June Bunnies Shawl Free Knitting Pattern
There is something undeniably magical about a shawl that feels like early summer — light, airy, and full of whimsy. The June Bunnies Shawl is exactly that kind of project. Inspired by the soft warmth of June mornings and the playful charm of bunnies hopping through garden paths, this free knitting pattern creates a crescent-shaped shawl adorned with a delicate lace motif that evokes the silhouette of little rabbit ears peeking through the stitches. Whether you are an experienced shawl knitter looking for something fresh or an adventurous intermediate knitter ready to try a new lace design, this pattern is a joy to work from start to finish.
In this post, you will find everything you need to cast on your June Bunnies Shawl: materials, gauge, abbreviations, step-by-step instructions, finishing tips, and ideas for customizing the pattern to suit your own style. Best of all, this pattern is completely free. Print it out, save it to your device, or bookmark this page and come back to it whenever you are ready to knit.
Why You Will Love This Pattern
Shawls are one of the most satisfying knitting projects because they are endlessly wearable and make beautiful handmade gifts. The June Bunnies Shawl takes everything wonderful about shawl knitting and adds a storytelling element — the bunny lace motif running along the border gives the finished piece a sweet, storybook quality without veering into childish territory. Adults and children alike will find this shawl charming and cozy.
The construction is simple enough to understand quickly but engaging enough to keep your hands busy and your mind interested. The shawl grows from a top-down crescent shape, beginning with just a few stitches and expanding outward with regular increase rows. The lace section is introduced in the final third of the shawl, so you spend the early rows building rhythm and confidence before diving into the pattern motif.
This is also an excellent stash-buster. The shawl uses approximately 400 to 500 yards of fingering weight yarn, making it a perfect destination for that one beautiful skein you have been saving but never quite knew what to do with.
Materials You Will Need
Yarn: 400 to 500 yards of fingering weight yarn (also labeled as sock weight or 1-ply lace in some lines). The sample shown was knit in a soft merino and silk blend in a pale sage green, but this pattern looks stunning in any color. Soft pastels, rich jewel tones, and even self-striping yarns all work beautifully. If you want the bunny motif to read clearly, choose a solid or semi-solid colorway rather than a heavily variegated one.
Needles: US size 4 (3.5mm) circular knitting needles, at least 32 inches long, or the size needed to obtain gauge. Many lace knitters prefer to go up half a needle size from what a yarn label recommends to keep the fabric open and drapey.
Notions:
One set of stitch markers (you will need approximately 4 to 6)
Tapestry needle for weaving in ends
Blocking pins or blocking wires
Blocking mat or clean towels
Scissors
Gauge
16 stitches and 24 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch, blocked. Gauge matters more for shawl sizing than for stitch definition, so if you are slightly off, your shawl will simply be a bit larger or smaller than the sample. That said, be sure your tension is relaxed and even, especially for the lace section.
Finished Measurements
Wingspan (tip to tip): approximately 56 inches after blocking
Depth at center: approximately 22 inches after blocking
Blocking makes an enormous difference with this pattern. The lace motif will open up significantly once wet-blocked, so do not be alarmed if the shawl looks small and dense off the needles.
Skill Level
Intermediate. You should be comfortable with basic increases and decreases, yarn overs, and reading a simple lace chart or written lace instructions. No previous shawl experience is required, but familiarity with working on circular needles is helpful.
Abbreviations
k — knit
p — purl
yo — yarn over
k2tog — knit 2 stitches together (a right-leaning decrease)
ssk — slip, slip, knit (a left-leaning decrease)
kfb — knit into the front and back of the same stitch (an increase)
pm — place marker
sm — slip marker
RS — right side
WS — wrong side
rep — repeat
sts — stitches
Pattern Notes
This shawl is worked flat on circular needles, back and forth in rows. The circular needle is used to accommodate the growing stitch count, not for working in the round. You will always turn your work at the end of each row.
Stitch markers are placed at the spine of the shawl and at the beginning and end of pattern repeats in the lace section. Move them up as you work each row.
The lace motif in this pattern is called the Bunny Ear lace. It features a central elongated eyelet flanked by paired decreases and yarn overs that create a shape resembling two small ears. When repeated across the border, the effect is a row of little bunnies peeking through the fabric. The motif is worked over a multiple of 10 stitches plus 5.
