Seismic Shift Shawl (crochet)
DIGITAL CROCHET PATTERN
Looking for the knit version? It’s here.
The construction of this shawl takes its cue from how the Hawaiian Islands were formed as the tectonic plates slowly moved over volcanic hot spots, forming new islands along the way. Beginning at the top of the shawl, a small color block is followed by a section of stripes. Next, a second color block builds up on only one side of the center peak. Stitches are then picked up along the inner edge of the color block for more stripes, but this time with two peaks (or a single chevron) in the center. Another color block leads to a third peak (two chevrons), and so on. Each color block grows larger and larger, as the Hawaiian Islands have also done, in general. The chevrons in the center call to mind the erratic zig zags of waves on a seismometer.
TECHNIQUES
- Half double crochet
- Stripes
- Basic increasing and decreasing
- Very simple short rows
- Picking up stitches from a selvage edge
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Span: 67 in / 167.5 cm
Height at center: 22 in / 55 cm
GAUGE (after blocking)
16 hdc / 15 rows = 4 in / 10 cm
MATERIALS
Light fingering weight yarn:
Color A: 436 yds / 399 m
Color B: 490 yds / 448 m
Shown in: Miss Babs Avon (85% merino, 15% silk; 490 yds / 448 m per 100g skein); 1 skein each in Salmon Hibiscus (A) and Lani (B)
US G / 4 mm hook
Tapestry needle
5 stitch markers