Knit the Makariri Shawl for Winter Warmth and Mindfulness
Winter is on its way, so bundle yourself up in a shawl to help keep the cold at bay! Makariri (Māori for Winter) is an oversized shawl that combines subtle texture, squishy warmth, and eye-catching lace and colorwork. Designed with thoughtful details, this shawl invites you to slow down, savor the process, and create something truly special.
Let the garter stitch transport you to a scene of slow and peaceful living—it’s a wonderfully meditative stitch, perfect for moments of calm and reflection. When the lace comes into play, it offers an engaging challenge, encouraging focus as the stitches come together to create something magical.
This shawl is ideal for knitters who:
Seek mindfulness through making: The rhythmic garter stitch provides a meditative flow, while the lace adds a layer of focused, intentional crafting.
Love exploring color combinations: Use your creativity to pair three favorite colorways and tell a story through your palette. Whether you choose cool neutrals like white and gray to evoke the crisp magic of winter, or warm, vibrant tones to celebrate spring and summer, the possibilities are endless.
Enjoy versatile and practical designs: With its oversized shape and cozy texture, Makariri is perfect for wrapping up on chilly days or layering with your favorite winter coat.
Appreciate a touch of artistry: The blend of garter, lace, and colorwork paints a picture of the season, making the finished piece as visually stunning as it is functional.
As you wrap yourself in your finished Makariri shawl, feel the warmth of your creativity and the care you’ve woven into every stitch. Step into the crisp air with confidence, embracing the magic of the season and the joy of your new handmade piece.
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Pattern Information
Yarn
The Fiber Seed Sprout Solids (Fingering/4 ply; 90% Merino, 10% Nylon; 480 yards; 438 meters/135 grams).
Colorways Natural, Silver, and Slate, 1 skein each.
Yardage:
MC: 430 - 480 yards (390 - 440 m)
CC1 170 - 190 yards (155 - 175 m)
CC2 270 - 300 yards (250 - 275 m).
Needles
US size 6 (4.0mm), 32” (81cm) circular needle is recommended in order to accommodate the large number of stitches.
Gauge
24 sts and 38 rows = 4”/10cm in garter stitch, after blocking.
Notions
Stitch markers, darning needle.
Sizing
See Schematics
Abbreviations
K - knit
P - purl
Yo - yarn over
Kfb - knit front and back
Pfb - purl front and back
Sl - slip knit wise with yarn in back
Sl wyif - slip purl wise with yarn in front
Ssk - slip, slip knit (left leaning single decrease)
K2tog - knit two together (right leaning single decrease)
CDD - slip 2 stitches together as if to knit, k1, pass the 2 slipped stitches over the knitted stitch together.
Sssk - slip, slip, slip knit (left leaning double decrease)
CO - cast on
Rep - repeat
St(s) - stitch(es)
MC - main color
CC1 - contrast color 1
CC2 - contrast color 2
BO - bind off
Pattern Instructions
Construction
The stitch counts provided in the table are for the right portion of the shawl. When verifying your stitch count, count up until the dividing stitch. The left portion of the shawl will increase at the same rate as the right side until both sides reach 56 sts. Then, the left side will stop increasing and remain constant at 56 sts until the end of the shawl.
The shawl increases on the WS rows, so check your stitch counts after completing a WS row. Use stitch markers to indicate repeats, if needed, to help keep track of the stitch pattern.
Casting On
In MC yarn, CO 7 sts. Work the set-up rows below:
Set-Up Row 1 (RS): Sl 1 wyif, kfb, CDD (this will form the dividing stitch), kfb, k1.
Set-Up Row 2 (WS): Sl 1 wyif, kfb, k until dividing stitch, sl 1 wyif, k until last 2 sts, kfb, k1 (4 sts; 9 sts total).
Section 1
Work the body of Section A rows [1-2] as established 22 times for a total of 44 rows (26 sts; 53 sts total).
Row 1 (RS): Sl 1 wyif, kfb, k until 1 st before dividing stitch, CDD, k until last 2 sts, kfb, k1.
Row 2 (WS): Sl 1 wyif, kfb, k until dividing stitch, sl 1 wyif, k until last 2 sts, kfb, k1.
Drop MC yarn, but do not cut. Attach CC1 yarn. Starting with CC1 yarn, alternate between the CC1 and MC yarn every RS row to create the stripes. Work rows [1-2] again 18 times (9 stripes of both colors), ending on a MC stripe for a total of 36 rows (44 sts; 89 sts total).
Drop MC yarn and cut it. Continuing in CC1 yarn, work Snowfall Stitch One rows [1-24] (56 sts; 113 sts total).
Drop CC1 yarn and cut. Attach MC yarn.
