Penny Lane Blue Sky Shawl

Penny Lane Blue Sky Shawl Crochet Pattern

What is Being Made

The Penny Lane Blue Sky Shawl is an extra-large triangular wrap designed by Annelies Baes. This crocheted shawl features a generous wingspan of 235 cm (92.50 inches) and a depth of 160 cm (63 inches), making it a substantial and versatile accessory. The shawl is constructed in different sections, allowing for a complex and visually striking finished piece that showcases the beauty of hand-dyed yarns.

Craft and Difficulty Level

This is an intermediate-level crochet pattern suitable for crocheters with some experience. The multi-section construction and combination of various crochet techniques require solid foundational skills and the ability to follow detailed pattern instructions across multiple sections.

Crochet Techniques Used

The Penny Lane Blue Sky Shawl employs several intermediate crochet techniques to create its dimensional and textured design:

• Picot edging: Decorative picots are created using a 3-chain, 1-double crochet technique in the first chain, adding a refined finished edge to the shawl
• Front post stitches: Front post treble crochet stitches add texture and visual interest by working around the posts of previous rows
• Multi-section construction: The shawl is worked in separate sections that are integrated together, allowing for complex stitch pattern combinations
• Stitch markers: The pattern uses multiple stitch markers to track pattern repeats and section boundaries throughout the project

Crochet Stitches and Abbreviations

The pattern utilizes the following crochet stitches and standard abbreviations:

• ch: chain stitch
• ch-sp(s): chain-space(s)
• dc: double crochet
• dtr: double treble crochet
• FPtr: front post treble crochet
• slst: slip stitch
• M: stitch marker
• PM: place stitch marker
• RM: remove stitch marker

Yarn and Materials

The Penny Lane Blue Sky Shawl is designed to showcase the beauty of hand-dyed fingering weight yarn. The pattern calls for Penny Lane Fingering Lane yarn, which is 100% merino wool. The total yardage required is 400m/437 yards per 100g skein, with 4 skeins total needed to complete the shawl.

The yarn is worked in four distinct hand-dyed shades, with 1 skein of each color:

• Yarn A: For Your Eyes Only
• Yarn B: Age De Grâce
• Yarn C: Playa del Este
• Yarn D: A Touch of Blues

The multi-color construction creates a striking visual effect, with each section showcasing a different hand-dyed shade of the merino wool yarn.

Crochet Hooks and Gauge

The pattern requires two crochet hook sizes: a 3.5 mm hook and a 3.75 mm hook. The gauge is measured after working the first 14 rows in pattern for Section 1, which should measure 12.5 cm (5 inches) in height and 6 cm (2.40 inches) in width using the 3 mm hook size. Achieving proper gauge is essential for obtaining the correct finished measurements of the shawl.

Pattern Structure and Terminology

The pattern uses standard UK crochet terminology and includes clear abbreviations for right side (RS) and wrong side (WS) references. The multi-section approach allows crocheters to work through distinct portions of the shawl, building the triangular shape progressively and incorporating the hand-dyed color changes for maximum visual impact.