Michelle The City Lights Crochet Shawl Pattern offers the perfect blend of elegance and creativity! With its sweeping boomerang shape, this shawl reduces bulk and drapes gracefully, making it as cozy as it is beautiful!
There’s something magical about creating just for yourself, especially in those quiet moments you get to steal for a bit of ‘me time’, in amongst all our other mum duties! Picture yourself wrapping it around your shoulders on a cool winter’s morning – your own hand-crafted bit of luxury, ready to set you up for the day!
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Pattern Overview
The City Lights boomerang crochet shawl combines straightforward stitches with a touch of texture, creating a make that is both mindful and engaging. The foundation of this design is the light and airy half double crochet v-stitch which gives the shawl fantastic drape and openness, allowing the fabric to settle comfortably around your shoulders.
In between these more open sections you’ll work the fun star stitch which adds a touchable pop of texture to the design. The variety of stitches keeps the pattern interesting without being overwhelming, and the plainer sections in between the decorative elements offer a refreshing change of pace throughout, making this project extremely enjoyable from start to finish!
Crochet Shawl Styling Suggestions
Once your crochet shawl is complete, the styling possibilities with a boomerang shaped asymmetric shawl are numerous! Here are some quick ideas to help you get the most out of this versatile piece:
In front
Style 1: Hold one side of the shawl in each hand with the centre point hanging downwards in front of you. Lay the centre point over your torso, wrapping each end behind your neck and around like a scarf, bringing both edges around to drape naturally over your torso. Adjust as needed, and feel free to experiment with which color section is on top, or even making one side longer than the other! This relaxed style is great for throwing on quickly and keeping you warm, while perfectly showcasing the different colors.
Style 2: Before putting the shawl on, tie a double knot in the ends. Place the looped shawl around your neck, positioning the knot on one shoulder.
Behind
Style 3: Hold the shawl behind you, and wrap each side around your shoulders. Take one side and secure it to the opposite shoulder with a shawl pin or brooch, such as either of the two suggestions below, both available from Amazon. (Simply click on the images below to view the products.) This look is perfect for an evening out, showcasing the elegant textures.
Style 4: Also holding the shawl behind you, bring the sides around your shoulders to the front and tie them in a loose overhand knot to help it stay in place. You could also try this method with rolling the shawl into a long skinny tube first.
Style 5: Go for a vintage look and style your shawl as a shrug! With the shawl behind you, bring the sides over your shoulders and then under each arm. Tie the tails together behind you at your waist.
Yarn Details
The City Lights crochet shawl calls for a yarn I’ve always wanted to try; Gloss Fingering from We Crochet, an ideal choice for a lightweight yet warm finish.
This yarn is a blend of Merino Wool and Silk, giving it both softness and durability. The Merino Wool keeps the shawl warm and comfortable, while the Silk adds a lovely sheen, enhancing the visual appeal. Both fibers have amazing qualities that contribute to the overall luxurious feel!
With a smooth finish, Gloss Fingering glides off your hook making every stitch a pleasure, and the saturated color options ensure you’ll want to wear your finished crochet shawl everywhere!
If you’re eager to explore other yarn options, please see below substitution recommendations to suit difference preferences and budgets.
Yarn Substitutions
- We Crochet Comfy Fingering, a lightweight Cotton available in a variety of colors
- We Crochet Chroma Fingering, a superwash Merino and Nylon blend in a color-changing single-ply yarn
- We Crochet Hawthorne Fingering, a blend of superwash Wool and Nylon, kettle-dyed for a wonderful vareigated option
Supplies and Pattern Information
Yarn:
Fingering (size 1) yarn, in 4 colors (Plume, Harvest, Navy and Pine used in sample)
Yardage:
Color 1 (Plume): 220 yds
Color 2 (Harvest): 330 yds
Color 3 (Navy): 220 yds
Color 4 (Pine): 440 yds
Crochet Hook:
4 mm (US G-6) We Crochet Dots hooks, or hook size needed to obtain gauge.
Gauge: worked over 4×4 in / 10×10 cm
18 sts x 16 rows in hdc, lightly blocked.
Notions:
Yarn needle (for weaving in ends)
Scissors
Stitch markers – Optional, but very helpful
Tape measure
Skill Level and Techniques used:
This crochet shawl pattern is designated as ‘Intermediate’, which are patterns designed to expand your crochet skills. The pattern assumes familiarity with basic crochet stitches as well as increasing and decreasing, and the ability to identify parts of stitches to help with slightly unusual stitch placements – Need some help? Join the Tales of Knots Facebook Community to ask any questions!
