Duo Shawl Free Crochet Pattern

It's that time of year when things are starting to warm up a bit in Utah. But spring in Utah is a bit like a yo-yo--up and down, up and down--like it's teasing us and making us believe things are really going to change. This is a fabulous time for a lightweight shawl to cover my shoulders and warm my neck when it's a bit chilly, but breathe during the warmer spells so I can go outside without a coat. 

So I made up a new shawl...

Here's how it came to be:

I had a couple of Scheepjes Whirls stashed waiting for inspiration for "just the right project". (You might know what this is all about.)

The yarn cake on the left is a cotton/acrylic ombre whirl in Tangerine Tambourine with a sublimely gentle fade. The cake on the right is a Woolly Whirl, cotton/wool in a colorway which is a bit atypical for me. I like brown--heck, I like all colors--but brown is usually my last go-to for some odd reason. But together--what a lovely pair!!

So off I went, pulling both colors from the inside. Honestly with these two I don't think it matters if you pull from the inside, outside or opposite ends--they are going to look pretty great together. And in honor of my Trio Blanket made with three Scheepjes Whirls, I named the end result of these two whirls my Duo Shawl.

So, if orange and brown are not your thing, how do you know which 2 whirls to use together? I follow #trioblanket on Instagram and am astonished that no matter what 3 whirls people use they always look magical together. Pick 2 that float your boat. Pick 2 that sing together. Pick 2 that are high contrast. Pick 2 that are ombre fading. Pick 2 that remind you of your grandmother. Pick 2 that are your favorite colors. Pick 2 that match your favorite coat. I don't think it matters as long as you like them.

I took a few photos of it on my dress form (affectionately named Mani) and had fun playing with different ways to wear it. Like a scarf...

Or for more warmth over the shoulders...

Or wrapped at an angle around the body to really give some shape...

And these are just a few ways. I like the versatility of the shape which starts as a rectangle at the base up to about 46" (117cm) and then begins decreasing to nearly a point. I suppose you could work it to an actual point if you start the decrease rows a couple of rows sooner, but I like the shape of it this way. You simply go until you run out of yarn. Gauge isn't super critical here, but to give you an idea of my gauge, in pattern I worked 4 shells X 10 rows = 4” (10cm) which gave me a shawl with dimensions of 27” (68.5cm) wide at base x 72” (183cm) long. It's substantial enough to cover your shoulders and even be work like a poncho, but drapey enough to wear like a scarf. And, bonus, only 4 ends for all this color!

So, let's get on with the pattern which I rated as easy since it is very repetitive and has only one possibly new-to-you stitch. That is a dc5tog, which is simply double crochet 5 together. That means you are working over 5 stitches to decrease them into one. I also included a shell.

dc5tog: (yarn over, insert your hook in the next st, yarn over and draw up a loop, yarn over and draw through two loops on hook) 5 times, yarn over and draw through all 6 loops on hook

shell: 5 dc in the same st

Here are the abbreviations used in the pattern (US terms):

ch(s) = chain(s)

dc = double crochet

rep(s) = repeat(s)

sc = single crochet

sk = skip

st(s) = stitch(es)

Materials:

• 2 Scheepjes Whirls in colors of your choice

• 3.5mm hook

• 2 locking stitch markers or safety pins

A couple notes about the pattern:

• The shawl is worked beginning at the base of the shawl in turning rows to a specified height before decreasing rows at one edge to a point or whenever you run out of yarn. (The sample ran out of yarn at 3½ 5-dc shells across.)

• Two differently colored yarns are worked in rows, first with color A across, then with color B in the same direction before turning and working with A across, then B, etc. You do not cut the yarn throughout.

• When instructed to drop Color A or B, remove hook from the working loop and place a locking stitch marker in the working loop of the dropped color so as not to lose it.

• The stitch pattern repeat is 6 + 4, so if you desire to change the width of the shawl, simply work your foundation ch in multiples of 6 to the desired width, then ch 4 more.

Shawl:

With A, ch 160 (6 X 26 reps = 156 + 4)

Row 1: 2 dc in 4th ch from hook (turning ch-3 counts as dc), *sk next 2 ch, sc in next ch, sk next 2 ch**, shell in next ch; rep from * across, ending last rep at **, 3 dc in last ch, drop A, do not turn (25 shells, 26 sc, 2 3-dc groups)

Row 2:  At opposite end, with B, join with sc in 3rd ch of turning ch, ch 2, *dc5tog, ch 2, sc in next dc**, ch 2; rep from * across, ending last rep at **, sc in last st, drop B, turn (26 dc5tog, 27 sc)

Row 3: Pick up A, ch 3 (counts as dc), 2 dc in the first sc, *sc in next dc5tog**, shell in next sc; rep from * across, ending last rep at **, 3 dc in last sc, drop A, do not turn (25 shells, 26 sc, 2 3-dc groups)

Row 4: Pick up B, ch 2, sc in 3rd ch of turning ch, ch 2, *dc5tog, ch 2, sc in next dc**, ch 2; rep from * across, ending last rep at **, drop B, turn (26 dc5tog, 27 sc)

Rep Rows 3 and 4 for 130 rows or until piece measures approximately 46” (117cm)

Decrease section:

Row 1: Pick up A, ch 3 (counts as dc), 2 dc in the first sc, * sc in next dc5tog**, shell in next sc, rep from * across, ending last rep at **, drop A, do not turn (25 shells, 26 sc, 1 3-dc group)

Row 2: Pick up B, ch 2, sc in 3rd ch of turning ch, *ch 2, dc5tog, ch 2, sc in next dc; rep from * across leaving last 3 sts unworked, drop B, turn (25 dc5tog, 26 sc)

Row 3: Pick up A, sk first st, sl st in next 2 unworked dc, sl st in next sc of previous row, ch 3 (counts as dc), 2 dc in same sc, *sc in next dc5tog, shell in next sc; rep from * across to last dc5tog, sc in last dc5tog, 3 dc in last sc, drop A, do not turn (24 shells, 25 sc, 2 3-dc groups)

Row 4: Pick up B, ch 2, sc in 3rd ch of turning ch, *ch 2, dc5tog, ch 2, sc in next dc; rep from * across, turn (25 dc5tog, 26 sc)

Rep Rows 1-4 ending at Row 3 rep until you run out of yarn or until you have 3 shells and 1 3-dc group remaining

Fasten off and weave in ends. Lightly block, as desired.

If you prefer an easier to print pattern that's stored where you can refer to it any time, you can purchase a PDF for a small fee in my shops.

Etsy

LoveCrochet 

And if you aren't lucky enough to have a couple of Scheepjes Whirls in your stash, click on the any of the names below:

Wool Warehouse* (UK)

Deramores* (UK)

Knotty House* (CA)

Black Sheep Wools* (UK)

Stitched Naturally (US)

Local Scheepjes Stockists

I've got so many exciting designs on my hook right now that I find myself bouncing back and forth between each of them and not getting any of them actually completed. Please tell me I'm not the only one who does this! (I do have 2 of them in time-out right now, however, while my brain works out the kinks.) So...stay tuned here, and on Facebook and Instagram for the newest colorful patterns. You can also pop into my Facebook group here and join with fellow crocheters. 

| On the Board | -- It's ok to be a glowstick; sometimes we need to break before we shine.

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