Comfort for Cara Shawl

Several years ago I taught a local crochet class in which we all crocheted a prayer shawl. Everyone did a great job with their project and several students went on to make many more for friends and family who needed a “crochet hug”.

Since then I have wanted to publish the pattern here and make a video tutorial to go with it -and today’s the day that the pattern is available!

**UPDATE! The step-by-step video tutorial is also available now – just click here to watch on my Youtube Channel **

Cara = friend

This prayer shawl is called: The Comfort for Cara Shawl

“Cara” is the word for friend in Gaelic – just the person who would appreciate a beautiful shawl made by you!

The shawl is crocheted with Lion Brand’s Shawl in a Ball yarn (2 skeins needed) and uses a pretty stitch I am calling the “Cluster Lattice” stitch. It also features a large and lacy scallop edging. This project can be worn as a shawl or a scarf – both look pretty especially with this particular yarn.

Let’s get started!

Skill Level: Intermediate

Measurements:

Without edging before blocking: 14″ wide x 63 1/2″ long (approximately)

Edging adds about 3 ” all around (so total measurements would be: 20″ w x 69 1/2″ l)

Supplies:

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Lion Brand Shawl in a Ball – 2 skeins

J/6 mm crochet hook

Yarn needle

Optional: Blocking board, towels and pins

Abbreviations:

YO (yarn over)

Hk (hook)

Lp (loop)

Ch (chain)

St (stitch)

Sp (space)

Sc (single crochet)

Sl st (slip stitch)

Dc (double crochet)

Hdc (half double crochet)

Tr (treble crochet)

Special Stitches:

2tr CL (2 treble cluster) = [YO twice, insert hk into next st, YO, draw up a lp, (YO, pull through 2 lps on hk) twice] twice; YO, pull through all 3 lps on hk

3tr CL (3 treble cluster) = [YO twice, insert hk into next st, YO, draw up a lp, (YO, pull through 2 lps on hk) twice] three times; YO, pull through all 4 lps on hk

Get Access:

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Here is the video tutorial:

Notes:

Shawl is worked back and forth in rows

Then the edging is added around entire rectangle of shawl (in 4 rounds)

Crochet Instructions for the Comfort for Cara Prayer Shawl:

(Special Stitches are written in bold and italicized text and defined above)

Ch 55

Row 1: Dc in 4th ch from hk and in each ch across. Turn. (53 dc)

Row 2: Ch 4, tr in next st, ch 1; (sk each of next 4 sts, 2tr CL in next st, ch 4, sl st in same st (at base of cluster just made), ch 4) across 8 times; sk each of next 4 sts, 3tr CL in next st, ch 3, sk each of next 3 sts, tr in last dc and in turning chain. Turn. (9 clusters)

Row 3: Ch 4, tr in next st, ch 1; (2tr CL in next cluster, ch 4, sl st in same st (in which cluster was just made), ch 4) across to last cluster; 3tr CL in last cluster, ch 3, tr in next tr and in turning chain. Turn.

Repeat Row 3 until shawl measures approximately 60″ long for a total of 63 rows of the Special Stitch (which is a total of 64 rows including row 1 of dcs)

-If you would like to make yours a different length than mine, just make sure your total number of rows is a multiple of 3 plus 2 –

Row 65: Ch 1, sl st in 1st st, ch 1, sl st in next st; ch 3, sl st in top of next cluster; (ch 5, sl st in top of next cluster) across to last cluster; ch 3, sl st in next tr, ch 1, sl st in turning chain. Turn.

Row 66: Ch 3, dc in next st; dc in each ch and cluster st across. Do not fasten off. (51 dcs)

*Please note that you will have 2 less stitches in the last row than you did ending the first row – this in intentional**

Edging:

Round 1: Now working down long side of shawl, sc in side of 1st st; (ch 5, sc in side of each st where rows meet) – you should have 65 ch-5 sps from corner to corner; Now working along short side of shawl, sc in 1st st, (ch 5, sk next st, sc in next st) twice; (ch 5, sk each of next 2 sts, sc in next st) across 12 times up to last 4 sts; (ch 5, sk next st, sc in next st) twice – you should have a total of 18 ch-5 lps from corner to corner; Now work down other long side of shawl as worked for first long side of shawl; For last short side of shawl, sc in 1st st, (ch 5, sk next st, sc in next st) twice; (ch 5, sk each of next 2 sts, sc in next st) across 14 times.

**Take time to count your ch-5 loops for each side of the shawl – having the correct amounts will ensure that the rest of the edging will work out nicely (65 ch-5 sps for long sides; 18 ch-5 sps for short sides)

**Remember, you may need to vary the amount of stitches you skip on the short sides to make sure you get the correct number; For the long sides you can always sc in between the rows to add more ch-5 sps**

Round 2: Ch 1, sl st in each of next 3 chs, ch 1, sc in same ch-5 sp; *ch 5, sc in next sp;

{ [ch 1, (tr, ch 1) 6 times in next ch-5 sp, sc in next ch-5 sp, ch 5, sc in next ch-5 sp] }across to next corner; ch 5, sc in next sp (which is the first ch-5 sp of next short side); ch 5, sc in next sp;

Work { } 2 times; sk next ch-5 sp; [ch 1 (tr, ch 1) 6 times] in next sc; sc in next ch-5 sp, ch 5, sc in next ch-5 sp; Work { } 2 times *– now you are at the end of the first short side;

Repeat * to * across next long and short sides; ch 5, sl st in first sc of round.

**The ch 1 (tr, ch 1) 6 times creates each large scallop – you should have 21 along each long side and 5 along each short side once this round is complete**

Round 3: Ch 1, sl st in each of the next 3 chs; ch 1, sc in same sp; *[ch 2, (tr in next tr, ch 2) 6 times; sc in next ch-5 sp] across to corner; (ch 5, sc in next ch-5 sp) twice; *

Repeat * to * around ending with sl st to first sc.

Round 4: (For this round you will be working in the ch-2 sps only and not working into any sts – except one time at each corner)

Ch 1, sc in next ch-2 sp; *[(sc, ch 3, sc) in each of the next 5 ch-2 sps; sc in each of the next 2 ch-2 sps] to next corner; Once at corner only work 1 sc at end of scallop; Then work: (sc, ch 3, sc) twice in next ch-5 sp; (sc, ch 3, sc) in next sc; (sc, ch 3, sc) twice in next ch-5 sp; sc in next ch-2 sp; *

Repeat * to * around ending with sl st in first sc of round. Fasten off.

Finishing:

I highly recommend wet blocking this project

To do this follow these steps:

1. Wet shawl so soaked through with cold water
2. Roll shawl in clean towel and press out excess water
3. Lay shawl out on blocking board (foam board, cardboard) with a dry clean towel on top of the board
4. Pull out all stitches and edging so spacing even – use pins if desired to keep stitches in place
5. Let dry completely overnight

And that’s it – Your Comfort for Cara Shawl is finished!

I hope you enjoyed crocheting this project – remember, you can find all of my FREE crochet patterns

here and some more shawl patterns here.

Happy crocheting!

Jennifer

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