Birds of Paradise Shawl

Difficulty: Intermediate ✦✦✦✦✧

Here is a free crochet pattern for my latest design: the Birds of Paradise Shawl.

I started this shawl inspired by the gorgeous mandalas made by artists like Murder and Rose on Instagram, as well as more traditional tile mandalas. After completing it, my husband thought it looked like the plumage of various tropical birds and so it became the Birds of Paradise Shawl.

In this shawl, I tried to come up with as many different feather patterns as I could, so each row of feathers/fans is unique. I found it quite a lot of fun building the feathers around each other as the shawl grew. Although there are a number of unique stitches in this pattern, each one is described in detail and the most difficult stitch motifs are further described with a photo tutorial. I am sure you will find the challenge rewarding when you lay this lacy shawl around your shoulders.

This shawl is designed to wrap around your neck and sit on your shoulders without falling off.

For this shawl, I used about 920m of 4-ply fingering weight yarn (Wolltraum in the Funny Collection #1 colorway) and a 2.75mm (C) hook.

After blocking my shawl measures 38 inches wide with a 19 inch radius.

This shawl will look best when made with a fingering or sport weight yarn and a 2.75-3mm or 3.5-4mm hook, respectively.

Gauge:

• 14 dc in 8 rows makes a 2 inch (5 cm) square.

Gauge is not important for this pattern unless you are trying to match the gradient of the yarn in the sample (950m of 4-ply gradient yarn from Melodyy by Wolltraum on etsy). I finished with 30m of a 950m fingering-weight cake with a 2.75mm hook.

Special Stitches:

• half treble crochet (htc) = YO 2 times, insert your hook in the indicated stitch and pull up a loop, pull a loop through 2 loops on the hook, pull a loop through the remaining 3 loops on the hook.

• treble crochet (tc)

• double treble crochet (dtc) = YO 3 times, (pull a loop through 2 loops on the hook) 4 times.

• half double treble crochet (hdtc) = YO 3 times, insert your hook in the indicated stitch and pull up a loop, (pull a loop through 2 loops on the hook) twice, pull a loop through the remaining 3 loops on the hook.

• triple treble crochet (ttc) = YO 4 times, (pull a loop through 2 loops on the hook) 5 times.

• septuple-crochet = YO 6 times, insert your hook in the indicated stitch and pull up a loop, (pull a loop through 2 loops on the hook) 7 times.

• picot = ch 3, sl st in the 3rd ch from the hook.

• 3 tc-bobble = [YO twice, pull up a loop in the indicated st, (pull a loop through 2 loops on the hook) twice] 3 times, pull a loop through 4 loops on the hook.

• standing bobble = ch 3, dc, ch 2, sl st in the bottom of the dc.

Other stitches described below as needed.

Charts:

Full chart diagrams can be found HERE.

If you would like printer friendly charts, consider purchasing a PDF of this pattern.

Pattern:

Row 1: In a magic ring: ch 2 (does not count as a stitch, hereafter), dc 9. Turn. (9 sts)

Row 2: ch 2, (2 dc in the next st) 9 times. Turn. (18 sts)

Row 3: ch 2, (2 dc in the next st, dc) 9 times. Turn. (27 sts)

Row 4: ch 2, dc, (2 dc in the next st, dc 2) 8 times, 2 dc in the next st, dc. Turn. (36 sts)

Row 5: ch 2, dc, (2 dc in the next st, dc 3) 8 times, 2 dc in the next st, dc 2. Turn. (45 sts)

Row 6: ch 2, dc 2, (ch, dc 5) 8 times, ch, dc 3. Turn.

Row 7: ch 2, dc 2, (2 dc in the next st, ch, skip the ch, dc 4) 8 times, 2 dc in the next st, ch, skip the ch, dc 2. Turn.

