Design Story

I wanted to create a light, lacy, cover up for a cocktail dress or ball gown. I thought of summer nights when a lightweight shawl is enough to keep the evening chill at bay.

I wanted to keep the pattern relatively simple, as in my humble opinion, lace weight yarn isn't the easiest of yarns to work with, but the results are always exquisite. I tried a few of the traditional stitches and several hook sizes before deciding on the main pattern. Simple though it is, it came alive after blocking, I thought - this is just gorgeous!

Staying with the traditional stitch theme, the edging is a little more challenging in design, but as it is worked separately it is not as bulky as trying to add it on to the main body of the shawl.

I spent quite a while trying to think up a name for this design. I love old films from the 'vintage Hollywood' era, with stars such as David Niven, Errol Flynn, Jean Simmons, Audrey Hepburn, Olivia de Havilland - the list goes on! My absolute favourite, and for me the ultimate in glamour, is Marilyn Monroe. I hope this is a fitting tribute, and I would like to think this is something she would have worn.

Materials

Filatura di Crosa Centolavaggi, 100% wool, 1400 metres (1530 yards) per 100 gm skein. (Now discontinued, this is a standard lace weight yarn).
1 skein shade 321

5.50 mm (I) hook (for main body of shawl)
3.00 mm (E) hook (for plain edging of shawl)
4.00 mm (G) hook (for lace edging of shawl)

Abbreviations

(US crochet terms are shown in brackets, in red)

sp - space
st - stitch
ch - chain
dc (sc) - double crochet (single crochet)
tr (dc) - treble (double crochet)
Orange Text - Indicates an amendment to the pattern has been made since first published.

Finished Dimensions

162 cm x 41 cm (64 inches x 16 inches) after blocking but not including decorative edging.

Pattern

Main body of shawl

Using 5.50 mm (I) hook make 88 ch.

Foundation row: 1tr (dc) into 5th ch from hook, * 2ch, skip 5ch, 4tr (dc) into next ch **; 2ch, 1tr (dc) into next ch; rep from * ending last rep at ** in last ch, turn.

Next and every subsequent row: 4ch, 1tr (dc) into first st, 2ch, skip (4tr (dc), 2ch and 1tr (dc)), Work (4tr (dc), 2ch 1tr (dc)) into next 2ch sp, * 2ch skip (4tr (dc) 2ch and 1tr (dc)) **, work (4tr (dc), 2ch, 1tr (dc)) into next 2ch sp. Rep from * ending last rep at **, 4tr (dc) into turning ch, turn.

When 116 rows (or length required) have been worked from beginning, fasten off.

Please note: When shawl was completed using the yarn stated, there was still yarn left to make the shawl longer if necessary.

Pin out shawl and lightly block. At this stage shawl should measure approximately 58.5cm x 188cm (23 inches x 74 inches).

Straight edging

Using 3 mm (E) hook, work 1 row of dc (sc) evenly along the two longest sides of shawl.

Lace Edging (worked separately)

(Make 2)
Using 4 mm (G) hook make 93 ch

Row 1 (RS): Work 1tr (dc) into 4th ch from hook, 1tr (dc) into each ch to end, turn.

Row 2: 1ch, 1dc (sc) into each of first 3tr (dc), * 2ch miss 2tr (dc)

Row 3: 1ch, 1dc (sc) into each of first 2dc (sc), * 3ch, miss next 2ch space, into next 2ch space work (3tr, (dc), 2ch, 3tr (dc)), 3ch miss 1dc (sc), 1dc (sc) into each of next 3dc (sc); rep from * to end omitting 1dc (sc) at end of last rep, turn.

Row 4: 1ch, 1dc (sc) into first dc (sc), * 4ch, miss next 3ch space, into next 2ch space work (4tr (dc), 2ch, 4tr (dc)), 4ch, miss 1dc,(sc), 1 dc (sc) into next dc (sc); rep from * to end, turn.

Row 5: 1dc (sc) into first dc (sc), * 5ch, miss next 4ch space, into next 2ch space work (4tr (dc), 2ch, 4tr (dc)) 5ch, 1dc (sc) into next dc (sc); rep from* to end. Fasten off.

Making up

Place shawl and lace edging with right sides together. Using a sewing needle with a large eye, overstitch edging to shawl. (Do not stitch too tightly as edging will be slightly stretched for final blocking).

Darn in ends and lightly block edging to finish.

This pattern is not to be used commercially or to be resold.  Copyright © Catherine Wilson (Aruba Blue) 2008