It’s #FreePatternFriday, and today I bring you the Rustic Sumer Asymmetrical Shawl crochet pattern! With a lightweight yarn and drapey, semi-open stitch pattern, this shawl is perfect for those cool spring and early summer nights.
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If you’ve followed my Instagram account for a while, you may recognize this pattern. It’s one I created as a guest designer for Breann over at the Hooked on Homemade Happiness blog back in 2021 (click here if you want to check out that post). At the time, I didn’t have a blog of my own, so when the exclusivity rights for the free pattern expired, I didn’t think much of it. Fast forward to this year, and I realized I now have a space to bring this pattern to you here on my own blog!
Rustic Summer Asymmetrical Shawl Crochet Pattern Inspiration
This stitch pattern has always been one of my favorites. Mostly because the wonderful texture reminds me of garden trellises and woven rattan, simple summer pleasures, and spending time outdoors as a kid. Hence the name – Rustic Summer. Once you get the hang of the stitches, it becomes a nice meditative repeat that requires just enough engagement to keep you from getting bored.
When I wrote this pattern, I was brand new to designing and pattern writing. In fact, I had only learned to read patterns about 8 months prior, despite having known how to crochet since I was a kid. As such, I’ve learned a lot since then. So when one of my goals for the year was to start giving some of my patterns a glow up (you can read about that here), I knew this would be one of the first ones I did.
So, what’s different?
Honestly? Not much of the actual pattern changed. While I did reword a couple of things in the pattern itself to make it more readable, most of the major changes are in the paid PDF. I reworded and rearranged some of the notes in the front matter, put everything onto my new pattern templates with my updated logo and branding, and took new photos of the steps to aid with visualizing the first repeat. So, not an overhaul by any means, but a nice glow-up all the same.
Asymmetrical Shawl Construction
If you are unfamiliar with asymmetrical scarves (sometimes described as scarves constructed “on the bias”), they start in one corner and increase by one stitch every row. This increase is always on the same side of the scarf, so it can help to pop a stitch marker on that side so there’s never any question as to which side to increase. When you are finished, the shawl gets turned to the side, with your non-increase edge now becoming the top of the shawl. If you want a larger shawl, keep adding repeats! Essentially, keep working until you like the overall size.
Yarn Suggestions
For this pattern, I recommend a #3/DK weight yarn to keep it breezy and light. However, because of how it is constructed, you can use any weight yarn. Simply use a hook 2-3 times larger than the hook recommended on the yarn label so the shawl has a nice drape and doesn’t get too stiff. However, this will change the yardage needed to complete your shawl.
For this sample, I used less than 3 balls of Lion Brand 24/7 DK Cotton. This yarn is soft, but with a nice structure, and really easy to work with – no splitting! While I used a solid color for mine, I would love to see it worked up in one of their new prints!
Other yarns that would likely work well are CotLin (a cotton/linen blend) or Swish DK (superwash merino wool) from WeCrochet, if you wanted to stick with a natural fiber. If you prefer acrylic, Brava Recycle from WeCrochet should work. But additionally, shawls made on the bias can be particularly fun with color changing yarns, such as Caron Cotton Cakes or Lion Brand Mandala Yarn.
So once you’ve picked out your yarn, keep reading for the free pattern!
Keep reading for the FREE crochet pattern. Prefer an ad-free printable PDF? Check out Etsy or Ravelry for purchase options! Perks: The PDF also contains additional tips and tricks, plus photos to help you get through the first repeat!
Other Patterns You May Be Interested In
FREE on Blog
Ravelry
Etsy
Rustic Summer Asymmetrical Shawl Crochet Pattern
Pattern Difficulty
Advanced Beginner
Skills used: single crochet, double crochet, half double crochet, herringbone half double crochet, increases, working in turned rows
Materials
*Recommended Crochet Hook & Yarn: J/6.0mm and 725+ yards (663 meters) of #3/DK weight yarn, although any size yarn can be used. See Yarn Suggestions above for details. Sample was made using less than 3 balls of Lion Brand 24/7 DK Cotton.
*Yarn needle for weaving in ends
*Scissors
*Measuring tape
*Stitch markers
Abbreviations
st(s): stitch(es)
ch: chain
sc: single crochet
dc: double crochet
hdc2tog: half double crochet 2 together, also often called a hdc decrease
- Yarn over, insert your hook into the first st and pull up a loop (3 loops on hook). Yarn over, insert your hook into the next st and pull up a loop (5 loops on hook). Yarn over and pull through all 5 loops.
h-hdc: herringbone half double crochet
- Yarn over, insert your hook into the stitch and pull up a loop (3 loops on hook). Without yarning over, pull the first loop through the second. Then, yarn over and pull through remaining 2 loops. Click here for a tutorial, including step by steps photo and video!
Gauge
Gauge is not important for this pattern as you will continue working the pattern repeats until you have reached the size you are happy with. In my finished sample, the repeat is worked a total of 10 times. When laid flat, it’s approximately 63 inches (160 cm) long and 27 inches (68.5 cm) wide at the center point.
Notes
* This pattern is written using US terminology.
* The starting chain at the beginning of the row does NOT count as a stitch. The first stitch will go in the same stitch as the chain. The ch 1 between hdc2tog stitches DO count as stitches and you will crochet into the stitch, not the chain space, when working the next row.
* In can be helpful to put a stitch marker in the ch 2 space between your turning chain and your first stitch of the row on the increase side. The stitches have a way of condensing down and having a stitch marker here will help you find this space when you need to crochet into it.
Pattern
To start: ch 4
Row 1: sc in the 3rd and the 4th stitches from your hook, ch 1, turn
Row 2: hdc2tog over the 2 sts, ch 1, dc in the space between the ch 2 and sc from the row below (the dc is your increase), ch 2, turn.
Row 3: 2 sc in the first st (this is your increase), sc across, ch 1, turn
NOTE: In the sc rows throughout the pattern, you will stitch into the ch 1 st, not ch space.
Row 4: hdc2tog over the first 2 sts, ch 1, hdc2tog over the next 2 sts, ch 1, dc in ch space, ch 2, turn
Row 5: 2 sc in the first st, sc across, ch 1, turn
Row 6: hdc2tog over the first 2 sts, ch 1, *hdc2tog over the next 2 sts, ch 1**, repeat from *to** across, dc in the ch space, ch 2, turn
Rows 7-10: Repeat rows 5 and 6 two more times, ending with a row 6
Helpful Hint: You will have 5 rows of sc alternating with 5 rows of hdc2tog
Row 11: 2 h-hdc in first st (this is your increase), h-hdc across, ch 1, turn
Row 12: h-hdc in each st across until 1 st remains, 2 h-hdc in the last st (this is your increase), ch 2, turn
Rows 13-15: Repeat rows 11 and 12 one and a half more times, ending with a row 11
Helpful Hint: You will have 5 rows of h-hdc total.
Row 16: Repeat row 6
Rows 17-24: Repeat rows 5 and 6 four times
Helpful Hint: Rows 16-24 will have 5 rows of hdc2tog with 4 rows of sc between them.
Rows 25+: Repeat Rows 11-24 until you have reached your desired size. While it is completely up to you, I recommend ending on a Row 15 (the end of a h-hdc block).
Want the printable ad-free, PDF? Click below to get your copy!
When you make one, I want to see it! When posting on social media, be sure to tag @fromnicolescreations and use hashtags #rusticsummershawl or #rusticsummercollection and #fromnicolescreations.
Happy stitching!