Section II
Work the body of Section B rows [1-2] as established below 24 times for a total of 48 rows (80 sts; 137 sts total).
Row 1 (RS): Sl 1, kfb, k until 1 st before dividing stitch, CDD, k until last 2 sts, kfb, k1.
Row 2 (WS): Sl 1, k until dividing stitch, sl 1 wyif, k until last 2 sts, kfb, k1.
Drop MC yarn, but do not cut. Attach CC1 yarn. Starting with CC1 yarn, alternate between the CC1 and MC yarn every RS row to create the stripes. Work rows [1-2] again 18 times, ending on a MC stripe for a total of 36 rows (98 sts; 155 sts total).
Drop MC yarn and cut it. Continuing in CC1 yarn, work Snowfall Stitch Two rows [1-24] (110 sts; 167 sts total).
Drop CC1 yarn and cut. Attach MC yarn.
Section III
Work the body of Section C rows [1-2] as established above 24 times for a total of 48 rows (134 sts; 191 sts total).
Row 1 (RS): Sl 1 wyif, kfb, k until 1 st before dividing stitch, CDD, k until last 2 sts, kfb, k1.
Row 2 (WS): Sl 1 wyif, k until dividing stitch, sl 1 wyif, k until last 2 sts, kfb, k1.
Drop MC yarn, but do not cut. Attach CC2 yarn. Starting with CC2 yarn, alternate between the CC2 and MC yarn every RS row to create the stripes. Work rows [1-2] again 18 times, ending on a MC stripe for a total of 36 rows (152 sts; 209 sts total).
Drop MC yarn and cut it. Continuing in CC2 yarn, work Snowfall Stitch Two rows [1-24] twice for a total of 48 rows (176 sts; 233 sts total).
BO loosely in CC2 yarn. Weave in ends and block shawl to measurements.
Stitch Patterns & Charts
SNOWFALL STITCH ONE (6 sts + 7)
Row 1 (RS): Sl 1, kfb, *yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k1; rep from *, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, CDD, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, *k1, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo ; rep from * until last 2 sts, kfb, k1.
Row 2 and all WS rows: Sl 1 wyif, pfb, p until dividing stitch, sl 1 wyif, p until last 2 sts, pfb, p1.
Row 3: Sl 1, kfb, k2, *yo, k1, sssk, k1, yo, k1; rep from *, yo, k1, ssk, k1, CDD, k1, k2tog, k1, yo, *k1, yo, k1, sssk, k1, yo ; rep from * until last 4 sts, k2, kfb, k1.
Row 5: Sl 1, kfb, k1, yo, ssk, k1, *k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k1; rep from *, k2tog, yo, k1, CDD, k1, yo, ssk, *k1, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk ; rep from * until last 6 sts, k1, k2tog, yo, k1, kfb, k1.
Row 7: Sl 1, kfb, k3, yo, k1, sssk, *(k1, yo) x 2, k1, sssk ; rep from *, k1, yo, CDD, yo, k1, *sssk, (k1, yo) x 2, k1; rep from * until last 8 sts, sssk, k1, yo, k3, kfb, k1.
Row 9: Sl 1, kfb, k2, *yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k1; rep from *, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k2, CDD, k2, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, *k1, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo ; rep from * until last 4 sts, k2, kfb, k1.
Row 11: Sl 1, kfb, k2tog, k1, yo, k1, *yo, k1, sssk, k1, yo, k1; rep from *, yo, k1, sssk, k1, yo, k1, CDD, k1, yo, k1, sssk, k1, yo, *k1, yo, k1, sssk, k1, yo ; rep from * until last 6 sts, k1, yo, k1, ssk, kfb, k1.
Row 13: Sl 1, kfb, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k1, *k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k1; rep from *, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, CDD, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, *k1, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk ; rep from * until last 8 sts, k1, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, kfb, k1.
Row 15: Sl 1, kfb, k1, k2tog, (k1, yo) x 2, k1, sssk, *(k1, yo) x 2, k1, sssk ; rep from *, k1, yo, k2, CDD, k2, yo, k1, *sssk, (k1, yo) x 2, k1; rep from * until last 11 sts, sssk, (k1, yo) x 2, k1, ssk, k1, kfb, k1.
Row 17: Sl 1, kfb, k1, k2tog, yo, k1, *yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k1; rep from *, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k1, CDD, k1, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, *k1, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo ; rep from * until last 6 sts, k1, yo, ssk, k1, kfb, k1.
Row 19: Sl 1, kfb, yo, k1, sssk, k1, yo, k1, *yo, k1, sssk, k1, yo, k1; rep from *, yo, k1, sssk, k1, yo, k3, CDD, k3, yo, k1, sssk, k1, yo, *k1, yo, k1, sssk, k1, yo ; rep from * until last 9 sts, k1, yo, k1, sssk, k1, yo, kfb, k1.
