Forest Shawl - a free pattern!

I appear have arrived in an amazing crafting community! How did this happen?! From being a slightly weirdo kid at school, I now find myself surrounded by beautiful people who are kind, creative, inclusive and just bloody LOVELY. Thank you! So much! As a little gesture of love to you all, here is my Forest Shawl pattern for you. It's one of my most loved designs ever, it's so simple and yet so effective, my favourite kind of crochet. Because deep down, in many respects, I'm a bit of a lazy-arse. A bit like Hank Deluxe. But he's a cat so he has the perfect excuse. Plus he has the advantage of not having to respond to household emergencies like dusty skirting boards. Lucky cat.

So, without further witterings, here's the pattern. Make it, share it, if you're a lazy-arse like me then get someone else to make it for you, it's there to be enjoyed.

I used gorgeous Scheepjes Catona 50g balls for my shawl, the colours are so rich and pure, I love this yarn. 

Yarn A: Forest Green (8 balls)

Yarn B: Spruce (1 ball for edging)

A 4mm hook is needed. UK crochet terms are used.

You'll need to make 42 hexagons, each one measures 15cm across widest point once blocked.

Your finished shawl will measure about 56 x 170cm, it's a lovely length, just right for over the shoulders on a cool evening.

Special stitches:

etr (extended treble):  Yoh, insert hook in next stitch or chain, yoh and pull up loop, yoh and draw through 1st loop on hook, (yarn over and draw through 2 loops) twice. 

Bobble stitch: Ch4, (yoh, insert hook into 3rd ch from hook, draw up loop) 6 times, draw hook through all loops on hook, ch1, sl st into 3rd ch again to close st.

Hexagon Pattern (make 42)

With Yarn A, ch3 and ss into first ch to make ring.

Round 1: Ch1, 6dc into ring, ss into first dc to join.

Round 2: Ch3 (counts as tr throughout), tr in same st as join, ch2, *2tr in next st, ch2; rep from * to end, ss into top of ch-3 to join (join in this way throughout).

Round 3: Ss into next tr, ch3, 3tr into ch-2 sp, ch3, *skip next tr, tr in next st, 3tr into ch-2 sp, ch3; rep from * to end, join.

Round 4: Ss into next tr, ch3, tr in each of next 2 sts, 3tr into ch-3 sp, ch4, *skip next tr, tr in each of next 3 sts, 3tr into ch-3 sp, ch4; rep from * to end, join.

Round 5: Ss into next tr, ch3, tr in each of next 4 sts, 3tr into ch-4 sp, ch5, *skip next tr, tr in each of next 5 sts, 3tr into ch-4 sp, ch5; rep from * to end, join.

Round 6: Ss into next tr, ch3, tr in each of next 6 sts, 3tr into ch-5 sp, ch6, *skip next tr, tr in each of next 7 sts, 3tr into ch-5 sp, ch6; rep from * to end, join. Fasten off yarn, weave in ends.

Block motifs before joining.

Joining (refer to Layout Chart):

Join motifs tog using Yarn A. Place 2 motifs RS together and whip stitch into back loops only along 1 side of tr sts. Do not join ch sts tog. Use running stitch along one chain to next row of tr sts and join to next motif as before.

Layout Chart

Edging:

Join Yarn B in any ch-6 sp on edge which forms an outward point (not where 2 motifs join.)

Round 1:  *(2dc, ch3, 2dc) in ch-6 sp, dc in each of next 3 tr along edge, htr in each of next 3 tr, tr in each of next 2 tr, etr (see Special Stitches) in each of next 2 sts, ch1, skip 2 x ch-6 sps where motifs join, etr in each of next 2 tr, tr in each of next 2 tr, htr in each of next 3 tr, dc in each of next 3 tr; rep from * around to end. Ss into first dc from start of round to join. (NB Work dc sts only between ch-6 sps on the sides indicated in red on Layout Chart).

Round 2: Ch1, dc in same st, dc in next st. *Dc into next ch-3 sp, make bobble (see Special Stitches), ch1, dc in same ch-3 sp, dc in each st to ch-1 sp, skip ch-1 sp, dc in each st to ch-3 sp; rep from * to end. (NB work bobbles into outer corners as indicated by red lines on Layout Chart). Fasten off yarn, weave in ends.

Block Forest Shawl to shape, then fling it on around your shoulders and listen to the gasps of admiration as you walk serenely and gracefully through the crowds. Or something like that. I like to flounce around in mine, a bit of dancing too when there's no one home, just me and the cat and Goat on the stereo... Enjoy your shawl! xxx Esme xxx