My mother sat me down when I was eight years old and taught me to crochet. She said all the girls of her generation had to learn. I was eager. She showed me the stitches she knew. I made edgings on muslin squares that I had embroidered (also learned from her). The handkerchiefs made gifts for our friends and relatives.
I bought a crochet book in the early 70s when shawls were popular. Many different styles were offered to the crocheting community. This shawl is easy. You can modify it any way you like. You can even turn it into a poncho.
Use different yarns and crochet hook sizes to change the look of the shawl.
You will need:
· Worsted weight yarn
· Crochet hook size G or H
· Scissors
· Measuring tape
· Pencil and paper
If you do not know how to crochet, many websites offer free instructions. Find a friend at work or church who will teach you for free or in exchange for say, babysitting or something else.
You will need to understand what gauge is in crochet. It is how many stitches equal one inch and how many rows equal one inch. You will be using simple math to figure how many stitches you need.
Step One:
Decide how long you want your shawl to be.
Chain the number of stitches you need. For example, if I want a 50″ wide shawl and my gauge is 8 st. = 1 inch, then I need 400 stitches.
Your gauge will change with the size of yarn and hooks and how tightly or loosely you crochet.
For this shawl, your total number of stitches should be divisible by three.
Step Two:
Chain six, count three stitches from the hook and double crochet. *Chain three, count three stitches and double crochet* repeat the pattern between the * *’s to the end. Chain six, turn the work and repeat. Your double crochet stitches should be on top of each other.
This creates a filet look.
Count the number of rows that equal one inch. You now know how many rows you will need to make the shawl as wide as you need. I like my shawls to be about 24″ wide.
When you reach the size of shawl you want, finish off your work and weave the ends in.
Step Three:
You will need a stretching board, mattress, pegboard or other type of frame. You can pin a sheet to the wall or frame and make sure it is tight. Dampen the shawl. Stretch the shawl to the dimensions you desired. It should be rectangular. Allow it to completely dry. It will retain the shape when you remove it. This process is known as blocking.
You can embellish your work with tassels, crochet an edging around the shawl or leave it plain. For other ideas:
· Instead of making one double crochet, make two or three.
· You can vary the spacing of the double crochet for a modernistic look.
· Use metallic yarns, shiny, multi-colored or homespun for completely different looks using the same pattern.
· For a shawl that looks far more difficult than it is, use size 30 crochet cotton and a size 0 hook.
· *Double crochet three in one stitch, chain one and repeat from* to end. On the next row, place the double crochet in the single chain stitch and chain three over the “fan.” This is a stunningly beautiful pattern.
Your shawl may be simple, but the recipient will absolutely love the fact that you sat down and made something just for her.
Boys and men can crochet, too. It is manly. In fact, crochet started because fishermen made their nets with crochet. It’s true. The stitch is called “Fisherman’s Knot.”
Source: The author of this article has over 40 years of experience in diverse forms of DIY, home improvement and repair, crafting, designing, and building furniture, outdoor projects, RV’ing and more.
