Parallel Lines Shawl

Parallel Lines Shawl by Annelies Baes

What Is Being Made

The Parallel Lines Shawl is a colorful striped wrap designed by Annelies Baes, crafted using crochet techniques. This intermediate-level shawl measures 224 cm (88.25 inches) in length and 70 cm (27.50 inches) in width, making it a generous wrap suitable for all seasons. The design features bold parallel stripes created through strategic color changes and bias construction, resulting in a garment that drapes beautifully and provides comfort and warmth year-round.

Construction and Techniques

The Parallel Lines Shawl is worked on the bias, a construction method that creates diagonal lines and gives the wrap its distinctive shape and superior drape. This bias-worked approach ensures the shawl sits perfectly on the shoulders and maintains its elegant form. The striped pattern is achieved through color blocking, alternating between seven distinct yarn colors to create the parallel line effect that defines this design.

Stitches Used

This crochet pattern employs a variety of fundamental and intermediate crochet stitches to build texture and structure:

• Chain (ch) – The foundation stitch used to create the base and chain-spaces throughout the pattern
• Double Crochet (dc) – A core stitch used extensively in the pattern construction
• Double Crochet in Back Loops Only (dcbl) – Creates textural variation by working only through the back loop of stitches
• Treble Crochet (tr) – A taller stitch that adds height and openness to sections of the design
• Half Treble Crochet (htr) – An intermediate-height stitch used for specific pattern sections
• Double Treble Crochet (dtr) – The tallest stitch in this pattern, creating dramatic height variation
• Slip Stitch (slst) – Used to join rounds and create seamless transitions between pattern sections
• Chain-Spaces (ch-sp) – Openwork elements created by chains that add airiness to the design

Yarn and Materials

The Parallel Lines Shawl pattern calls for Lang Yarns Oslo, a premium blend yarn composed of 46% merino extrafine, 42% cotton, and 12% camel fiber. Each ball contains 50g of yarn with 150 meters (164 yards) of yardage. The pattern uses seven coordinated colors from the Lang Yarns Oslo range:

• Yarn A – Fuchsia 0065: 1 ball
• Yarn B – Light Grey 0023: 2 balls
• Yarn C – Orange 0059: 1 ball
• Yarn D – Purple 0080: 2 balls
• Yarn E – Red 0060: 1 ball
• Yarn F – Turquoise 0078: 2 balls
• Yarn G – Yellow 0013: 2 balls

The fiber blend of merino wool, cotton, and camel creates a yarn suitable for multiple seasons, offering breathability from the cotton content and warmth from the merino and camel fibers.

Tools and Tension

This pattern requires two crochet hook sizes: a 4.5 mm hook and a 3 mm hook. The tension is worked over 23 stitches for 13 rows (starting with 4 double crochet rows) to measure 10 x 10 cm (4 x 4 inches) using both the 3 mm and 4.5 mm hooks, or sizes adjusted as needed to achieve the correct gauge. Maintaining proper tension is essential for achieving the finished measurements and ensuring the shawl drapes as designed.

Difficulty Level

Rated as an intermediate crochet project, the Parallel Lines Shawl is suitable for crocheters with foundational skills who are ready to work with multiple stitches and manage color changes. The bias construction and stitch variety provide an engaging project that builds technical confidence while producing a sophisticated, wearable garment.