Crocheted Shawl in King Cole Curiosity DK - E1001 - Downloadable PDF

Crocheted Shawl in King Cole Curiosity DK – Pattern E1001 by Melissa Leapman

This free downloadable PDF pattern, coded E1001, presents a beautifully simple crocheted shawl designed by renowned crochet designer Melissa Leapman and published by King Cole. The finished shawl measures an impressive 59 inches (150 cm) wide and 21 inches (54 cm) tall, making it a generous, wrap-worthy accessory suitable for a wide range of occasions. Because the pattern is rated as beginner difficulty, it is an excellent choice for those who are new to crochet or looking for a relaxing, confidence-building project.

What Is Being Made

The finished project is a large, draping crochet shawl worked in a classic triangular or wide rectangular silhouette. Its generous dimensions — nearly five feet across — mean it can be worn as a traditional shawl, wrapped around the shoulders, or styled as a lightweight scarf. The design grows row by row, allowing the crocheter to adjust the final size by simply adding or removing rows before working the edging.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern is specifically designed to be worked in King Cole Curiosity DK yarn. Curiosity DK is a self-striping or colour-changing DK (double knit) weight yarn from King Cole, which means the yarn itself does much of the decorative work, producing subtle or bold colour transitions as you crochet without any additional colour-changing technique required. The DK weight gives the shawl a light, airy drape that is comfortable to wear across three seasons. No specific hook size is stated in the extracted content, but DK weight yarn is typically worked on a 4.0 mm to 5.0 mm crochet hook; crocheters should swatch and adjust to achieve a fabric they are happy with.

Tension and Gauge

The pattern states a gauge of 8 × (1 dc, ch 2) by 7 rows = 10 cm square (approximately), measured over the main lace mesh stitch pattern. Importantly, the pattern notes that tension is not critical for this design, which reinforces its beginner-friendly nature and means that slight variations in hook size or personal crocheting style will not significantly affect the finished result — only the final dimensions of the shawl.

Stitches and Techniques Used

The pattern is written entirely in USA crochet terminology, which is an important distinction for international crocheters. The following stitches and abbreviations are used throughout:

• dc – Double Crochet: the primary structural stitch used to build the lace mesh body of the shawl
• sc – Single Crochet: used within the main pattern repeat and extensively in the finishing edging row
• ch – Chain: used to create the open mesh spaces (ch-2 spaces) that give the shawl its lacy, lightweight appearance
• tr – Treble Crochet: referenced in the abbreviations, adding height and texture at key points in the design
• st – Stitch: general abbreviation used throughout the pattern instructions

Construction and Pattern Techniques

The shawl is built using a repeating row structure centred on a dc and ch-2 mesh pattern, creating an open, lace-like fabric that is both visually attractive and quick to work up. The main body is formed by repeating a single key row — referred to as Row 5 — until the piece reaches the desired size, which the pattern suggests is approximately 40 rows in total. This simple, repetitive structure makes it easy for beginners to find a rhythm and work confidently without constantly consulting the pattern.

The edging is an integral part of the design and adds a polished, finished look to the shawl. It involves working a combination of double crochet and single crochet clusters — specifically a sequence of [4 dc, 3 sc] into the turning chain — along the lower edge, followed by a neat row of single crochet along the upper edge, with approximately 2 sc worked into each ch-2 space to keep