Row 8: ch 2, (dc 2, ch, skip the ch, 2 dc in the next st, dc 2, ch, skip the next st) 8 times, dc 2, ch, skip the ch, 2 dc in the next st, dc 3. Turn.

Row 9: ch 2, dc 3, [ch, dc 2, (ch, skip the ch, dc 2) twice] 8 times, ch, dc 2, ch, skip the ch, dc 2. Turn.

Row 10: ch 2, (dc 2, ch, skip the ch, dc, 2 dc in the next st, ch, skip the ch, dc 2, ch, skip the ch) 8 times, dc 2, ch, skip the ch, dc, 2 dc in the next st, ch, skip the ch, dc 3. Turn.

Row 11: ch 2, dc 3, (ch, skip the ch, 2 dc in the next st, dc 2, ch, skip the ch, dc 2, ch, skip the ch, dc 2) 8 times, ch, skip the ch, 2 dc in the next st, dc 2, ch, skip the ch, dc 2. Turn.

Row 12: ch 2, [dc 2, ch, skip the ch, dc 2, ch, (dc 2, ch, skip the ch) twice] 8 times, dc 2, ch, skip the ch, dc 2, ch, dc 2, ch, skip the ch, dc 3. Turn.

Row 13: ch 2, dc 3, [ch, skip the ch, dc, 2 dc in the next st, (ch, skip the ch, dc 2) 3 times] 8 times, ch, skip the ch, dc, 2 dc in the next st, (ch, skip the ch, dc 2) twice. Turn.

Row 14: ch 2, 2 dc in the first st, ch, skip the next st, dc in the ch-sp, ch, skip the next st, dc, ch, skip the ch, (2 dc in the next st, dc, ch, skip the next st, dc in the ch-sp, ch, skip the next st, dc, ch, skip the ch, dc, ch, skip the next st, dc in the ch-sp, ch, skip the next st, dc, ch, skip the ch-sp) 8 times, 2 dc in the next st, dc, ch, skip the next st, dc in the ch-sp, ch, skip the next st, dc 2. Turn.

Row 15: ch 2, dc, (dc, ch, skip the ch) twice, [dc 2, ch, (dc, ch, skip the ch) 6 times] 8 times, dc 2, ch, (dc, ch, skip the ch) 3 times, dc 2. Turn.

Row 16: ch 2, dc, (dc, ch, skip the ch) 4 times, [dc, ch, (dc, ch, skip the ch) 7 times] 8 times, dc, ch, (dc, ch, skip the ch) twice, dc, 2 dc in the last st. Turn.

Row 17: ch 2, 2 dc in the first st, dc, (dc, dc in the ch-sp) 71 times, dc, 2 dc in the last st. Turn. (148 sts)

Row 18: ch, sc 2, (ch 5, sl st in the first ch, sc 4) 36 times, ch 5, sl st in the first ch, sc 2. Turn. (148 sts)

Row 19: ch, sc, [skip the next st, (sc 2, hdc, dc 3, hdc, sc 2) in the ch-5 loop, skip the next st, sc2tog] 36 times, skip the next st, (sc 2, hdc, dc 3, hdc, sc 2) in the ch-5 loop, skip the next st, sc. Turn.

Row 20: ch 7, (dtc in the first sc below and dc in the first dc of the petal) together*, [ch 2, hdc, ch 2, dc2tog in the next st and the first dc of the next petal**] 36 times, ch 2, hdc, ch 2, (dc in the next st and dtc in the first st of the previous row) together, ch 2, (tc around the dtc just made and dtc in the first st of the previous row) together. Turn.

*YO 3 times, insert your hook in the last st of the previous round and pull up a loop, (pull a loop through 2 loops on the hook) 3 times, YO, insert your hook in the first dc of the next petal and pull up a loop, pull a loop through 2 loop on the hook, pull a loop through all 3 loops on the hook.