Abbreviations (US crochet terms used in pattern):
beg = beginning
C1 (2, 3, 4) = Color 1 (2, 3, 4)
ch(s) = chain(s)
dc = double crochet
dc2tog = double crochet 2 stitches together
hdc = half double crochet
incl = including
prev = previous
RS = right side
sc = single crochet
sk = skip
sp(s) = space(s)
star st = star stitch – see Special Stitches below
st(s) = stitch(es)
stsc = stacked single crochet – see Special Stitches below
v-st = v stitch – see Special Stitches below
WS = wrong side
yo = yarn over
Special Stitches
Beginning Star Stitch (beg star): inserting hook in second post of dc2tog just made, pull up 2 loops through the post, pull up a loop in st at base of dc2tog just made, pull up a loop in each of next 2 sts, (6 loops on hook), yo and pull through all 6 loops, ch 1 to close st and create eyelet.
Star Stitch (star st): pull up a loop in eyelet of star st just made, pull up a loop through the back of the last leg of star st just made, pull up a loop in st at base of last leg of star st just made, pull up a loop in each of next 2 sts, (6 loops on hook), yo and pull through all 6 loops, ch 1 to close st and create eyelet.
Stacked Single Crochet (stsc): ch 1, sc in first st. [Insert hook in left vertical ‘leg’ of sc just made, yo and pull up a loop. Yo and pull through both loops] twice. Counts as a dc.
Modified V-Stitch (modified v-st): (dc, ch 1, hdc) in indicated st or sp.
V-Stitch (v-st): (hdc, ch 1, hdc) in indicated st or sp.
Schematic and Finished Measurements
Pattern Notes
The City Lights shawl is a boomerang-shaped asymmetric crochet shawl, worked from one point to the opposite edge in 7 sections.
Turning chains at the beginning of a row do not count as a stitch, aside from in Row 1, as noted in pattern.
Chain spaces worked within the row are included in the total stitch count for that row.
Both total stitch counts and counts for specific stitch patterns, such as v-stitches, are given at the end of the row to help with keeping track of your stitch counts.
(For specific stitch pattern counts, both v-stitches (hdc, ch 1, hdc) and modified v-stitches (dc, ch 1, hdc) are counted as v- stitches.)
V-stitches are worked into the center chain-space, when working them into another v-stitch or modified v-stitch below.
Specific stitch placements in italics are occasionally featured in the row where helpful.
Multiple stitches within parentheses ( ) are worked into the same stitch or space.
Instructions following an asterisk * are repeated across a row.
Instructions between brackets [ ] are worked the total number of times specified.
Pattern is written in crochet shorthand; 2dc means to work 2 double crochet stitches into the same stitch.
Video Tutorial
Coming Soon!
City Lights Crochet Shawl Pattern Directions
Rows 13-42:
Repeat Rows 7-12 an additional 5 times, changing to C2 on every Row 12 repeat (Rows 18, 24, 30, 36, and 42) – Do not fasten off C2 at end of Row 42.
(85 sts, incl. 27 v-sts) – Increase of 4 v-sts (12 sts total) for every 6-row repeat.
Section 2:
Section 2 Pattern Repeat starts from here; the next 6-row repeat is similar to the previous repeat, with the introduction of a row of eyelets.
Row 43 (RS): With C2
Ch 2, dc2tog over first 2 sts, hdc in next st, v-st in center ch-sp of each v-st across, (hdc, 2dc) in last st, turn.
(86 sts, incl. 27 v-sts)
Row 44 (WS):
Stsc in first st, (dc, ch 1, hdc) in next st, v-st in next st, v-st in center ch-sp of each v-st across, dc2tog over last 2 sts, turn.
(89 sts, incl. 29 v-sts)
Row 45: Eyelet Row
Ch 2, dc2tog over first 2 sts (first st of row and first hdc of first v-st), hdc in ch-1 sp (of same first v-st), hdc in next st (second hdc of same first v-st), (hdc, ch 2) in center ch-sp of each v-st across, (hdc, 2dc) in last st, turn.
