Mar
Starting With The Actual Pattern Part
So basically when I made my first real shawl that actually worked out it was spring 2022 and I was just sitting around thinking I needed something bigger than another dishcloth. The triangle shawl is honestly where you wanna start because you’re literally just increasing on every row or every other row depending on what you pick. You start with like 4 chains, then you work into those chains to make a little triangle point, and from there you just keep adding stitches at specific points.
The pattern I used wasn’t even really a pattern it was more like a concept? You chain 4, slip stitch to connect into a ring (or you can do that magic circle thing but I never got good at those until way later). Then you chain 3 which counts as your first double crochet, do 2 more double crochets in the ring, chain 2, then 3 more double crochets, chain 2, and 3 more double crochets. That makes your starting triangle with three sections.
The Basic Triangle Increase Thing
Every row after that you’re gonna chain 3 and turn your work. Then you do 3 double crochets in each chain-2 space from the previous row, but you also add chain-2 spaces in the same spots. So you work along the edge doing double crochets in each stitch, and when you hit those chain spaces you do 3 double crochet, chain 2, 3 double crochet all in that one space. The corners and center point get the same treatment.
I used Red Heart Super Saver for that first one because it was cheap and I didn’t trust myself not to mess it up. The color was called Soft White but it looked kind of cream colored in certain light which actually worked out fine. It took me like three weeks because I kept putting it down to watch The Office for the millionth time and my cat Eddie kept trying to attack the working yarn.
Granny Stripe Shawl Version
This one is even easier honestly and it’s just making a really long granny stripe rectangle. You chain a long starting chain, like 200+ chains depending on how wide you want it. Then you just work granny clusters back and forth. A granny cluster is 3 double crochets in the same stitch or space, skip 2 stitches, then another cluster. You chain 3 at the start of each row and it counts as part of your first cluster.
The annoying thing about this method is counting that initial chain because I always lost count around 150 and had to start over. Like why is counting chains so difficult when you’re actually trying to focus on it but somehow you can count to 100 stitches in a row without thinking when you’re doing literally anything else.
I made one of these in summer 2024 using Caron Simply Soft in that Plum Wine color and it actually turned out really nice for just wearing around the house when the AC was too high. You can make it in stripes too by changing colors every couple rows. Just carry the yarn up the side if you’re doing even stripes or weave in ends if you’re doing random colors.
How Long To Make These Things
For the triangle shawl you just keep going until you run out of yarn or until it’s big enough to wrap around your shoulders comfortably. I usually aim for like 60 inches across the top edge which takes forever but looks decent. You can try it on as you go which sounds obvious but I didn’t think to do that until I’d made like four shawls that were weird sizes.
The granny stripe one should be like 60-70 inches long and maybe 20 inches wide? But honestly just eyeball it. Fold it in half diagonally and see if it drapes okay over your shoulders.
Yarn Weights And Hook Sizes That Work
Most beginner shawls work best with worsted weight yarn (that’s the medium weight number 4 on the label). Use a hook that’s bigger than what the yarn label recommends, like if it says 5mm try a 6mm or even 6.5mm. This makes the fabric drapey instead of stiff and dense. Nobody wants a stiff shawl that stands up on its own like cardboard.
I’ve used Lion Brand Wool-Ease for a couple shawls and it’s nice because it has some acrylic mixed with the wool so it’s not scratchy and you can actually wash it. The Fisherman colorway is good if you want something neutral. Bernat Softee Chunky works too if you want it to work up faster but then you need like an 8mm hook and it gets kinda bulky.
For your first one though just get Red Heart or Caron from Walmart or wherever because you’re gonna make mistakes and it’s better to mess up cheap yarn. I’m not trying to sound negative but like… you’re learning and that’s just reality.
The V-Stitch Shawl Pattern
This is another simple one that looks fancier than it is. V-stitch is just double crochet, chain 1, double crochet all in the same stitch. You start with a chain (again with the long starting chains ugh) and then work rows of v-stitches. Each v-stitch goes into the chain-1 space of the v-stitch from the previous row.
So you chain like 180 or whatever, then Row 1 is: chain 3, skip 2 chains, (dc, ch1, dc) in next chain, skip 2 chains, repeat across. Then chain 3 and turn. Row 2 is: (dc, ch1, dc) in each chain-1 space across. Just repeat row 2 forever until it’s long enough.
I made this version during that whole breakup situation in fall 2022 and honestly just having something repetitive to do with my hands helped. Used some yarn I already had lying around, I think it was Hobby Lobby’s I Love This Yarn in a gray color. That yarn is fine, it’s acrylic and kinda squeaky but soft enough.
Handling Yarn Ends Because There Are So Many
Every time you start or finish you’re gonna have ends to weave in. Get a yarn needle (the plastic ones are fine) and weave the end through the stitches on the wrong side of the work. Go through like 5-6 stitches in one direction then back through 5-6 stitches in another direction so it’s locked in. Trim it close but not too close or it might work loose.
If you’re changing colors weave them in as you go instead of leaving them all til the end. I made that mistake once and had like 30 ends to weave in and wanted to throw the whole thing away.
