Link to KAL forum HERE. There’s lots of fun modifications and encouragement. Come show us your yarns for the shawl!

I envisioned a romantic story for the Kimono Moon Shawl. A moonlit evening in old Japan, the quiet rustling sound of a stream, and the fluttering sleeves of a furisode kimono rushing to a secret spot. For months I tried to write this story, but it seemed empty. Today I realized that this shawl is about my daughter and how much I miss her.

This shawl takes me back to her senior year of high school. She was never concerned with fashion, makeup, or following the crowds. So, when she told me she wanted to wear a Japanese kimono, I was excited. My family helped me buy her a traditional red silk furisode kimono - the kind with beautiful long sleeves with gorgeous gold and floral embroidery. A work of art. We also got her a gold and black obi (wide belt) to wear along with traditional black geta (wooden platform shoes). My daughter and I love to make each other gifts, so I just had to make her something too. I found a video by a Japanese master for creating silk flower hair ornaments called tsumami kanzashi. I was able to make her several delicate pink flowers for her hair.

The kimono took over an hour to put on, but we had fun. She was so happy and beautiful. Today I realize that was the last time I dressed my daughter or did her hair for her. She’s now an amazing young woman following her dreams. Dreams that have taken her across the world to New Zealand. She’s just admitted that she wants New Zealand to be her permanent home. I knew this was coming, but still - ouch. I miss her terribly, but I’m so proud of her. The lace pattern of this shawl and the slim red stripe in the center remind me of her kimono, the silk flowers in her hair, and her beautiful presence in my heart.
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A big THANK YOU to Elizabeth at DriftwoodYarns for her generous yarn support for this shawl!

I also want to thank my test knitters: Lauriekdg, BCN, kimberlykay62, and teddybearwhispers (she’s also my wonderful tech editor).

CONSTRUCTION
The Kimono Moon Shawl features a crescent shape that is knit flat from the bottom up. The shawl begins with a picot cast on creating a decorative lower edge. The border is then worked in a kimono lace pattern that is topped by a contrasting section of garter stitch. The kimono lace gives the outer edge a scalloped shape. The upper part of the shawl is worked in garter stitch and shaped by a combination of k2tog or ssk, and turning the shawl. On the return row, the k2tog or ssk is knit with the next stitch to close the gap. This easy method for short rows doesn’t require complicated stitches, wraps, or even picking up wraps. The crescent shape is topped by a two-stitch I-Cord Bind Off that also maintains the shawl’s characteristic shape. Although the shawl is written for three colors, it looks just as beautiful with one color.

Yarn Used: Big Sky Yarn Co., Star Sock (75% Merino, 25% Nylon;
450 yds / 100 g). Sample uses MC TN Whiskey, 2 skeins; CC2 Mountain Mama 1 skein; CC1 Sanford 1 skein.

Needles: US #6 (4 mm) is recommended or size to obtain gauge. 32” (80 cm) circular needle or longer.

Sizes: Wingspan 52 (60, 67.5)”; 132 (152, 172) cm, sample shown in size 67.5” / 172 cm.

Finished Measurements: Depth at widest point: 14 (15, 16)“ / 36 (38, 41) cm.

Yardage for One Color: 553-676 (663-811, 775-948) yds; 506-619 (606-742, 708-866) m.

Yardage for 3 Colors:
Size: MC ( CC1, CC2)
S: 373-456 yds; 341-417 m (48-59 yds/44-54 m,132-163 yds/121-149 m)
M: 430-526 yds; 393-481 m (55-68 yds/50-62 m, 177-218 yds/162-199 m)
L: 487-596 yds; 445-545 m (62-77 yds/57-70 m, 225-275 yds/206-252 m)

Notions Required: Stitch holder, tapestry needle, 18 (21, 24) stitch markers, 2 removable markers for shaping (optional).

Skills Needed: K2tog, ssk, slipping stitches, instructions provided for: picot cast on, knitted cast on, and two stitch I-cord bind off.

NOTE: The shawl shaped by a combination of k2tog (or ssk), and turning the shawl. There are no complicated short row methods to learn, no wraps to make, or wraps to pick up.

Full instructions are provided for the short rows, cast on, bind off, and swatch.

This pattern includes a schematic and chart. You can work from either the chart or written intructions. It also includes detailed instrcutions for the swatch so you don’t have to figure that out.

All my patterns are tech edited and test knit to ensure accuracy and clear instructions.