Runswick Shawl in West Yorkshire Spinners ColourLab - Downloadable PDF

Runswick Shawl Crochet Pattern by Anna Nikipirowicz in West Yorkshire Spinners ColourLab DK

The Runswick Shawl is a beautifully crafted crochet lace panel shawl designed by Anna Nikipirowicz and worked in West Yorkshire Spinners ColourLab DK yarn. This intermediate-level crochet pattern produces an elegant, curved shawl featuring alternating plain sections and intricate lace panels, making it a rewarding project for crocheters who are comfortable with basic stitches and ready to explore more detailed lacework construction. The pattern is available as a downloadable PDF and is written using UK crochet terminology, with US conversions provided throughout for international makers.

What Is Being Made

The finished object is a large, crescent-style lace panel shawl called the Runswick Shawl. It is worked in two sizes:

• Small: Top curve 157cm, bottom curve 150cm, widest point 94cm
• Large: Top curve 180cm, bottom curve 132cm, widest point 108cm

The shawl is shaped with increases worked throughout, creating a graceful curved silhouette that drapes beautifully around the shoulders. The design combines solid, textured plain sections with open, airy lace panels to create visual rhythm and contrast across the fabric.

Techniques Used

The Runswick Shawl employs several key crochet construction techniques that make it an excellent intermediate-level project:

• Shaping through incremental increases: The shawl begins with just 4 stitches and grows steadily row by row, building the curved crescent shape organically from a small foundation chain.
• Alternating texture sections: The pattern alternates between a plain section worked in solid rows of double crochet (UK) and treble crochet (UK), and a Runswick Lace Panel section featuring chain spaces and open lacework.
• Lace panel construction: The lace panels are built using a sequence of chain spaces, missed stitches, and precisely placed double crochet stitches to create a delicate, repeating openwork motif. Chain-5 spaces and chain-3 spaces are used at different stages to form the lace structure.
• Working in turning rows: The shawl is worked flat in rows, turning at the end of each row, with a turning chain used to maintain stitch height.
• Right side and wrong side awareness: The pattern clearly distinguishes RS (right side) and WS (wrong side) rows, which is important for maintaining the correct orientation of the lace pattern.
• Multi-colour working: The design uses up to three coordinating colourways, requiring colour changes between sections to achieve the tonal, gradient-inspired effect characteristic of the West Yorkshire Spinners ColourLab palette.

Stitches Used

The Runswick Shawl pattern uses a focused selection of crochet stitches, making it approachable for intermediate crocheters while still producing a sophisticated result:

• Chain (ch): Used for the foundation, turning chains, and throughout the lace panels to create chain spaces (ch-sp) of varying lengths, including 3-chain and 5-chain spaces.
• Double crochet / US single crochet (dc / US sc): The primary stitch used across both the plain sections and the lace panels. It forms the solid fabric of the shawl and anchors the lace motifs.
• Treble crochet / US double crochet (tr / US dc): Used in the plain sections, particularly in the early increase rows, to add height and build the shawl's structure. The turning chain of 3 counts as a treble crochet.
• Missed stitches (miss / US skip): An essential part of the lace panel construction, missed stitches create the openings within the lacework, working in combination with chain spaces to form the decorative pattern.

Materials and Yarn

The pattern is specifically designed for West Yorkshire Spinners ColourLab DK yarn, a versatile double knitting weight yarn well suited to detailed stitch definition in