**YO, insert your hook in the next st (the last dc of the current petal) and pull up a loop, pull a loop through 2 loops on the hook, YO, insert your hook in the first dc of the next petal and pull up a loop, pull a loop through 2 loop on the hook, pull a loop through all 3 loops on the hook.

Row 21: ch 2, dc, 2 dc around the next ch-space, [dc, 2 dc around the next ch-sp, skip the next st, 2 dc around the next ch-sp] 37 times, dc, dc around the next ch-sp, 2 dc INTO the 6th ch of the turning chain. Turn. (192 sts)

Row 22: ch, 2 sc in the first st, (ch 7, sl st in the first ch, sc 5) 38 times, ch 7, sl st in the first ch, 2 sc in the last st. Turn. (194 sts)

Row 23: without chaining, [skip 2 sts, (hdc 3, dc, htc*, tc 3, htc, dc, hdc 3) in the ch-7 loop, skip 2 sts, sl st] 38 times, skip 2 sts, (hdc 3, dc, htc, tc 3, htc, dc, hdc 2, linked-hdc** to the last st of the row below) in the ch-7 loop. Turn.

*htc = half treble crochet = YO 2 times, insert your hook in the indicated stitch and pull up a loop, pull a loop through 2 loops on the hook, pull a loop through the remaining 3 loops on the hook.

**In linked stitches, when ready to pull a loop through the last 2 (or 3) loops on the hook, first insert it into the indicated stitch, pull up a loop, and pull that loop through the remaining loops on the hook to link it to that stitch.

Row 24: sl st 4 up to the first dc of the petal, ch 8, (dc INTO the 4th ch just made and tc in the first tc of the petal below) together, [ch 3, dc in the next st, ch 3, (tc in the next st and tc in the first tc of the next petal) together] 38 times, ch 3, dc in the next st, ch 3, (tc in the next st and dtc in the next dc of the petal) together, ch, ttc in the next st. Turn.

Row 25: ch 2, 2 dc in the first st, dc in the next ch-sp, [dc, 3 dc in the next ch-space, skip the next st, 3 dc in the next ch-sp] 39 times, dc, dc around the next ch-sp, 2 dc INTO the 7th ch of the turning chain. Turn. (281 sts)

Row 26: ch, [sc, skip 2 sts, (hdc, ch, dc, ch, tc, ch, dtc, ch, tc, ch, dc, ch, hdc) in the next st, skip 2 sts, sc] 39 times, sc, skip 1 st, (hdc, ch, dc, ch, tc, ch, dtc, ch, tc, ch, dc, ch, hdc) in the next st, skip 2 sts, sc. Turn.

Row 27: without chaining, skip the first 2 sts, [hdc in the ch-sp, hdc, hdc in the ch-sp, (hdc, dc) in the next st, (dc, htc) in the next ch-sp, (htc, tc, htc) in the next st, (htc, dc) in the next ch-sp, (dc, hdc) in the next st, hdc in the next ch-sp, hdc, hdc in the next ch-sp] 39 times, hdc in the ch-sp, hdc, hdc in the ch-sp, (hdc, dc) in the next st, (dc, htc) in the next ch-sp, (htc, tc, htc) in the next st, (htc, dc) in the next ch-sp, (dc, hdc) in the next st, hdc in the next ch-sp, hdc, linked-hdc in the next ch-sp to the sc below. Turn.

Row 28: ch 8, dc in the first dc of the petal below, ch 4, dtc in the 6th ch of the ch-8 just made, ch, (hdtc, ch, (dtc, ch) 3 times, hdtc, ch, tc) in the dc just made, [ch, sl st in the center tc of the petal below, ch, forked-ttc* in the last dc of the current petal and the first dc of the next petal, (hdtc, ch, (dtc, ch) 3 times, hdtc, ch, tc) in the fork of the forked-ttc just made] 38 times, forked-long leg-ttc**, (hdtc, ch, (dtc, ch) 3 times, hdtc, ch, tc) in the fork of the forked-long leg-ttc just made except on the last tc stitch a (tc in the fork and dtc around the long leg below) together.

