Moonbow: A Free Shawl Knitting Pattern That Brings Color to the Moonlight

There are only a few places on Earth where the conditions are just right to witness a moonbow—a rare nighttime rainbow created when moonlight refracts through waterfall mist. The colors are usually invisible to the naked eye, but under the right lens, a full spectrum emerges. This delicate balance between subtlety and brilliance inspired the Moonbow, my new free shawl knitting pattern. It’s a stunningly soft, oversized knit that invites you to see beauty from a new perspective.

Even better? You can experience the joy of making this colorful, cozy crescent completely FREE—because everyone deserves to make something relaxing, beautiful, and just a little magical.

A Reversible Shawl That’s Easy, Elegant, and Fun

The Moonbow shawl is proof that simple techniques can yield breathtaking results. Its fully-reversible design features soothing garter stitch as the foundation, elevated by rainbows of color created with easy two-color brioche and a single row of yarn overs for texture and lightness.

This is a project meant to be savored: rhythmic rows of garter stitch, intuitive shaping, and satisfying color changes make it ideal for evening knitting, weekend knitting, chatty knitting, distracted knitting—basically any kind of knitting where you want to relax and feel productive at the same time.

And while the final result looks sophisticated, don’t let that fool you: Moonbow is accessible to knitters of all experience levels, even if you’ve never worked brioche before. If you’ve got a bit of garter stitch under your belt, you’re ready.

Why You’ll Love This Free Shawl Knitting Pattern

Whether you’re a seasoned maker or picking up needles for the first time in months, Moonbow has a lot to offer:

• Beginner-friendly brioche: Brioche has a reputation for being fussy, but not here. The Moonbow shawl uses simple two-color brioche techniques that are easy to follow and easy to fix. Think of it as brioche training wheels—with pretty results!
• Relaxing rhythm: Long stretches of garter stitch allow your hands to find their rhythm while your mind unwinds. It’s the kind of pattern you’ll want to return to after a busy day or during a quiet morning with a cup of coffee.
• Fully reversible: Thanks to the combination of garter stitch and brioche, Moonbow looks just as good on the back as it does on the front. You’ll never have to fuss over which way to wrap it–just how much color you want to show.
• Oversized and luxurious: Measuring 88” across the wingspan and 26” deep, Moonbow wraps like a hug. It’s the perfect accessory for winter layering or chilly evenings by the campfire.
• Colorful without being loud: The striping detail is inspired by moonbow hues—subtle, moody, and luminous. You can use five contrast colors to reflect that full spectral effect or pick just one for a stunning minimalist look.

Materials You’ll Need to Knit the Free Shawl Pattern

To knit your own free Moonbow shawl, here’s what you’ll need to gather:

Yarn

Moonbow is designed in worsted weight yarn for cozy warmth and satisfying squish. You’ll need:

• Main Color (MC): 775 yds / 710 m
• Contrast Colors (CCs): 225 yds / 205 m total
  (or approx. 45 yds / 41 m each of five colors)

Suggested Yarn

In my fabulous new sample, knit specially for the free release, I chose Midknit Cravings Hearty Worsted – a sumptiously soft wool of 100% superwash merino. And I could not have been happier. You’re going to feel like you’re wrapping yourself in a cloud here. And the color choices are simply phenomenal.

(Seriously I’ve got about 5 more projects worth of yarn in my cart right now. It was that good.)

At 181 yards/166 meters per 100 grams/3.5 oz, you’ll need 5 skeins for the MC–I chose the GORGEOUS Spiced Latte–and 2 skeins for the CC–let me hear the love for Afternoon Tea.

Feel free to stash dive or play with your own palette of leftovers. This free shawl knitting pattern is flexible enough to accommodate your creativity.

Needles & Notions

• US 8 / 5.0 mm circular needle (for main fabric)
• US 6 / 4.0 mm circular needle (for brioche sections)
• Optional: US 10 / 6.0 mm for a looser bind-off
• Stitch markers
• Tapestry needle

Use a long circular cable to comfortably hold your growing crescent-shaped shawl.

Let’s Talk Techniques

One of the best things about Moonbow is the way it blends simplicity with elegance. You’ll get to practice:

• Garter stitch: Worked flat, knit every row—easy and soothing.
• Increases: Primarily KFB (knit front and back) and YOs (yarn overs) to shape the crescent and add texture.
• Simple brioche: This is not the kind of brioche that makes you cry. If you can yarn over and slip a stitch, you can do this.
• I-cord bind-off (optional): A sleek, stretchy finish that gives the shawl a polished edge.

And while none of these techniques are difficult, they combine to create a visually striking accessory that looks much more complex than it is.

