purlJam

# Finley the Shark Blanket
*A cuddly, beginner-friendly grey shark blanket with a sculpted feature tail fin*

A big, squishy garter-stitch blanket shaped like a shark. The body tapers toward a tapered "peduncle" that finishes in a separately knitted, two-piece caudal (tail) fin — the star feature of this design. Worked entirely in garter stitch so it lies flat without curling and stays beautifully snuggly. No purling required!

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## Materials

- **Yarn:** Worsted weight (Aran-ish), 100% acrylic or wool/acrylic blend recommended for easy washing.
  - **Main Colour (MC) – Grey:** approx. 1100 m (≈ 1200 yds) / about 550 g
  - **Contrast Colour (CC) – White:** approx. 80 m (≈ 90 yds) for belly accent and teeth
- **Needles:** 5 mm (UK old size 6 / US 8) straight or long circular (used flat). A 80 cm circular is comfortable for holding the wide rows.
- **Notions:**
  - Tapestry/darning needle
  - 2 small pieces of black and white felt (for eyes) OR safety eyes (30 mm)
  - Stitch markers (optional)
  - Polyester toy stuffing (small amount, to lightly pad the tail fin if desired)
  - Scissors

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## Tension (Gauge)

**18 sts and 36 rows = 10 cm (4 in)** over garter stitch on 5 mm needles, after blocking.

> Tension is important here for the finished size — but as this is a blanket, a slightly looser or tighter tension simply makes a slightly larger or smaller shark. Check before starting if size matters to you.

*Note: in garter stitch, 36 rows = 18 garter ridges (1 ridge = 2 rows).*

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## Finished Measurements

- **Body width:** approx. 90 cm (35½ in)
- **Body length (cast-on to start of tail fin):** approx. 100 cm (39½ in)
- **Tail fin span:** approx. 60 cm (23½ in) point to point
- **Total length (including tail fin):** approx. 115 cm (45 in)

This is a single, generous size suitable for a child or as a lap throw.

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## Abbreviations (UK)

| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| k | knit |
| st(s) | stitch(es) |
| k2tog | knit two together (right-leaning decrease) |
| ssk | slip, slip, knit (left-leaning decrease) |
| RS | right side |
| WS | wrong side |
| beg | beginning |
| rep | repeat |
| MC | main colour (grey) |
| CC | contrast colour (white) |

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## Pattern Notes

- The entire blanket is worked in **garter stitch** (knit every row).
- The **body** is a wide rectangle that tapers at the top into a narrow "tail base," onto which the **tail fin** (two knitted triangles) is sewn.
- Because garter stitch looks the same on both sides, this blanket is fully reversible apart from the sewn-on details.
- To change colour for the belly stripe, simply drop the old colour and begin knitting with the new — carry the unused colour loosely up the side, or cut and rejoin (recommended for tidiness at this length).
- Math check notes appear in italics so you can verify counts as you go.

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## Instructions

### Part 1 — The Body

**Cast on 162 sts in MC (grey).**
*(90 cm × 1.8 sts/cm = 162 sts ✓)*

Knit every row in garter stitch until work measures **40 cm (15¾ in)** from cast-on edge, ending after a WS row.
*(40 cm × 3.6 rows/cm = 144 rows ✓)*

### Part 2 — The Belly Stripe (optional contrast)

Join CC (white). Knit every row in CC until the white section measures **20 cm (8 in)**.
*(20 cm × 3.6 = 72 rows ✓)*

Cut CC. Rejoin MC (grey).

Knit every row in MC until total work measures **100 cm (39½ in)** from cast-on, ending after a WS row.
*(Remaining grey = 100 − 60 = 40 cm = 144 rows ✓. Total body rows = 144 + 72 + 144 = 360 ✓)*

You should still have **162 sts**.

### Part 3 — The Tail Taper (the "peduncle")

Now shape the narrow tail base. All decreases are worked on RS rows; knit all WS rows plain.

**Decrease row (RS):** k1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. *(2 sts decreased)*
**Next row (WS):** knit.

Repeat these 2 rows until **30 sts** remain.
*(162 − 30 = 132 sts to lose ÷ 2 per decrease row = 66 decrease rows; worked over 132 rows = approx. 36.5 cm. To shorten the taper for a chunkier look, decrease every row instead — see Tip.)*

> **Tip (faster taper):** For a stubbier tail base, work the decrease row on **every** row instead of every alternate row. This halves the length of the taper to approx. 18 cm.

When **30 sts** remain, knit 6 rows straight.

**Cast off all 30 sts** loosely. This cast-off edge is the **tail base** onto which the fin attaches.

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### Part 4 — The Tail Fin (make 2 identical triangles)

The caudal fin is the feature of this blanket: two triangles seamed to form the classic shark tail shape (one larger upper lobe, one smaller lower lobe). For a beginner-friendly version we make **two equal triangles** and attach them in a "V."

**For each triangle:**

**Cast on 54 sts in MC (grey).**
*(60 cm fin lobe × 0.9 ≈ wide base; 54 sts gives a 30 cm base ✓)*

Knit 2 rows.

**Decrease row (RS):** k1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. *(2 sts decreased)*
**Next row (WS):** knit.

Repeat these 2 rows until **4 sts** remain.
*(54 − 4 = 50 ÷ 2 = 25 decrease rows ✓)*

**Next row:** k2tog, k2tog. *(2 sts remain)*
**Next row:** k2tog. *(1 st remains)*

Cut yarn and pull through the last stitch to fasten off. This forms a neat triangular point.

Make a **second identical triangle**.

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## Finishing

1. **Block all pieces.** Pin the body and both fin triangles to measurements and steam or wet-block. This flattens the garter stitch and makes seaming far easier.

2. **Assemble the tail fin.** Lay the two triangles side by side with their **cast-on (base) edges** meeting at a slight angle to form a wide "V" or boomerang shape — the classic shark tail. Using MC and a tapestry needle, **mattress-stitch the two base edges together** for the central few centimetres where they overlap, leaving the outer points free to splay.

3. **Attach the fin to the body.** Line up the joined base of the tail fin with the **30-st cast-off edge** of the body taper. With RS facing, **whipstitch or mattress-stitch the fin to the tail base**, easing the wider fin to the narrower body edge by gathering very slightly and evenly. Sew securely — this join takes the most handling.

4. **Optional padding.** Before fully closing the fin seam, insert a small amount of toy stuffing into each fin lobe for a slightly 3-D, sculpted tail. Keep it light so the blanket still drapes.

5. **Add the face.** At the **cast-on (head) end**:
   - **Eyes:** Attach two 30 mm safety eyes about 20 cm apart and 15 cm from the cast-on edge, OR cut two white felt circles topped with smaller black felt circles and sew on.
   - **Teeth (optional):** Cut a row of small white felt triangles and sew them in a gentle smile line across the head end, OR embroider a smiling mouth in CC using simple straight stitches.

6. **Weave in all ends** on the WS using the tapestry needle. Trim neatly.

7. **Gentle wash and final block** if desired.

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### Quick Maths Recap (Technical Editor's verification)

- Cast-on: 90 cm × 1.8 sts/cm = **162 sts** ✓
- Body rows: 360 rows ÷ 3.6 rows/cm = **100 cm** ✓
- Taper: 162 → 30 sts, decreasing 2 sts per RS row = 66 dec rows ✓
- Fin triangle: 54 → 1 st, fully consistent decrease sequence ✓
- Total length: 100 cm body + ~15 cm fin = **~115 cm** ✓

Enjoy your snuggly shark — and beware the tail fin's terrifying squishiness! 🦈