Row 21: Sl 1, kfb, k2, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k1, *k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k1; rep from *, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k2, CDD, k2, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, *k1, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk ; rep from * until last 10 sts, k1, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k2, kfb, k1.
Row 23: Sl 1, kfb, k3, k2tog, (k1, yo) x 2, k1, sssk, *(k1, yo) x 2, k1, sssk ; rep from *, (k1, yo) x 2, k1, ssk, CDD, k2tog, (k1, yo) x 2, k1, *sssk, (k1, yo) x 2, k1; rep from * until last 13 sts, sssk, (k1, yo) x 2, k1, ssk, k3, kfb, k1.
Row 24: Sl 1 wyif, pfb, p until dividing stitch, sl 1 wyif, p until last 2 sts, pfb, p1.
SNOWFALL STITCH TWO (6 sts + 7)
Row 1 (RS): Sl 1, kfb, *yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k1; rep from *, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, CDD, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k1, *yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k1; rep from * until last 7 sts, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, kfb, k1.
Row 2 and all WS rows: Sl 1 wyif, p until dividing stitch, sl 1 wyif, p until last 2 sts, pfb, p1.
Row 3: Sl 1, kfb, k2, *yo, k1, sssk, k1, yo, k1; rep from *, yo, k1, ssk, k1, CDD, k1, k2tog, k1, yo, k1, *yo, k1, sssk, k1, yo, k1 ; rep from * until last 9 sts, yo, k1, sssk, k1, yo, k1, kfb, k1.
Row 5: Sl 1, kfb, k1, yo, ssk, k1, *k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k1; rep from *, k2tog, yo, k1, CDD, k1, yo, ssk, k1, *k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k1; rep from * until last 9 sts, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k2, kfb, k1.
Row 7: Sl 1, kfb, k3, yo, k1, sssk, *(k1, yo) x 2, k1, sssk ; rep from *, k1, yo, CDD, yo, k1, sssk, *(k1, yo) x 2, k1, sssk ; rep from * until last 11 sts, (k1, yo) x 2, k1, sssk, k1, yo, kfb, k1.
Row 9: Sl 1, kfb, k2, *yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k1; rep from *, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k2, CDD, k2, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k1, *yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k1; rep from * until last 5 sts, yo, ssk, k1, kfb, k1.
Row 11: Sl 1, kfb, k2tog, k1, yo, k1, *yo, k1, sssk, k1, yo, k1; rep from *, yo, k1, sssk, k1, yo, k1, CDD, k1, yo, k1, sssk, k1, yo, k1, *yo, k1, sssk, k1, yo, k1; rep from * until last 6 sts, yo, k1, ssk, k1, kfb, k1.
Row 13: Sl 1, kfb, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k1, *k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k1; rep from *, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, CDD, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k1, *k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k1; rep from * until last 7 sts, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, kfb, k1.
Row 15: Sl 1, kfb, k1, k2tog, (k1, yo) x 2, k1, sssk, *(k1, yo) x 2, k1, sssk ; rep from *, k1, yo, k2, CDD, k2, yo, k1, sssk, *(k1, yo) x 2, k1, sssk ; rep from * until last 8 sts, (k1, yo) x 2, k1, ssk, kfb, k1.
Row 17: Sl 1, kfb, k1, k2tog, yo, k1, *yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k1; rep from *, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k1, CDD, k1, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k1, *yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k1; rep from * until last 3 sts, k1, kfb, k1.
Row 19: Sl 1, kfb, yo, k1, sssk, k1, yo, k1, *yo, k1, sssk, k1, yo, k1; rep from *, yo, k1, sssk, k1, yo, k3, CDD, k3, yo, k1, sssk, k1, yo, k1, *yo, k1, sssk, k1, yo, k1; rep from * until last 4 sts, k2, kfb, k1.
Row 21: Sl 1, kfb, k2, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k1, *k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k1; rep from *, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k2, CDD, k2, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k1, *k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k1; rep from * until last 5 sts, k2tog, yo, k1, kfb, k1.
Row 23: Sl 1, kfb, k3, k2tog, (k1, yo) x 2, k1, sssk, *(k1, yo) x 2, k1, sssk ; rep from *, (k1, yo) x 2, k1, ssk, CDD, k2tog, (k1, yo) x 2, k1, sssk, *(k1, yo) x 2, k1, sssk ; rep from * until last 6 sts, k1, yo, k2, kfb, k1.
Row 24: Sl 1 wyif, p until dividing stitch, sl 1 wyif, p until last 2 sts, pfb, p1.
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