Afternoon Wrap in Caron Simply Soft Heathers & Simply Soft - Downloadable PDF

Afternoon Wrap Crochet Pattern in Caron Simply Soft Heathers and Simply Soft by Kim Rutledge

The Afternoon Wrap is a free, beginner-friendly crochet shawl pattern designed by Kim Rutledge and worked in a combination of Caron Simply Soft and Caron Simply Soft Heathers yarns. The finished piece measures approximately 20 inches wide by 75 inches long, creating a generously sized rectangular wrap that drapes beautifully over the shoulders or can be styled in multiple ways. The pattern is available as a downloadable PDF, making it easy to access and print at home.

What Is Being Made

This project produces a long, elegant rectangular wrap or shawl suitable for everyday wear. Its substantial length of 75 inches means it can be folded, draped, or wrapped around the body in a variety of ways. The color-striped design gives the finished wrap a sophisticated, coordinated look that transitions beautifully between tones of grey, charcoal, plum, and off-white.

Construction Technique

One of the most notable features of this pattern is that the wrap is worked lengthwise, meaning the foundation chain runs along the long edge of the piece. This approach creates vertical stripes as you crochet across the width, and the color changes read as horizontal bands when the wrap is worn. Working lengthwise is a smart construction choice for striped designs because it allows the crocheter to change colors at the end of each row without carrying yarn across a long span.

The color sequence is carefully structured and repeated twice across the body of the wrap, creating a symmetrical, rhythmic stripe pattern. Colors are changed using the standard technique of completing the last yarn-over of the final stitch in the old color with the new color, ensuring clean, crisp color transitions throughout.

Stitches Used

• Chain stitch (ch) — used for the foundation and as part of the decorative stitch pattern
• Single crochet (sc) — forms the base of each pattern repeat
• Double crochet (dc) — paired with single crochet to create the lace-like shell effect
• Slip stitch (sl st) — referenced in the abbreviations for finishing purposes

The core of the design is a repeating stitch pattern worked over a multiple of 3 stitches plus 1. Each repeat consists of a (single crochet, chain 3, double crochet) cluster worked into the same stitch or space, creating a delicate, open texture with a subtle shell-like appearance. This combination of stitches gives the wrap a light, airy drape while still providing warmth and structure. The pattern alternates between two row constructions to maintain the stitch alignment across every row.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated beginner, making it an excellent project for those who are comfortable with basic crochet stitches and are ready to practice simple color changes and a repeating stitch pattern. The stitch repeat is straightforward once established, and the two-row pattern sequence is easy to memorize, allowing crocheters to work at a relaxed pace.

Materials and Yarn

The wrap uses four color contrasts across two Caron yarn lines:

• Caron Simply Soft Heathers (141 g / 5 oz; 228 m / 250 yds per skein) — an aran weight yarn used in:
  • Contrast A: Grey Heather (9509) — 3 skeins
  • Contrast C: Charcoal Heather (9508) — 1 skein
• Caron Simply Soft (170 g / 6 oz; 288 m / 315 yds per skein) — a worsted weight yarn used in:
  • Contrast B: Plum Perfect (9761) — 2 skeins
  • Contrast D: Off White (9702) — 1 skein

The recommended hook is a US size I-8 (5 mm) crochet hook, or whatever size is needed to achieve the stated gauge of