I remember the first time I saw the Aurora Borealis. I was visiting friends in Winnipeg and we had gone out for ice cream in the evening. The sky was completely ablaze with brilliant teals, bright greens, and shimmering blues threading through the night clouds! I was awestruck, and that moment inspired me to create the Aurora Borealis Shawl.

Aurora Borealis is a triangle-shaped shawl knit from the top down, crafted with two contrasting, fingering-weight yarns. Multiple stitch patterns with unique dropped stitch and openwork eyelet sections capture the winding waves and undulations of the Aurora Borealis, add a creative twist, and make this a very fun and engaging shawl to knit - not to mention a very eye-catching piece to wear!

Gauge is not important unless you have a limited supply of yarn.

YARN
Two contrasting fingering-weight yarns (MC: 75g/300 yards, CC: 45g/180 yards). This pattern works best with one solid or semi-solid yarn and one variegated yarn for eye-catching contrast!
I used Clothos Yarn Cult ‘Empress’ fingering weight yarn in “Dark Moon” and “Open Your Mind” (2-ply, 100g/400 yards per skein).

NEEDLES
US size 3 (3.0mm) circular needles on 44”/110cm cable.

NOTIONS
Two stitch markers and a tapestry needle to weave in ends.

TECHNIQUES
Garter tab cast-on, eyelets, stockinette stitch, reverse stockinette stitch, dropped stitches, row-level colorwork/switching colors.

FINISHED DIMENSIONS
62” (158cm) wide by 25” (64cm) tall at center after blocking.

ON REPEAT
“What Lies Beneath” by Eyolf + Science of Sleeping (very chill!)

This pattern is great for intermediate knitters (or very adventurous beginners)! There are two video tutorials included for the complex stitches in this pattern (spoiler alert: they’re not hard). Pattern is written out (not charted).

This pattern is free!

I hope that you will wear this shawl the next time you venture out to see the stars - or when you witness the awesome beauty of the Northern Lights! :)

-Rachael (Moonvale Creations)