(90 sts, incl. 28 ch-2 sps/eyelets)
Row 46:
Stsc in first st, (dc, ch 1, hdc) in next st, v-st in next st, *sk ch-2 sp, v-st in next hdc; repeat from * across to last 3 sts, hdc in next st, dc2tog over last 2 sts, turn.
(93 sts, incl. 30 v-sts)
Row 47:
Ch 2, dc2tog over first 2 sts, v-st in center ch-sp of each v-st across, (hdc, 2dc) in last st, turn.
(94 sts, incl. 30 v-sts)
Row 48:
Stsc in first st, (dc, ch 1, hdc) in next st, v-st in next st, v-st in center ch-sp of each v-st across until 1 v-st remains, hdc in each of next 2 sts (first hdc and center ch-1 sp of final v-st), dc2tog over last 2 sts (last hdc of final v-st and final st of row), turn.
(97 sts, incl. 31 v-sts)
Rows 49-72:
Repeat Rows 43-48 an additional 4 times.
(145 sts, incl. 47 v-sts) – Increase of 4 v-sts (12 sts total) for every 6-row repeat.
Fasten off C2, change back to C1
Section 3:
Row 73 (RS): With C1
Ch 2, dc2tog over first 2 sts, hdc in next st, *2hdc in center ch-sp of next v-st, 3hdc in center ch-sp of next v-st; repeat from * across to last modified v-st, 2hdc in last modified v-st, (hdc, 2dc) in last st, turn.
(122 sts)
Row 74 (WS):
Stsc in first st, (dc, 2hdc) in next st, 3hdc in next st, hdc in each st across to last 2 sts, dc2tog over last 2 sts, turn.
(125 sts)
Row 75:
Ch 2, dc2tog over first 2 sts, hdc in each st across to last st, (hdc, 2dc) in last st, turn.
(126 sts)
Rows 76-77:
Repeat Rows 74-75 once.
(130 sts)
Row 78:
Repeat Row 74 once more.
(133 sts)
Fasten off C1, change to C3
Section 4:
Section 4 Pattern Repeat starts from here:
Row 79 (RS): With C3
Ch 2, dc2tog over first 2 sts, hdc in each st across to last st, (hdc, 2dc) in last st, turn.
(134 sts)
Row 80 (WS):
Stsc in first st, (dc, 2hdc) in next st, 3hdc in next st, hdc in each st across to last 2 sts, dc2tog over last 2 sts, turn. (137 sts)
Row 81: Star St Row
Ch 2, dc2tog over first 2 sts, beg-star over prev st and next 2 sts (see Special Stitches), *star st over prev st and next 2 sts (see Special Stitches); repeat from * across to last st, (hdc, 2dc) in last st, turn.
(71 sts, incl. 67 star sts)
Row 82:
Stsc in first st, (dc, 2hdc) in next st, 3hdc in next st, 2hdc in each star st eyelet across until 1 star st remains, hdc in last star st eyelet, dc2tog over last star st eyelet and last st, turn.
(141 sts)
Rows 83-94:
Repeat Rows 79-82 an additional 3 times.
(165 sts) – Increase of 4 star sts (8 sts total) for every 4-row repeat.
Rows 95-96:
Repeat Rows 79-80 once more.
(169 sts)
Fasten off C3, change back to C1
Section 5:
Row 97 (RS): With C1
Ch 2, dc2tog over first 2 sts, hdc in each st across to last st, (hdc, 2dc) in last st, turn.
(170 sts)
Row 98 (WS):
Stsc in first st, (dc, 2hdc) in next st, 3hdc in next st, hdc in each st across to last 2 sts, dc2tog over last 2 sts, turn.
(173 sts)
Rows 99-100:
Repeat Rows 97-98 once.
(177 sts)
Fasten off C1, change to C4
Section 6:
Section 6 Pattern Repeat is similar to Section 2; a 6-row repeat with a row of eyelets.
Row 101 (RS): With C4
Ch 2, dc2tog over first 2 sts, *sk 1 st, v-st in next st, sk 2 sts, v-st in next st; rep from * across to last 5 sts, sk 1 st, v-st in next st, sk 2 sts, (hdc, 2dc) in last st, turn.
(211 sts, incl. 69 v-sts)
Section 6 Pattern Repeat starts from here:
Row 102 (WS):
Stsc in first st, (dc, ch 1, hdc) in next st, v-st in next st, v-st in center ch-sp of each v-st across until 1 v-st remains, hdc in each of next 2 sts (first hdc and center ch-1 sp of final v-st), dc2tog over last 2 sts (last hdc of final v-st and final st of row), turn.
