Shawls & Wraps Intermediate 4-6 hours Worsted yarn

Worked on the glider, counted out loud —

Easy triangle shawl with simple double crochet increases

A beginner-friendly triangle shawl worked from the center out. About 4-6 hours over several sittings, with just one increase pattern

Jump to the rounds

What this one is

You know that stretch of evening when the light goes soft and you want something in your hands but nothing that asks too much of your brain? This shawl is for that. It's for the person who wants a wrap they actually made themselves, something to pull over your shoulders on a cool porch or toss over the back of a chair, and it starts from nothing more than a small chain circle.

Your hands spend most of this project doing one thing on repeat: double crochet, row after row, with a chain-2 turn and a little peak at the center to mark the point of the triangle. The sample took 36 rows and about 4 skeins of medium weight yarn, but you're in charge of when to stop. Plan on a few sittings rather than one long one.

Try it another way

There's something genuinely satisfying about a shawl that grows from a single chain-5 circle into a full triangle, row by row, with nothing more complicated than double crochet and a chain-2 peak. You get to watch the shape declare itself early, usually by row 2, and after that it's just steady, meditative increasing along both edges and a widening V at the center. The 6.5mm hook and medium weight yarn move fast, so progress feels real from one sitting to the next. And because you decide when to stop, the piece never outruns your patience. It's the kind of make where the fabric does the talking and your hands just keep the rhythm going.

The rounds, in full

Written out, round by round

Intermediate4-6 hours6.5 mmWorsted

Bring to the porch

Everything this one takes, in the order you will reach for it.

  • Medium weight yarn approximately 4 skeins
  • 6.5 mm crochet hook
  • Yarn needle
  • Scissors

Foundation

  1. Foundation RingChain 5. Insert your hook into the first chain made. Slip stitch to form a small circle.

This circle will be the center point of the triangle shawl.

  1. Row 1Chain 2 to begin the row. Turn your work. Into the center circle, work 3 double crochets. Chain 2 to form the center peak of the triangle. Into the same center circle, work 3 more double crochets.At the end of this row, your work should resemble a small triangle with a chain space in the middle.
  2. Row 2Chain 2 and turn your work. In the very first stitch next to the chain, work 3 double crochets. Work 1 double crochet in each stitch across the row. Continue working until you reach the chain 2 space at the center of the triangle. Inside the chain 2 space, work 1 double crochet. Chain 2. Work 1 double crochet into the same chain space. Continue working 1 double crochet in each stitch across the row. When you reach the final stitch of the row, work 3 double crochets into that stitch.
  3. Row 3Chain 2 and turn your work. In the first stitch, work 3 double crochets. Work 1 double crochet in each stitch until reaching the center chain space. In the center chain space, work 1 double crochet. Chain 2. Work 1 double crochet into the same space. Continue with 1 double crochet in each stitch across the row. In the final stitch, work 3 double crochets.
  4. Row 4Chain 2 and turn. Work 3 double crochets in the first stitch. Work 1 double crochet in each stitch across the row. In the center chain space, work 1 double crochet. Chain 2. Work 1 double crochet into the same space. Continue working 1 double crochet in each stitch. Work 3 double crochets in the last stitch.
  5. Row 5Chain 2 and turn. Work 3 double crochets in the first stitch. Work 1 double crochet in each stitch until the center chain space. In the center chain space, work 1 double crochet. Chain 2. Work 1 double crochet into the same space. Work 1 double crochet in each stitch until the last stitch. Work 3 double crochets in the final stitch.
  6. Rows 6+Chain 2 and turn at the beginning of every row. Always work 3 double crochets in the first stitch. Always work 1 double crochet in each stitch until the center chain space. Always work 1 double crochet, chain 2, 1 double crochet in the center space. Always work 1 double crochet in each stitch until the last stitch. Always finish the row with 3 double crochets in the final stitch.Repeat these steps for every row until the shawl reaches your desired size.

Sizing Notes The shawl grows wider and longer with each row. You may stop crocheting at any row to adjust the size. Thicker yarn will create a heavier and warmer shawl. Lighter yarn will create a softer and more delicate drape. Color changes can be added at the beginning of any row.

Putting it together

Step 1

Continue crocheting until the shawl reaches your preferred width and length

Step 2

The sample shawl was completed with 36 rows using approximately 4 skeins of yarn

Step 3

Fasten off the yarn securely

Step 4

Use a yarn needle to weave in all loose ends neatly

Marlene's notes

Note 01

The chain-2 space at the center of every row is the heart of this pattern, so take a moment on each row to locate it before you start increasing again.

Note 02

Keep an eye on your tension through the first few rows, since a triangle shawl shows unevenness more than a scarf does.

Note 03

If you want to add a color change, do it at the start of a row rather than mid-row, and it will read cleanly against the triangle's straight edges.

Before you sit down

  • Check that you have all 4 skeins of medium weight yarn on hand before you start, especially if you're aiming for a shawl close to the 36-row sample size.
  • Make sure your 6.5mm hook is the one you reach for automatically, since this whole piece is worked at that gauge.
  • Read through Row 1 and Row 2 once before you pick up your hook, so the center chain space and the peak increase make sense the first time you meet them.
  • Set aside a stitch marker or scrap yarn to flag the center chain-2 space once you're several rows in, so you can find it quickly on every row after that.

How the hours go

Foundation circle and first two rows
about 15-20 minutes because you're getting used to working into the chain circle and finding the center peak
Building rows 3 through the mid-teens
about 1-2 hours because rows are still short and the increase pattern is settling into muscle memory
Growing to the full 36-row sample width
about 3-4 hours total because each row gets longer as the triangle widens

Looking after it

  • Hand wash your finished shawl in cool water with a gentle detergent, since medium weight yarns generally hold their shape better without a washing machine's agitation.
  • Lay it flat to dry, gently easing the triangle back into shape and smoothing the point at the center peak, then store it folded rather than hung so the shoulders don't stretch out of shape.
FAQs

Asked on the glider

the ones that come up on the glider

How much yarn do I actually need?

The sample shawl used approximately 4 skeins of medium weight yarn to reach 36 rows. If you plan to stop earlier for a smaller shawl, you'll need less.

Can I make this shawl smaller or bigger than the sample?

Yes, that's built into the pattern. You simply continue crocheting until the shawl reaches your preferred width and length, then fasten off.

What hook size does this pattern use?

You'll work the entire shawl with a 6.5mm crochet hook. There's no hook change anywhere in the pattern.

How do I know where the center of the triangle is on later rows?

Look for the chain-2 space formed at the center peak in Row 1, since every following row increases on either side of it. A stitch marker there makes it easy to spot at a glance.

Can I add stripes or change colors partway through?

Yes, color changes work best at the beginning of a row rather than in the middle. This keeps the transition clean along the shawl's straight edges.

Does the yarn weight affect how the shawl feels?

Yes, quite a bit. A thicker yarn than the medium weight called for gives you a heavier, warmer shawl, while a lighter yarn creates a softer, more delicate drape.