Malabrigo Moon River Wrap Knitting Pattern

Malabrigo Moon River Knit Shawl

What Is Being Made

The Malabrigo Moon River is an intermediate-level knit shawl designed by the Malabrigo Team. This two-color wrap features a finished length of 43 inches (109 centimeters) and a depth of 15¾ inches (40 centimeters), making it an elegant accessory suitable for layering or draping. The shawl is constructed in a single size using a downloadable PDF pattern.

Yarn and Materials

This pattern calls for Malabrigo Mechita yarn in two colorways. The main color (MC) is one skein of Malabrigo Mechita in #ParisNight, paired with one skein of Malabrigo Mechita in #Sirenas for Color A (CA). The project requires a US 4 / 3½mm circular needle measuring at least 47 inches (120 centimeters) in length, along with a tapestry needle and waste yarn for finishing. The recommended gauge is 21 stitches and 42 rows per 4 inches (10 centimeters) in stockinette stitch.

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

The Moon River shawl employs several fundamental and intermediate knitting techniques to create its structure and decorative details:

• Casting on and binding off: The pattern begins with a small cast-on of 4 stitches, which is then increased progressively throughout the piece
• Knit and purl stitches: The foundation of the pattern, creating alternating rows of stockinette stitch texture
• Increases: The pattern uses kfb (knit front and back) increases worked across entire rows at strategic intervals to expand the shawl from 4 stitches to 384 stitches by row 160
• Decreases: K2tog (knit two together) decreases are incorporated to shape the fabric and create structure
• Eyelet stitch: A decorative lace element created using yarn overs (yo) paired with k2tog decreases in the pattern sequence (yo, k2tog), which produces an openwork design that adds visual interest and lightness to the shawl

Pattern Structure

The shawl is worked from a small center point outward in a progressive expansion pattern. The construction alternates between sections of stockinette stitch and lace patterning, with the eyelet lace rows repeated throughout the body of the piece. The pattern includes specific row-by-row instructions that guide the knitter through increases and stitch pattern changes, building the shawl to its final dimensions over 162 rows.

Finishing and Blocking

After completing the knitting, the pattern requires weaving in loose ends and blocking the finished shawl. The finishing instructions recommend washing and laying the shawl flat to dry while gently shaping it to its intended form. Special attention should be paid during blocking to ease the lace sections—which naturally tend to scrunch and narrow—into the correct width to match the stockinette sections, ensuring an even, polished final appearance.