.