Free knitting patterns for shawls knit with color-change cake, self-striping, long gradient, ombre, and multi-colored yarns. Many of the patterns are free. Updated 2/3/24
To get the knitting patterns, scroll down the page to the individual pattern you want and click on the link to that pattern.
These patterns are not my designs but links to other designers who have generously shared their patterns. If you have questions about how to knit a specific pattern, please contact the designer directly.
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Free Patterns
Ripple Lace Shawl
Triangular shawl with ripple lace that's a perfect showcase for self-striping cake yarn. Rico R1902 Shawl in Creative Melange Chunky. Chunky weight yarn.
Stepping Stones Shawl
Triangular lace shawl that's a perfect showcase for multi-color or self-striping yarn. DK weight yarn. Designed by Rachel Carson Hill. Web version is free. PDF available for purchase
- Get the free knitting pattern - web version
- Buy the pdf
- Get the pictured Lion Brand Mandala yarn (pictured colorway Warlock)
Snow Queen Braid Shawl
Garter stitch shawl with cable braid edge. Perfect showcase for multi-color or self-striping yarn. Aran weight yarn. Designed by Wiam’s Crafts.
- Get the free knitting pattern
- See the Ravelry page
- Get the recommended Bernat Pop self-striping yarn on Amazon (pictured colorway Moonshadow)
Carbon Without Symmetry Shawl
Spiral shaped shawl created from a series of built-up wedges in an easy repeat of lace and short turn rows. Designed for self-striping yarn, you could also use it with miniskeins or stash yarn. Designed by Yarnspirations Design Studio. DK weight yarn.
Rainbow Autumn Zen Shawl
Triangular shaped shawl perfect for gradient yarn with alternating sections of easy lace, garter stitch, ribbing, and textured stitches. Designed by Diane Griffith adapted from the Zen Shawl pattern by Maureen Clark. DK weight yarn. Rated easy by Ravelrers. Pictured project by knitwitch55.
- Get the free knitting pattern
- Get the original Zen Shawl knitting pattern
- See more of Valentina's knitting patterns
Taina Shawl
Triangular shaped shawl perfect for gradient yarn with a lace body and a border of cabled bouquets. Designed by Valentina Bogdanova. DK weight yarn. Available in English and Russian.
Ribbed Shawlette
Triangular chevron shaped shawl with an textured rib design that showcases ombre or color change cake yarn. Designed by Wiam's Crafts. Uses just 1 skein of the recommended Lion Brand Mandala yarn. DK weight yarn. Web version is free.
- Get the free knitting pattern - web version
- Buy the pdf on Etsy
- Get the pictured Lion Brand Mandala yarn (pictured colorway Pegasus)
Reyna Shawl
Alternating mesh lace and stockinette sections of this triangle shaped shawl make it ideal for color-changing cake yarn or other multi-colored yarn. Designed by Noora Backlund. Rated easy by Ravelrers. Pictured shawls by amezri use just 1 skein of Lion Brand Mandala yarn each..
- Get the free knitting pattern
- Get the pictured Lion Brand Mandala yarn (pictured colorways Valkyrie and Pegasus)
Galaxy Lemonade Shawl
Triangle shaped shawl knit sideways alternating a 4 row repeat lace section with garter stitch. Takes one skein of recommended Cascade Yarns® Paradigm Shift yarn. Designed to showcase gradient or color-change yarn. Designed by Shannon Dunbabin for Cascade Yarns. Worsted weight yarn.
Head Over Heels Shawl
Easy triangular shawl with alternating sections of stockinette and eyelets ending with a delicate picot edging. Designed for self-striping or color-change yarn. Measurements: width 198cm x length 60cm. Fingering weight yarn. Designed by Julia Marsh for Stylecraft.
- Get the free knitting pattern
- Get the recommended Stylecraft Head Over Heels All Stars yarn inspired by the artist David Hockney
Close To You Shawl
Knit from one end with gradual increases to form a triangular shawl in garter stitch with a zigzag border with eyelets. Rated easy by Ravelrers. Designed by Justyna Lorkowska. Rated easy by Ravelrers. Pictured shawls by Bethadilly, Tuvie, and yarnqueen used just 1 skein of Lion Brand Mandala yarn each..
