I wanted to make something beautiful for my Sweetie’s Aunt Janice and thought a shawl would be perfect. She lives in the mountains of Virginia, and even when you’re inside this time of year, you can get chilled. I also loved the idea of a prayer shawl or comfort shawl. It all begins with the crocheter…thinking of the person you’re making it for, sending prayers, blessings or positive energy. Then you give it with love, and the receiver feels that love every time she wraps it around her shoulders! She can use it as prayer or meditation aid, a reminder that she’s loved and treasured, or just as a plain shawl to keep her warm! I decided on a rectangular shape so that it’s totally versatile and doesn’t get tangled when she moves around.
This shawl uses a very common stitch pattern called the Tulip stitch. The rhythm (3 chains, 3 double crochets) is very meditative! This is perfect for letting your mind focus on the person you’re making it for as your hands do the work! Now every time she wraps it around her shoulders, it’s like she’s getting a great big hug from my Sweetie and me!
This pattern can easily be adapted to a smaller or larger wrap, a scarf or even a blanket. Just follow the chain instructions below to alter the width.
I’m not crazy about a straight edge on a shawl or blanket, so I added a border of tulip stitch all the way around. It gives the finished product a nice, lacy edge.
Here at Between My Fingers, we don’t have a big budget for models, but for this post, we were fortunate enough to have a celebrity model this shawl! Janice was crowned Miss Bituminous in 1945 when she was 18 years old. I think you’ll agree that she looks just as pretty today as she did back then!
What You’ll Need:
- 825 yards of dk weight yarn. I used Cascade Ultra Pima in teal. You can definitely make this shorter and use 3 skeins.
- Crochet Hook Size H (5.0 mm)
- Yarn Needle to weave in ends
Gauge
- 4 ¼ clusters and 7 rows = 4”
- My finished project measured 70” long and 17” wide
Abbreviations
- ch = chain
- dc = double crochet
- sk = skip
- sc = single crochet
- st = stitch
- sts = stitches
- ss = slip stitch
Pattern
If you have any questions about the pattern, take a look at the Hug for Janice Tutorial
Ch 73 (If you’d like to change the width, chain a multiple of 4 + 5)
- Row 1 – 3 dc in 5th ch from hook. Sk 3 ch. 1 sc in next ch. *Ch 3, 3 dc in same ch as sc, sk 3 ch, 1 sc in next ch* Repeat to end. Turn
- Row 2 – ch 4. 3 dc in 1st ch of ch 4. *Sk 3 dc; (1 sc, ch 3, 3 dc) in ch 3 space.* Repeat to end. Work a sc in ch-4 space. Turn.
- Rows 3 – 120 – Repeat row 2
- Border
- At end of last row do not turn. (ch 3, 3 dc, sc, ch 3, 3 dc) in same st as last sc. *(sc, ch 3, 3 dc) in each ch-space along the edge. * Sk sts between ch-spaces. Repeat along edge.
- In last ch-space on side, place 2 clusters by (sc, ch 3, 3 dc, sc, ch 3, 3 dc) in last ch-space.
- *(sc, ch 3, 3 dc)* in each unused loop of beginning ch. In last unused loop, place 2 clusters by (sc, ch 3, 3 dc, sc, ch 3, 3 dc) in last unused loop.
- *(sc, ch 3, 3 dc)* in each ch-space along side, sk sts between ch- spaces. Repeat along edge.
- Finish by placing (sc, ch 3, 3 dc) in same st as first cluster on last full row of shawl. ss to bottom of ch in that first st to complete round.
Finish off. Weave in ends.
Block as needed. With this yarn, I didn’t even need to block it! Bonus!!!
Please post your projects on Ravelry and link to the pattern so I can see what you’ve done!