Moonraker

Moonraker Shawl by Melanie Berg

What is Being Made

Moonraker is a cheerful, playful triangular shawl designed by Melanie Berg. This knitted accessory features a finished wingspan of 83 inches along the top edge and a width of 18 inches, making it a generous wrap suitable for layering or wearing as a statement piece. The design celebrates color and personality through its use of multiple yarn hues.

Knitting Techniques Used

The Moonraker pattern employs a strategic combination of two primary knitting techniques to create visual interest and texture. Garter stitch sections—the most fundamental knitting stitch, created by knitting every row—alternate with slipped-stitch stripes throughout the design. This interplay between the two techniques produces bright daubs of color and allows knitters to experiment with color placement and intensity. The pattern uses a special abbreviation, kk, which represents a knit stitch with the yarn wrapped twice around the right needle, creating an extra wrap that becomes two stitches. This wrapped stitch is then dropped on subsequent rows, adding dimensional texture to the finished piece.

Stitches and Stitch Abbreviations

• k - knit stitch, the fundamental building block of the pattern
• kk - knit stitch with yarn wrapped twice around the right needle, creating an extra wrap that will be dropped on the following row to add texture and visual interest

Materials and Yarn Weight

This intermediate-level pattern is designed for 4-ply yarn weight, offering good stitch definition and drape. The sample shown was knitted using Bello from the Plucky Knitter, a luxurious merino-cashmere blend (55% Merino, 45% Cashmere) that provides warmth and softness. The pattern calls for three skeins in complementary colorways: one skein in "High Cotton" (color A, 94 g / 341 yards), one skein in "Lonesome Highway" (color B, 100 g / 362 yards), and one skein in "Sticky Toffee" (color C, 18 g / 66 yards). The yarn's dazzling array of available hues means knitters can customize the shawl to reflect their personal style, choosing bright, bold combinations or more reserved, subtle palettes.

Design Philosophy

Moonraker encourages creative expression through color choice while maintaining accessibility for intermediate knitters. The alternation between garter stitch and slipped-stitch stripes creates a rhythmic, meditative knitting experience, and the finished shawl's generous dimensions make it a versatile accessory suitable for various occasions and styling preferences.