Glossary

BO – bind off

CC – contrast color

CO – cast on 

k – knit

kfb – knit front and back of the same stitch

KYOK – k1, yo, k1 all in the same st

m – marker 

MC – main color

pfso – pass first st over – after the k3, pass the first st you knit over the other 2 sts as if to BO

pm – place marker 

rep – repeat

sl – slip st with yarn in back unless otherwise indicated

sm – slip marker

st(s) – stitch(es)  

wyif – with yarn in front

yo – yarn over

Brioche Stitches

brk – brioche knit – knit the slipped stitch together with its wrapped yarn over

brkyobrk – a 2-stitch increase – brioche knit, yarn over, brioche knit all in the same stitch

brp – brioche purl – purl the slipped stitch together with its wrapped yarn over

sl1yo – slip 1 yarn over – wrap the yarn over over the top of the slipped stitch

Special Techniques 

I-Cord BO

Prep: Using a Cable CO, CO 2 sts. 

BO: * K2, ssk, sl2 from righthand needle to lefthand needle, rep from * across. 

Tips: To add stretchiness, I went up 2 needle sizes to a US 10/6 mm. This BO is also worked over a brioche row. All sl1yo’s can be worked as a single stitch, however, I bound off each strand separately every 2-4 sl1yo’s to add additional stretch to the BO, since I knew I want to block the shawl aggressively. 

Notes for the Free Knit Shawl Pattern

Slip all markers as they are encountered. When working a Row 16 or its repeat, move markers as needed while working the pfso to keep the markers in the same spot. 

Helpful tip: After knitting the set up row, place an interlocking marker on the RS, so you know when it’s facing you that you need to increase and when it’s not you just need to knit. 

In the Brioche section, the reminders to slip yarn in front or back are simply there to remind you to keep your CC hanging on the side it ends on to maintain a clean edge.

Row 41 & 42 of the Brioche Section are worked ONLY in MC. These two rows allow the shawl to be fully reversible. 

When working Row 1 following a Row 42, MC, brk into all sl1yos and k all other stitches.

Before blocking, the shawl measured 60” across and 21” deep. While pinned, the shawl measured an 89” wingspan and a 28” deep. After unpinning it relaxed to the measurements on the Details page. I like to block shawls “aggressively”, which means gently stretching and pinning, to really open them up and provide a lot of drape, which I love in a shawl. If you prefer thick and extra squishy, then I recommend steaming or just laying it flat to dry when wet blocking. 

Make It Your Own

Go color crazy! You can use 1 contrast color or 10. You can switch colors every 5 brioche rows or every single row. Make all 4 stripes a single separate color. This is an awesome chance to go through your scraps or stash and pull out all your faves. I used about 15 g of each color—but weight can be effected by fiber content, spin, and so much more. 

If you’d like an uninterrupted line of YOs along the edge, you can substitute the first and last kfb of Row 5 for YOs. The first YO should fall before the kfb st and the last YO should fall after the kfb st. 

Gauge affects the yardage needed for the size stated. So go for a gauge that gets you a fabric that you love—like your material a little tighter or looser? No problem! But the yardage you will need may be different. 

This also means you can use whatever size yarn and needle you want and the free shawl knitting pattern will still work! You may have to add repeats (and use more yards) if you’re knitting a lighter weight yarn (fingering, sport, DK) or subtract repeats if you’re using a heavier weight yarn (Aran, bulky). 

I chose to BO using a I-Cord BO. It takes a little extra time, but creates a beautiful round BO that looks fantastic on both sides, completing the fully reversible look. However, you can use any stretchy BO you prefer. 

The FREE Moonbow Shawl Pattern

Garter Tab

Using MC and larger needles, CO 3 sts. K 24 rows (11 purl ridges). K3. Turn 90 degrees to the right. (I found it easier to pick up all 11 sts on the left hand needle before beginning this next section.) * YO and pick up and knit 1 st, rep from * 10 more times, YO. Turn 90 degrees to the right and pick up and knit 3 sts along the CO edge. 29 sts. Turn and knit across. 

Set Up 

Set Up Row 1: K3, yo, k4, * pm, k7, rep from * 1 more time, pm, k5, yo, k1, pm, k2 – 31 sts. 

Skip to Row 2. 

Garter Section

Rows 1 & 3: K3, yo, k to last 3 sts, yo, k3 – (-) & 33 sts.

Rows 2, 4 & 6: K across. 

Row 5: K1, * k2, kfb, k to 2 sts before m, kfb, k1, sm, rep from * 3 more times, k2 – 41 sts. 

Rows 7-15: Rep Rows 1-6 one time, and Rows 1-3 one additional time – 57 sts. 

Row 16: K3,* k3, pfso, yo, rep from * to last 3 sts, k3.