Always slip the first stitch of every row purlwise with yarn in front to create a neat chain selvedge. This makes seaming unnecessary and gives the edges a tidy, professional finish.
Pattern Instructions
Section One: Setting Up the Shawl (Rows 1 through 20)
Cast on: Using a long-tail cast on or your preferred stretchy method, cast on 9 stitches.
Row 1 (WS): Slip 1, p3, pm, p1, pm, p4. (9 sts)
Row 2 (RS): Slip 1, k1, yo, k1, yo, sm, k1, sm, yo, k1, yo, k2. (13 sts)
Row 3 and all WS rows: Slip 1, purl to end, slipping markers as you go.
Row 4 (RS): Slip 1, k1, yo, knit to marker, yo, sm, k1, sm, yo, knit to last 2 sts, yo, k2.
Repeat Rows 3 and 4 until you have 89 stitches total, ending with a WS row. This is your increase section. You will add 4 stitches every RS row, and after approximately 20 rows of increasing you will have enough stitches to begin the body section.
Section Two: Body of the Shawl (Rows 21 through 60)
Continue working the same increase pattern as above — slip 1, knit to marker, yo, sm, k1, sm, yo, knit to last 2 stitches, k2 on RS rows, and slip 1, purl to end on WS rows — until you reach 169 stitches, ending with a WS row.
The body section builds the main mass of the shawl. You can make your shawl larger by working more rows in this section before moving to the lace border. For every 2 additional RS rows you work, you will add approximately 0.5 inch to the overall depth of the shawl. Keep track of your stitch count as you go, because the lace section requires a specific stitch count to set up correctly.
At the end of Section Two, you should have 169 stitches. If you have more or fewer, adjust by working additional rows or stopping a couple of rows early.
Section Three: Bunny Ear Lace Border (Rows 61 through 88)
Before beginning the lace section, remove all markers except the center spine marker.
Setting up the lace: On the next RS row, work as follows: Slip 1, k2, pm, [work Bunny Ear Motif over 10 stitches] to 3 stitches before center marker, pm, yo, sm, k1, sm, yo, pm, [work Bunny Ear Motif over 10 stitches] to last 3 stitches, pm, k3.
The Bunny Ear Motif (worked over 10 stitches):
k2, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k3
Row 1 of motif (RS): k2, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k3
Row 2 (WS): Slip 1, purl to end, slipping markers.
Row 3 (RS): k3, yo, ssk, yo, k2tog, yo, k2 — this row opens the central “ear” eyelet and creates the second yarn over for volume.
Row 4 (WS): Slip 1, purl to end.
Row 5 (RS): k2, k2tog, yo, k3, yo, ssk, k1 — the decreases shift slightly to give the motif its rounded ear shape.
Row 6 (WS): Slip 1, purl to end.
Row 7 (RS): k2, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k3 — return to the original arrangement.
Row 8 (WS): Slip 1, purl to end.
Repeat these 8 rows of the Bunny Ear Motif three times total through the lace border section, continuing to work your spine increases (yo, sm, k1, sm, yo) on every RS row as established.
On the last RS row of the lace border, work all stitches as: k2, [yo, k2tog] to last 3 sts, k3. This creates a final picot-style eyelet row that gives the bind-off edge a pretty scalloped finish.
Bind Off
Use a stretchy bind off. The recommended method for this pattern is the Russian bind off or the Old Norwegian bind off, both of which give a lovely elastic edge that matches the cast-on tension.
Russian bind off: Knit 2 stitches, then insert the left needle through the front loops of both stitches on the right needle and knit them together through the back loop. One stitch remains on the right needle. Knit 1 more stitch, then knit those 2 together through the back loop again. Repeat to the end. Fasten off the last stitch and pull the tail through to secure.
Finishing
Weave in all ends before blocking. Wet-blocking is essential for this pattern and transforms the lace completely.
Soak your finished shawl in cool water with a small amount of wool wash for approximately 15 to 20 minutes. Gently squeeze out the water — do not wring or twist — and press the shawl between dry towels to remove excess moisture. Then spread the shawl out on your blocking mat and pin it to the measurements listed above, taking special care to pin out each point along the lace border so the Bunny Ear eyelets open up fully. Allow it to dry completely before removing the pins, which may take 24 to 48 hours depending on your climate and yarn fiber content.