The Moss Stitch Rectangle Shawl
Moss stitch is super simple, it’s single crochet and chain 1 alternating. You start with an even number of chains plus 2. Row 1: single crochet in 2nd chain from hook, chain 1, skip next chain, single crochet in next chain, chain 1, skip next chain… keep going. Row 2: chain 1 and turn, single crochet in first chain-1 space, chain 1, single crochet in next chain-1 space, chain 1… repeat.
Every row is the same after that. You’re putting single crochets in the chain spaces and chaining 1 between them. It makes a nice textured fabric that’s not too holey. Works great with variegated yarn because the texture shows off the color changes.
I used Paintbox Yarns Simply Chunky for one of these and it was really pretty but also that yarn is kind of splitty and annoyed me the whole time. The color was called Champagne Cream or something fancy like that.
Edge Finishing Options
You can just leave the edges as-is honestly, like if you did granny clusters the edges are already kinda scalloped and cute. But if you want to add a border you can do a round of single crochet all the way around to even things out, then maybe a round of shells (like 5 double crochets in one stitch, skip 2, single crochet, skip 2, repeat).
For corners you need to add extra stitches so it lays flat. Usually do 3 single crochets or (single crochet, chain 2, single crochet) in each corner stitch. If it’s ruffling you put too many stitches, if it’s cupping you didn’t put enough.
Blocking And Why People Make A Big Deal About It
Blocking is when you wet the finished piece and pin it out to dry in the shape you want. For acrylic yarn it doesn’t matter that much honestly, like it helps but acrylic doesn’t really block the same way wool does. If you used wool or a wool blend you should block it because it makes such a difference in how it drapes.
Get it damp (some people soak it, I usually just spray it with water), lay it flat on towels or a blocking mat if you have one (I don’t), pin the edges with rust-proof pins to stretch it out, and let it dry. Takes like a day or two depending on how humid it is.
I only block things if I’m giving them as gifts or if they look really wonky. For something I’m just wearing around the house? Nah.
Half Granny Square Shawl Thing
This sounds complicated but it’s not. You’re basically making a granny square but only working back and forth in rows instead of in the round. Start with chain 4, slip stitch to join. Chain 3, 2 double crochet in ring, chain 2, 3 double crochet in ring. That’s your starting corner.
Chain 3 and turn. Work (3 dc, chain 2, 3 dc) in that chain-2 space. That’s row 2. Row 3: chain 3 and turn, 3 dc in the space before the corner (the space between the first cluster and second cluster from previous row), then (3 dc, chain 2, 3 dc) in corner space, then 3 dc in the space after the corner. You’re adding clusters on the sides of the corner each row.
Keep going like that and it makes a triangle that has that granny square look but… triangular. I used Bernat Blanket yarn for this once which was way too thick and it came out looking like a carpet but it was warm at least.
Dealing With Tension Issues
If your stitches are too tight your hands are gonna hurt and the fabric will be stiff. If they’re too loose it’s gonna be floppy and holey. You want it somewhere in the middle where the hook slides through easily but the stitches aren’t sliding all over the place.
The way you hold your hook and yarn affects this. I hold the hook like a knife (some people hold it like a pencil) and I wrap the yarn around my pinky and over my index finger to control the tension. Just crochet a bunch and your hands will figure out what works. There’s not really a shortcut for this part it just takes practice.
Color Changing Strategies
If you wanna do stripes you change colors at the end of a row by doing the last stitch until there’s 2 loops on your hook, then pull through with the new color. Drop the old color and continue with new. You can cut the old color and weave in ends or carry it up the side if you’re alternating the same two colors.
Carrying yarn up the side: just leave it hanging and when you get back to that side twist the working yarn around the carried yarn before you start the next row. This traps it along the edge so it’s not flopping around.
I made a striped shawl with like five different colors once and it was so many ends to weave in that I almost gave up halfway through. Used random colors of Vanna’s Choice that I had in my stash. That yarn is pretty good actually, nice and soft and not splitty.
How Long This Actually Takes
Depends on how much time you have and how fast you crochet but like… a worsted weight triangle shawl probably takes 15-20 hours total? That’s spread out over weeks for most people who have jobs and stuff. The granny stripe version is faster, maybe 10-12 hours because granny clusters work up quick.
If you’re using chunky yarn you can finish in a weekend if you really commit to it. But also your hands might hurt from working a big hook for hours so take breaks.
Mistakes You’ll Probably Make And How To Fix Them
Losing count of your increases on the triangle shawl is so common. If you notice one side is longer than the other you missed an increase somewhere. You can either frog back (rip it out back to where the mistake is) or just fake an increase by working extra stitches into the shorter side on the next row.
Accidentally adding or dropping stitches in the middle of a row happens too. If your stitch count seems off just eyeball where it looks wrong and adjust. For a simple shawl it usually doesn’t matter that much unless it’s really obviously wonky.
Twisted starting chains are annoying, like when you start working into your foundation chain and realize it’s twisted. Just start over, it’s not worth trying to work with a twisted foundation because it’ll bug you forever.
