How to Crochet a Shawl: Easy Granny Stitch Triangle Shawl Pattern

Crocheting shawls is ideal for beginners: a triangle shawl in granny stitch uses nothing but chains, double crochet and slip stitches, and it grows row by row from the center of the top edge down to the point. In this pattern you’ll learn the granny triangle step by step. You’ll find out which yarn suits a triangle shawl – it looks loveliest in a gradient yarn –, how much you need and how to block your shawl into shape at the end.

How the granny triangle works

You start with a small ring and crochet clusters of 3 double crochet, each separated by 1 chain. Because you work one cluster into every space of the previous row and two into the point, each half gains one cluster per row. The row ends form the straight top edge, and the point moves down with every row. This turns the ring into a triangle that is twice as wide as it is deep.

The stitch pattern is the same as for classic granny squares – except that you crochet back and forth in rows instead of in rounds. If you don’t know the basic stitches yet, you’ll find them in our guide Crochet for Beginners.

What you need

• Yarn: 3–4 balls of Gradient Yarn Sofia with Wool, 220 m / 100 g for a shawl of about 160 × 80 cm
• Crochet hook in 5 mm
• Yarn needle, scissors and tape measure
• For blocking: pins and a surface, such as blocking mats, a camping mat or a thick towel on the carpet

Which yarn is best for a triangle shawl?

A shawl wraps around your neck and shoulders. It should drape softly, be light and look beautiful even when the stitch pattern is simple. Good choices are:

• Gradient yarn: The colors shift slowly all on their own, and every row gets its own shade. This looks especially lovely in a granny triangle because the rows keep getting longer.
• Medium-weight yarns with 200–270 m per 100 g: They give a shawl with good drape that doesn’t get too heavy.
• Lace yarns with mohair: They weigh next to nothing and make a gossamer-light, airy shawl. One ball is often enough.
• Glitter yarns: For a festive shawl to wear with an evening dress.

Our yarns for crocheted shawls

Gradient Yarn Sofia with Wool, 220 m / 100 g – 34% wool, 47% acrylic, 19% polyamide, hook 4.5–5 mm, multicolor. A shawl in gradient yarn never turns out the same way twice. This pattern is written for this yarn.

Heathered Yarn Regenbogen with Wool, 270 m / 100 g – 38% wool, 40% acrylic, 22% polyamide, hook 4–5 mm, multicolor. Finely speckled and a little thinner – your shawl will be lighter.

Glitter Wool Nila with Alpaca, 220 m / 100 g – 25% alpaca, 25% wool, 20% acrylic, 20% polyamide, 10% metallic fiber, hook 4–5 mm, 12 colors from silver to copper. Alternate two colors to crochet stripes, too.

Lace Yarn Vilia with Kid Mohair, 900 m / 100 g – 35% mohair (kid mohair), 65% polyamide, hook 3–4 mm, in gray. A single ball is enough for an airy shawl.

Mohair Wool Astrum, 1000 m / 100 g – 50% mohair, 6% wool, 44% polyamide, hook 2–3 mm, in light brown. Our yarn with the most yardage – for a gossamer-light shawl that still keeps you warm.

You’ll find more yarns in the Gradient Yarn, Lace Yarn and Glitter Yarn categories, as well as in our selection for shawls and wraps.

How much yarn do you need for a shawl?

With lace yarns such as Vilia or Astrum (900–1,000 m per ball), one ball is enough for an airy kerchief up to about 140 cm wide. For a larger shawl, plan on two balls. The nice thing about the granny triangle: you simply keep crocheting until the yarn is almost used up and stop after a complete row.

Pattern: crocheting a triangle shawl step by step

Size: approx. 160 × 80 cm after blocking; can be made as large or small as you like
Materials: Gradient Yarn Sofia, 5 mm crochet hook
Abbreviations: ch = chain(s), dc = double crochet, sl st = slip stitch(es), sc = single crochet, space = gap formed by chains
Important: The ch 4 at the beginning of each row counts as 1 dc and 1 ch.

Row 1

Make a magic ring or a ring of 4 ch joined with 1 sl st. Into the ring, work: ch 4, 3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc, ch 1, 1 dc. Pull the magic ring closed and turn your work.

The ch 2 in the middle forms the point space. It always sits in the middle of the row and will later point downward.