(214 sts, incl. 70 v-sts)
Row 103:
Ch 2, dc2tog over first 2 sts, hdc in next st, v-st in center ch-sp of each v-st across, (hdc, 2dc) in last st, turn.
(215 sts, incl. 70 v-sts)
Row 104:
Stsc in first st, (dc, ch 1, hdc) in next st, v-st in next st, v-st in center ch-sp of each v-st across, dc2tog over last 2 sts, turn.
(218 sts, incl. 72 v-sts)
Row 105: Eyelet Row
Ch 2, dc2tog over first 2 sts (first st of row and first hdc of first v-st), hdc in ch-1 sp (of same first v-st), hdc in next st (second hdc of same first v-st), (hdc, ch 2) in center ch-sp of each v-st across, (hdc, 2dc) in last st, turn.
(219 sts, incl. 71 ch-2 sps/eyelets)
Row 106:
Stsc in first st, (dc, ch 1, hdc) in next st, v-st in next st, *sk ch-2 sp, v-st in next hdc; repeat from * across to last 3 sts, hdc in next st, dc2tog over last 2 sts, turn.
(222 sts, incl. 73 v-sts)
Row 107:
Ch 2, dc2tog over first 2 sts, v-st in center ch-sp of each v-st across, (hdc, 2dc) in last st, turn.
(223 sts, incl. 73 v-sts)
Rows 108-119:
Repeat Rows 102-107 an additional 2 times.
(247 sts, incl. 81 v-sts) – Increase of 4 v-sts (12 sts total) for every 6-row repeat.
Rows 120-121:
Repeat Rows 102-103 once more.
(251 sts, incl. 82 v-sts)
Fasten off C4, change back to C2
Section 7:
Section 7 Pattern Repeat starts from here and is similar to Section 1; a 6-row repeat with color changes.
Row 122 (WS): With C2
Stsc in first st, (dc, ch 1, hdc) in next st, v-st in next st, v- st in center ch-sp of each v-st across, dc2tog over last 2 sts, turn.
(254 sts, incl. 84 v-sts)
Fasten off C2, change back to C4
Row 123 (RS): With C4
Ch 2, dc2tog over first 2 sts (first st of row and first hdc of first v-st), hdc in ch-1 sp (of same first v-st), hdc in next st (second hdc of same first v-st), v-st in center ch-sp of each v-st across, (hdc, 2dc) in last st, turn.
(255 sts, incl. 83 v-sts)
Row 124:
Stsc in first st, (dc, ch 1, hdc) in next st, v-st in next st, v-st in center ch-sp of each v-st across, hdc in next st, dc2tog over last 2 sts, turn.
(258 sts, incl. 85 v-sts)
Fasten off C4, change back to C2
Row 125: With C2
Ch 2, dc2tog over first 2 sts, v-st in center ch-sp of each v-st across, (hdc, 2dc) in last st, turn.
(259 sts, incl. 85 v-sts)
Fasten off C2, change back to C4
Row 126: With C4
Stsc in first st, (dc, ch 1, hdc) in next st, v-st in next st, v-st in center ch-sp of each v-st across until 1 v-st remains, hdc in each of next 2 sts (first hdc and center ch-1 sp of final v-st), dc2tog over last 2 sts (last hdc of final v-st and final st of row), turn.
(262 sts, incl. 86 v-sts)
Row 127:
Ch 2, dc2tog over first 2 sts, hdc in next st, v-st in center ch-sp of each v-st across, (hdc, 2dc) in last st, turn.
(263 sts, incl. 86 v-sts)
Fasten off C4, change back to C2
Rows 128-133:
Repeat Rows 122-127 once, changing to C2 on Rows 128 and 131.
(275 sts, incl. 90 v-sts)
Fasten off, weave in all ends. Lightly block Shawl.
I’d love to see your finished makes! Please tag me on your favourite social media platform using @talesofknots and #CityLightsShawl so that I can see and share your lovely crochet shawls!
I hope you enjoyed making the City Lights Shawl, and please don’t hesitate to reach out to me if you have any questions. And don’t forget to sign up to my Tales of Knots Newsletter so you never miss a new release!
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