Rows 17-30: Repeat 5 & 6 one time and then Repeat Rows 1-6 two more times – 89 sts. 

Brioche Section

Switch to smaller needles. Attach CC1. 

Row 31, MC: K1, sl1yo, KYOK, * sl1yo, k1, rep from * to last 4 sts, sl1yo, KYOK, sl1yo, k1 – 93 sts. 

Row 31, CC: Sl1, brp, sl1yo, p1, * sl1yo, brp, rep from * to last 5 sts, sl1yo, p1, sl1yo, brp, sl1. 

Row 32, MC: K1, sl1yo, *brp, sl1yo, rep from * to last st, k1. 

Row 32, CC: Sl1 wyif, brk, * sl1yo, brk, rep from * to last st, sl1 wyif. Cut CC. 

Attach CC2. 

Row 33, MC:  K1, * sl1yo, brk, rep from * to last st, k1. 

Row 33, CC: Rep Row 31, CC. 

Row 34: Rep Row 32 MC & CC. Cut CC. 

Attach CC3. 

Row 35, MC: K1, sl1yo, brkyobrk, * sl1yo, k1, rep from * to first m, sm,  sl1yo, brkyobrk, sl1yo, * k1, sl1yo, rep from * to 1 st before third m, brkyobrk, sm, sl1yo, * k1, sl1yo, rep from * to 1 st before fourth m, brkyobrk, sl1yo, k1 – 101 sts. 

Row 35, CC: Rep Row 31, CC.

Row 36: Rep Row 32 MC & CC. Cut CC.

Attach CC4. 

Rows 37 & 38: Rep Rows 33 & 34.

Attach CC5.

Row 39, MC: K1, sl1yo, brkyobrk, * sl1yo, k1, rep from * to last 4 sts, sl1yo, brkyobrk, sl1yo, k1 – 105 sts. 

Row 39, CC: Rep Row 31, CC.

Row 40: Rep Row 32 MC & CC. Cut CC.

Row 41, MC: Rep Row 35, MC – 113 sts. 

Row 42, MC: K1, brk, * sl1yo, brk, rep from * to last st, k1.

Repeats for the Free Shawl Knitting Pattern

Rep Rows 1-42 three more times – 365 sts. 

BO all sts using I-cord BO or preferred BO. 

Finishing

Weave in ends. Wet block and pin to measurements—this blocking will open up the fabric and add considerable drape and length. Wait until it’s bone dry. Unpin and enjoy. Don’t forget to send me a pic! 

How to Customize Your Moonbow Shawl

This free shawl knitting pattern is designed to be flexible. Want to make it your own? Here’s how:

Play With Color

One contrast looks amazing, don’t you agree? But Moonbow really lets you play! So dive into your stash and have some fun! Here are a few color ideas to play it up!

Choose a different color for each stripe. Or go crazy (like I did in the original) and use five contrast colors in every stripe.

Two or three contrasts could create a striking look, especially if you let a single bold hue dominate.

Or go totally tonal and use a gradient set against a neutral main color.

Adjust the Size of the Free Knit Shawl Pattern

Want a smaller shawl? Use fingering weight or simply reduce the number of repeats. Want something even more dramatic? Grab some aran or bulky and size up your needles for a cloudlike wrap.

What Makes Moonbow Special?

Beyond the techniques and yarn, Moonbow is a shawl with heart. The idea of the moonbow—something invisible to the naked eye that becomes visible when seen through the right lens—is a reminder that beauty and meaning often require perspective.

This shawl is a meditation in stitches. It’s a moment to pause and create something soft, warm, and colorful that you can return to again and again.

It’s also the kind of project that builds confidence. If you’ve never tried brioche before, this free shawl knitting pattern is the perfect gateway. You’ll learn how it works in a forgiving format and get stunning results.

Want a PDF of the Moonbow Shawl Knitting Pattern?

Ready to cast on? You start by following the complete pattern above! Or for just a few dollars, you can download the Moonbow shawl on Ravelry or Etsy. It includes:

• Full written instructions
• Row-by-row breakdown of brioche and garter sections
• Tips for customizing your colors
• Finishing options, including the optional I-cord bind-off
• Detailed measurements to guide your blocking
• All wrapped up in a gorgeously designed and easy to access PDF

And best of all, you’ll be knitting your own personal rainbow—hidden in the folds, glowing in the light, and absolutely unique to you.

Catch Your Moonbow

If you’re looking for a project that feels like a warm hug, looks like a dream, and fits easily into your everyday knitting routine, Moonbow is it.

This free shawl knitting pattern blends ease with elegance, encourages creative freedom, and delivers a shawl you’ll reach for all season long.

So grab your yarn, settle in, and let the rhythm of Moonbow carry you away. You may not be able to catch a real moonbow—but you can knit one.