Row 2

Ch 4, 3 dc in the first space, ch 1, in the point space work (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc), ch 1, 3 dc in the last space, ch 1, 1 dc in the 3rd of the 4 beginning ch of the previous row. Turn.

Row 3 and onward

Ch 4, 3 dc in the first space, then in every following space up to the point: ch 1, 3 dc. In the point space, work (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc). Then again in every space: ch 1, 3 dc – up to the last space. Finish with ch 1 and 1 dc in the 3rd beginning ch of the previous row. Turn.

Here’s how to check your count: in row 1, each half has one 3-dc cluster, in row 2 two, in row 3 three – so the row number equals the number of clusters per half. A stitch marker in the point space helps you keep track of the center.

How many rows?

Repeat row 3 until the shawl reaches the size you want. For 160 × 80 cm with Sofia and a 5 mm hook, that’s about 35–45 rows. Measure the width along the top edge and the depth from the center of the top edge down to the point. Blocking will make the shawl a few centimeters larger.

Joining a new ball: It’s best to do this at the beginning of a row. Leave both tails about 10 cm long and weave them into the double crochets along the edge later.

Finishing the top edge

After the last row, work one row of sc along the top edge: about 2 sc around each row end. This makes the edge straight and firm. Cut the yarn and weave in all ends.

Blocking the shawl

Blocking opens up the holes of the granny stitch, straightens the edges and gives the shawl a nicer drape.

1. Hand wash the shawl at no more than 30 °C with a little wool wash and let it soak in lukewarm water for 15 minutes.
2. Gently press out the water without wringing, then roll the shawl up in a towel to remove more moisture.
3. Lay the shawl on your blocking surface and stretch it to the size you want. Pin the three corners first, then the top edge in a straight line and finally the two lower edges every 5–10 cm.
4. Let the shawl dry completely before you remove the pins.

You can read more about proper care in our guide How to Wash Wool.

Variations: tassels, fringe and stripes

• Tassels: Wrap the yarn 20 to 25 times around a piece of cardboard 10–12 cm wide. Thread a strand through the wraps at the top and tie them together, then cut the loops open at the bottom. About 1.5 cm below the knot, wind a strand tightly around the bundle several times and knot it. Sew a tassel to each of the three corners.
• Fringe: Cut strands twice the length of the fringe plus 2 cm. Fold 3 strands in half at a time, use the crochet hook to pull the loop through a space along the lower edge, pass the ends through the loop and pull tight.
• Stripes: With Glitter Wool Nila in two colors, you could switch color every 2 rows, for example, always at the beginning of a row.
• Airy mohair shawl: With lace yarn and a hook slightly larger than recommended, your shawl turns out especially delicate and light. You can read how to work with mohair and whether it itches in our guide Wool That Doesn’t Itch.

Common mistakes when crocheting a shawl

• The shawl is lopsided: A cluster is missing or doubled. Count the clusters on each half – there must be the same number on both sides.
• The top edge puckers: The dc at the end of the row went into the wrong space. It always belongs in the 3rd of the 4 beginning ch of the previous row.
• The point turns rounded: The ch 2 in the point space is missing. Only with it does the point stay pointed.
• The shawl ripples: Usually you’re crocheting too tightly. Use a hook 0.5 mm larger, or block the shawl thoroughly after washing.

Examples for inspiration

Here’s what your crocheted shawl could look like – in colors you’ll also find among our yarns.

Note: The images in this section are AI-generated examples for inspiration.

Frequently asked questions about crocheting a shawl

How much yarn do I need for a crocheted triangle shawl?
For a shoulder shawl of about 160 × 80 cm you need 600–750 m, i.e. 3–4 balls of Gradient Yarn Sofia. With lace yarn, one ball is often enough.

Which hook size should I use for a shawl?
The size given on the ball band or the product page, preferably at the upper end of the range. A slightly larger hook makes the shawl airier and gives it a softer drape.

How big should a triangle shawl be?
A kerchief is about 120 cm wide, a shoulder shawl 160–180 cm. With a granny triangle, the depth is always about half the width.

Is a triangle shawl a good project for beginners?
Yes. The pattern repeats in every row, and small irregularities disappear when you block it.

What goes well with a crocheted shawl?
Use leftovers of the same yarn to crochet a matching hat. You’ll find a pattern in our guide How to Crochet a Hat.

We ship the yarn for your shawl from Görlitz, with free shipping within Germany. Happy crocheting!