Once blocked and dry, your June Bunnies Shawl is ready to wear.
Yarn Substitution Tips
If you want to substitute a different yarn from what was used in the sample, here are a few guidelines to keep in mind. Look for a yarn with a smooth twist that will show off the lace definition clearly. Yarns with a halo, like mohair or angora blends, can be beautiful in shawls but will obscure the bunny motif. Save those fuzzy yarns for your next simple stockinette or garter project and choose something with a tighter twist and a bit of sheen for this one.
Natural fibers like merino wool, silk, alpaca, and cotton all block beautifully and hold their shape after blocking. Superwash merino is a popular choice because it is machine-washable and comes in a staggering range of colors. Plant fibers like cotton and bamboo have a beautiful drape but do not have the same elasticity as wool, so your lace may look slightly different — a little more relaxed and flowing, which is lovely in its own way.
Avoid any yarn labeled as non-superwash animal fiber if the recipient of the shawl is not experienced in hand-washing knitwear, since unsuperwashed wool can felt if washed incorrectly.
Sizing Variations
The June Bunnies Shawl as written produces a medium-sized crescent that sits beautifully at the shoulders. If you would like a larger wrap, simply work more increase rows in Section Two before beginning the lace border, making sure your stitch count is still a multiple of 10 plus the 9 edge and spine stitches before you set up the lace. For a smaller shawlette — perfect for a child or for warmer weather — stop the increase section earlier and work fewer rows in Section Two, then proceed to the lace border as written. The motif will still fit proportionally as long as your math works out.
You can also add extra repeats of the Bunny Ear Motif in Section Three if you want a deeper lace section. Each additional full repeat of the 8-row motif adds approximately one inch to the total depth of the shawl.
Project Ideas and Gifting Suggestions
This shawl makes a wonderful gift for baby showers, spring birthdays, Mother’s Day, or Easter. Knitted in pure white or cream yarn with a simple ribbon threaded through the final eyelet row, it becomes an heirloom-quality baby accessory. In a deep dusty rose or lavender, it becomes an elegant accessory for an adult who loves a touch of whimsy without being overtly themed. Knitted in a golden yellow or warm terracotta, it evokes late summer evenings and pairs beautifully with linen and cotton wardrobe pieces.
If you are gifting this shawl, consider tucking in a small card with washing instructions. Remind the recipient to hand-wash gently and lay flat to dry, and that the shawl can be re-blocked if it loses its shape over time.
Tips for Knitting the Lace Section Successfully
If you have not knitted lace before, the Bunny Ear Motif is a forgiving introduction. Here are a few tips to help you work through it confidently.
Use a lifeline. Thread a thin piece of smooth scrap yarn through all the stitches on your needle at the end of every completed motif repeat. If you make a mistake and need to unravel rows, your lifeline will catch your stitches and prevent you from having to go all the way back to the beginning.
Count your stitches at the end of every RS row. The yarn overs in the motif add stitches, but the corresponding decreases should remove the same number, so your stitch count should increase only by 4 on every RS row (the 2 spine increases plus the 2 edge yarn overs). If your count does not add up, it is much easier to find a mistake on the same row than to notice it five rows later.
Mark your RS and WS. Place a locking stitch marker or a small piece of scrap yarn on the right side of the fabric at the beginning of the project. Lace patterns worked flat can look nearly identical on both sides when they are not yet blocked, and it is easy to lose track of which side is which.
Do not rush the bind off. Taking your time on the final stretchy bind off pays dividends. A bind off that is too tight will prevent the shawl from blocking out to its full size and will make the edge look pinched rather than graceful.
Share Your Make
If you knit the June Bunnies Shawl, we would love to see it. Share your finished object on social media and tag it with #JuneBunniesShawl so other knitters can find inspiration. It is always a joy to see how different yarns and color choices bring the same pattern to life in completely different ways — no two shawls ever look exactly alike, and that is part of what makes handknitting so endlessly interesting.
Whether you knit this shawl for yourself, for someone you love, or simply because you needed a beautiful project to fill a long afternoon, we hope it brings you the same warmth and happiness that a June morning always does. Happy knitting.