- Get the free knitting pattern
- Get the pictured Lion Brand Mandala yarn (pictured colorways Pegasus and Spirit)
Wavedeck Shawl
Half-circle lace shawl. Designed by Kate Atherley. Pictured shawls by Ilovepearls and reveirie used just 1 skein of Lion Brand Mandala yarn each..
More Free Patterns
Back Again Shawl
This mesh shawl’s undulating shape is created with a 4 row repeat mesh lace with increases and decreases. The versatile shape can be worn long like a stole, or folded at neck to make lapels, or wrapped around neck like a double bandana style. Designed to showcase gradient or color-change yarn. Designed by Michelle Porter for Estelle Yarns.
Lacenti Shawl
Triangle shaped shawl knit in stockinette with a Chevron Lace border. Perfect for self-striping yarn, especially that one or two skeins of sock yarn. Designed by Rae Blackledge. Pictured shawl uses just 1 skein of the recommended yarn Serenity Sock..
Boho Spirit Shawl
Triangular shawl or large scarf knit in garter stitch. Also available as a kit for under $18. Great for self-striping yarn to create a multi-colored striping effect. Worsted weight. Designed by Cygnet Yarns.
Lacy Stripes Shawl
Elongated triangle shawl with stockinette and slipped stitch lace pattern is perfect for self-striping yarn. Quick knit in bulky yarn. Uses just one ball of the recommended yarn (355 yards). Designed by Lisa Gentry
Sawtooth Edge Crescent Shawl
Easy garter stitch crescent shawl with lace edge takes just two skeins of the recommended yarn. Great with multi-colored yarn.
Dragon Tail Shawl
Garter stitch shawl with easy decorative edge. Perfect showcase for multi-color or self-striping yarn. Aran weight yarn. Designed by Wiam’s Crafts. Uses just 2 ball of the recommended yarn.
- Get the free knitting pattern - web version
- Buy the pdf
- Get the recommended Bernat Pop self-striping yarn on Amazon (pictured colorway Moonshadow)
Feather and Fan Shawl
Lace rectanglular wrap that is rated easy by most of the Ravelrers. About 18 x 51 in. (45.5 x 129.5 cm). Perfect for multi-color yarn.Uses 518 yards (474 m) of Aran weight yarn. Designed by Lion Brand yarn.
Pfeilraupe Shawl
This versatile garter stitch wrap can be worn in many different ways thanks to slits knit into the fabric. Asymmetrical shawl shaped with short rows. Sport weight. Designed by Alpi Alpenrose. Available in English, Danish, German, Italian, and many other languages. Pictured projects by tigris00 and the designer.
Taina One Skein Shawl
This triangular shawl is knit from one corner to the long edge on the opposite side in garter stitch and eyelet rows. Designed by Eeva Kesäkuu for one skein of sock yarn 420 – 547 yards (384 – 500 m) or more if you want a larger shawl. Pictured project by JujuBulleEtMaille
- Get the free knitting pattern
- Get the Alize Bamboo Fine Batik Design yarn used in this project on Etsy
Sedona Triangle One Skein Shawl
Easy shawl with eyelet increases and some purl rows for texture. Perfect for multi-color yarn.Uses 518 yards (474 m) of Aran weight yarn. Designed by Lion Brand yarn.
Citron Shawl
Hilary Smith Callis’s easy shawlette features ruffles and ruching to add dressy details. Pictured project by haruchika
Boom! Shawl
Very simple asymmetric boomerang shawl, knit in garter stitch with increases and decreases designed to showcase gradient or striping yarns. Adaptable to any yarn weight or size. Designed by Playing With Fibre. Rated very easy by Ravelrers.
Easy Knit Shawl
This easy shawl is knit garter stitch with a lace border. Designed with self-striping or multi-colored yarn in mind.
