Easy Crochet Shawl

Introducing an easy crochet shawl – the Lacy Shells Shawl! This pattern is simple to follow and creates a very pretty stitch pattern with the alternating shells and open spaces. I love to crochet and design shawls because they are a great canvas for showing off crochet stitches and beautiful yarn. Plus, most shawls fit a variety of sizes and look great on a variety of body types!

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Simple Trick for Crochet Shawls

Crochet shawls look their best when they have good drape and all of the pretty stitches open up. You can achieve this look very simply with a few tricks. First, I crocheted this easy crochet shawl with a hook that is usually too large for the Size 3 yarn (see supply list below). This automatically makes the stitches more relaxed and open. I love how this technique is easy to do and has great results!

Another “trick” is that once you are finished with your shawl, you wet block it. This can be tedious but is well worth the effort. To wet block you simply wet your shawl with cool water and press out the excess in a towel. Then you lay the shawl out on a new dry towel pinning it into shape making sure to also pin the stitches open. You will use a lot of pins! Let the shawl dry completely – you’ll see a big difference in how it hangs and looks compared to before the blocking.

The last “trick” for helping your shawl to hang well is to add some glass beads along the bottom edges. I love the extra sparkle and shimmer this gives to your shawl as well as helping it to have the best drape!

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Skill Level: Easy

(This means if you know how to crochet all the basic crochet stitches and have had some experience with increasing in your crochet projects (adding stitches and changing the project’s shape), then you should have no problems with this pattern)

Measurements:

62” across at widest point; 30” from top edge to bottom point (edging not included)

Supplies for the Easy Crochet Shawl:

Click on the supply name to purchase

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Yarn: Omega Fontana (100% cotton; 218.7 yards; 100 grams): 650 Lilac 3 balls

(or any Size 3 (DK weight) cotton yarn – Some good options are: Sinfonia by Omega in Lilac or LionBrand 24/7 Cotton in Orchid)

Hook: Size K/10 ½ (6.5 mm)

Teardrop glass beads – 8 x 11mm (51)

Glass seed beads – 6/0 (51)

Beading needle (to fit through bead holes)

Sewing needle (to sew beads to shawl)

Matching sewing thread

(The pink shawl was crocheted with “Artiste” #8 Crochet Cotton purchased at Hobby Lobby)

Gauge:

4” across = 4 ch-5 sps worked in stitch pattern

Notes:

Shawl is worked from the bottom point and up by increasing gradually each row.

The edging and beads are added last.

(The beads are optional but they do help pull the shawl down to open up all the lacy stitches and help it to lay nicely around your shoulders)

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Special Stitches and Abbreviations:

Sl st (slip stitch) = Insert hook into st, YO, pull through stitch and loop on hook

Sc (single crochet) = Insert hk into st, YO, draw up a lp, YO, pull through 2 lps on hk

Dc (double crochet) = YO, insert hook into st, YO, draw up a loop, (YO, pull through 2 loops on hook) twice

Shell = 4 dc in stitch indicated

Tr (treble crochet) = YO twice, insert hook into st, YO, draw up a loop, (YO, pull through 2 loops on hook) 3 times

Dtr (double treble crochet) = YO three times, insert hook into st, YO, draw up a loop, (YO, pull through 2 loops on hook) 4 times

Ch-3 picot = ch 3, sl st in 1^st ch

Ch = chain;  

Sp = space

Hk = hook

Lp = loop

Sk = skip

RS = Right Side

Instructions for the Easy Crochet Shawl by Jennifer Ryan:

Special stitches are written in bold and italicized text and defined above

Row 1: 

Ch 4, 3 dc in 4^th ch from hook. Turn. (1 shell)

Row 2: 

Ch 9, sc in sp bet. 2^nd and 3^rd dc, ch 6, dc in turning chain. Turn. (2 ch-sps)

Row 3 (Right Side): 

