Willow moon is an intermediate level brioche design with a motif reminiscent of willow leaves. It is knit on the bias, starting with just a few stitches. Pick 2-colors of your favorite yarn and create the most sumptuous woolly embrace you could imagine.

This pattern was written as a collaboration with my friend Casey (PremKnits). It’s amazing how simple conversations with like-minded people can produce such a lovely outcome. She makes the most beautiful hand-dyed yarns and they were truly the inspiration for something squishy, briochy and easy to wear!

Happy knitting!

The willow tree has a long history of symbolism rooted in spirituality and cultural traditions. In the Celtic Lunar Zodiac, the Willow Tree symbolizes the Moon, its gemstone is the Moonstone, and its flower is the Primrose. In addition to its association with the moon, it is also associated with the element of water, the Goddess and all that is feminine; thus making it the tree of dreaming, intuition, the subconscious and deep emotions.

One of the most valuable and unique traits of the willow tree is its flexibility, capable of bending into outrageous shapes without snapping; and its adaptability, the ability to not only survive but also thrive in some of the most challenging conditions. The willow reminds us to adjust with life, keep growing and reaching higher no matter where we are planted.*

YARN
Total Yardage: 740 yds / 676 m of DK
weight yarn for both dark color (DC) and light color (LC) - 370 yds / 338 m each. Sample shown in PremKnits DK - 100% superwash merino wool; 231 yds / 221 m, 100 grams. Colors: Lava Stone (DC) and Topaz (LC) - 2 skeins of each color

NEEDLES/NOTIONS
-US 6 / 4.0 mm, 32 in / 81 cm circular needle
(or size to obtain gauge)
-(3) US 6 / 4.0 mm double pointed needles
-tapestry needle

GAUGE
20 sts X 25 rows to 4 inches (10 cm) in 2-color
brioche

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Circumference - 30 in / 76 cm
Depth (center front) - 26 in / 66 cm
Depth (back neck) - 10 in / 25 cm

DIFFICULTY
Intermediate. Stitches include: knit, purl, brioche knit (brk), brioche purl (brp), slip 1 yarn over (sl1yo), I-cord (provisional cast on), brioche increases (brkyobrk) and decreases (brk3tog, brsssk).

When sharing pictures of your projects on social media, use #willowmooncowl and #insayshableknitsdesigns.