- Get the free knitting pattern for free registration at Annie's site
- Purchase the Knit and Crochet Now episode with demo of this pattern - purchase not necessary to get pattern
Brighten My Day Shawl
Triangular shawl knit side to side in garter stitch alternates a self-striping yarn with contrasting color like black for a striking effect. Rated easy by Red Heart. Designed by Nancy J. Thomas
Borealis Mitered Shawl
Kristin Omdahl designed this shawl with a doubled ruffled edge. Perfect for self-striping or multi-color yarn.
Patterns for Purchase
Latte Shawl
This unique shawl moves from a swirling vortex to gently curved stripes dotted with eyelets and ending with a lovely lace edging. The designer says it is easy to knit and provides video tutorials with the pattern. Perfect for showing off the color variations of your precious variegated or self-stripping skeins. Designed by Skeinwalker Knits. Worsted weight yarn.
Siddall Stole
Striking reversible wrap with zigzag lace designed to showcase color-change cake yarn or other gradient yarn, though it also looks great in solid colors. Fingering weight yarn. Designed by Lois Young. One of the 27 patterns in Creative Knitting Graceful Lace Special (digital or print).
Roxbury Pond Shawl
This semi-circular shawl uses a short row technique that is easy for less experienced knitters too. The decorative picot edging is worked as you go. Perfect for ombre or gradient yarn. 2 sizes. Fingering weight yarn but easily adapted to heavier weight yarn. Designed by Christiane Burkhard. Pictured projects by the designer and geekgirl.
Circinae Shawl
This top-down, center-out crescent-shaped shawl features columns of brioche that fan outward like feathers on a bird’s wing. This pattern is written to make the most of a gradient yarn, regardless of its yardage. Simply keep going until you are about to run out of yarn. Fingering weight yarn. Designed by Carissa Browning.
Amethyst Ice Wrap
This light, airy shawl uses short rows to create the illusion of four separate wedges, while it is actually knit without any sewing. It is perfect for gradient or multicoloured yarns, as it is simple enough to showcase the color changes, while providing further interest through changes in the direction of knitting. Fingering or sport weight yarn. Designed by Sharyn Armstrong.
Irida Shawl
Triangular shawl knit from the top down with a lacey chevron pattern and garter stitch bands that show off the color changes of an ombré yarn. Instructions for a small and large size have been given, with notes on altering the pattern to suit your needs. Sport weight yarn. Designed by The Yarniad.
Everyday Shawl
Asymmetric triangle-shaped shawl worked side to side with chevrons created by alternating stockinette and reverse stockinette sections using simple increases and decreases. Perfect for gradient or color-changing yarn, mini skeins, or stashbusting, but it also looks great in solid colors. 2 sizes. Fingering weight yarn. Designed by Jenny Faifel. Pictured projects by smine and anjelawolfe.
Midsummer Nights Shawl
Knit in stockinette with a lace edge, this shawl is perfect for color-changing or gradient yarn. For this pattern you will need to know how to work knit, purl, knit stitches together and yarn over. All stitches other than knits and purls are explained in the pattern notes. Sport weight yarn. Designed by Leonie Morgan.
- See more pics and get the knitting pattern on Etsy
- Get the recommended Rico Creative Reflection Print yarn
Elbow River Shawl
Zigzag stripes get a 3d look from alternating textures of stockinette and garter stitch. Perfect for color-changing yarn, mini skeins, or stashbusting. For this pattern you will need to know how to work knit, purl, knit stitches together and yarn over. All stitches other than knits and purls are explained in the pattern notes. Fingering weight yarn. Designed by Heidi Kirrmaier. Pictured projects by gubbelchen and the designer.
Cloris Shawl
Knit diagonally from end to end, this shawl features alternating sections of garter and seed stitch and a curved edge accentuated by graduated points that is perfect for color change cake yarn. Finished Measurements: 9" (23 cm) at deepest point 58" (147 cm) along curved edge. DK-Worsted weight yarn. Designed by Emily J. Designs for KnitCrate