Ch 3, 3 dc in same st, sc in next sp, ch 5, sc in next sp, shell in 7^th ch of last sp. Turn. (2 shells, 1 ch-sp)

Row 4: 

Ch 9, sc in sp bet 2^nd and 3^rd dc, ch 5, sc in next sp, ch 5, sc in sp bet 2^nd and 3^rd dc, ch 5, dc in turning chain. Turn. (4 ch-sps)

Row 5: 

Ch 3, 3 dc in same st, (sc in next sp, ch 5, sc in next sp, shell in next sc) across ending with shell in 7^th ch of last sp. Turn. (3 shells, 2 ch-sps)

Row 6: 

Ch 9, (sc in sp bet 2^nd and 3^rd dc, ch 5, sc in next sp, ch 5) across ending with ch 5, dc in turning ch. Turn. (6 ch-sps)

Rows 7-46: 

Repeat Rows 5 and 6 (46 ch-sps at end of Row 46)

Row 47: 

Ch 3, 2 dc in 1^st st, (sc in next ch-5 sp, ch 5, sc in next ch-5 sp, shell in next sc) across ending with 3 dc in turning chain. Turn.

Row 48: 

Ch 5, sc in bet 2^nd and 3^rd dc, (ch 5, sc in next ch-5 sp, ch 5, sc in bet next 2^nd and 3^rd dc) across ending with (ch 3, dc) in turning chain. Turn.

Rows 49:

Repeat Row 47 ending row with (ch 1, 2 dc in 3^rd ch of last ch-5 sp). Turn.

Row 50: 

Ch 1, sc in sp bet 1^st and 2^nd dc; (ch 5, sc in next ch-5 sp, ch 5, sc bet 2^nd and 3^rd dc) across ending with ch 5, sc in turning chain. Turn.

Row 51: 

Ch 1, sl st in 1^st 2 sts, sc in next st, (Shell in next sc, sc in next ch-5 sp, ch 5, sc in next ch-5 sp) across ending with sc in last sc. Turn.

Row 52:

Ch 5, sc in 1^st ch-5 sp, (ch 5, sc in bet 2^nd & 3^rd dc of next shell, ch 5, sc in next ch-5 sp) ending with sc in turning chain (which is the beg ch-1 of Row 51). Turn. (48 ch-sps)

Edging:

With Right Side facing, ch 1, sc in first sc, *(ch 2, tr, ch 2, dtr, ch 1, ch-3 picot, ch 1, dtr, ch 2, tr, ch 2) in next sc, sc in next sc*;

Repeat * to * across top of shawl;

Now working down side of shawl, [(ch 2, tr, ch 2, dtr, ch 1, ch-3 picot, ch 1, dtr, ch 2, tr, ch 2) in top side of next shell stitch, sc in top side of next shell stitch] across to bottom point;

At bottom point of shawl work (ch 2, tr, ch 2, dtr, ch 1, ch-3 picot, ch 1, dtr, ch 2, tr, ch 2); sc in ch sp next to shell at bottom point; Now working up last side of shawl, repeat [ ] ending with sl st to 1^st sc. Fasten off.

Finishing and Assembly:

Wet shawl completely with cold water – do not wring.

Roll up in a large clean towel and squeeze out excess water.

Unwrap and layout on new large towel on top of large piece of corrugated cardboard or blocking board.

Stretch shawl into the shape you want and pin each point along the edges – make sure to adjust pins to keep taut.

Let dry completely and then weave in ends.

With sewing thread and needle, sew beads on along edging on top of each ch-3 picot (see Diagram and photo above).

Your Easy Crochet Shawl is Complete!

Your Easy Crochet Shawl is complete! Did you decide to add the edging and the beads? I think the beads add a very classy and elegant touch to this shawl – every time I wear it I get many compliments. I hope you enjoyed making this project! If you think of it, please send along a photo – I would love to see your creation. 🙂

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Happy Crocheting!

Jennifer

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