*forked-ttc = YO 4 times, insert your hook in the first st and pull up a loop, pull a loop through 2 loops on the hook, YO, insert your hook in the second st and pull up a loop, pull a loop through 2 loops on the hook, pull a loop through 3 loops on the hook (fork made), (pull a loop through 2 loops on the hook) 3 times. (see images below)

**forked-long leg-ttc = YO 4 times, insert your hook in the last dc of the petal and pull up a loop, pull a loop through 2 loops on the hook, YO 5 times, insert your hook in the sc 2 rows below and pull up a loop, (pull a loop through 2 loops on the hook) 5 times, pull a loop through 3 loops on the hook (fork made), (pull a loop through 2 loops on the hook) 3 times.

Row 29: without chaining, [skip the first st of the petal, sc in the next ch-sp, sc, (hdc, ch, dc) in the next ch-sp, ch, tc, 2 tc in the next ch-sp, 2 tc in the next st, 2 tc in the next ch-sp, tc, ch, (dc, ch, hdc) in the next ch-sp, sc, sc in the next ch-sp, skip the last st of the petal] 39 times, [skip the first st of the last petal, sc in the next ch-sp, sc, (hdc, ch, dc) in the next ch-sp, ch, tc, 2 tc in the next ch-sp, 2 tc in the next st, 2 tc in the next ch-sp, tc, ch, (dc, ch, hdc) in the next ch-sp, sc, linked-sc in the next ch-sp to the dtc below. Turn.

Row 30: ch 13, (tc INTO the 7th chain of the ch-13 just made and tc in the 2nd tc of the petal) together, [skip 1 st, ch 3, dc, ch 2, dc, skip 1 st, ch 3, (tc in the next st and tc in the 2nd tc of the next petal) together] 39 times, skip 1 st, ch 3, dc, ch 2, dc, skip 1 st, ch 3, (tc in the next st and septuple-crochet* in the last sc of the last petal) together, ch 3, dc around the septuple-crochet. Turn.

*septuple-crochet = YO 6 times, insert your hook in the indicated stitch and pull up a loop, (pull a loop through 2 loops on the hook) 7 times.

Row 31: ch 2, dc, [3 dc in the next ch-sp, dc, 3 dc in the ch-sp, skip the next st, 3 dc in the next ch-sp, skip the next st] 40 times, 3 dc in the next ch-sp, dc, 3 dc in the ch-sp, dc in the 10th ch of the turning chain. Turn.

Row 32: ch, sc 3, [ch 5, skip 1 st, sc 7, ch 7, skip 1 st, sc 7] 25 times, ch 5, skip 1 st, sc 3. Turn.

Row 33:

sl st in the first st, [skip 2 sts, (dc 3, htc, tc 5, htc, dc 3) in the ch-5 loop, skip 2 sts, sl st 3, skip 2 sts, ch, (hdc, ch, hdc, ch, dc, ch, htc, ch, tc, ch, htc, ch, dc, ch, hdc, ch, hdc) in the ch-7 loop, skip 2 sts, ch, sl st 3] 25 times, skip 2 sts, (dc 3, htc, tc 5, htc, dc 3) in the ch-5 loop, skip 2 sts, sl st in the last st.

Row 34: ch 8, hdc in the first tc of the next petal, [skip 1 st, ch, (hdc, ch 8, sl st in the 7th ch, ch, hdc) in the next st, skip 1 st, ch 4, sl st 4, skip to the first hdc of the next petal, dc, dc in the ch-sp, dc, (dc, htc) in the next ch-sp, (htc in the next st and dc in the ch-4 sp on top of the previous petal) together, 2 tc in the next ch-sp, (2 tc in the next st, tc in the next ch-sp) twice, 2 tc in the next st, 2 tc in the next ch-sp, htc in the next st, (htc, dc) in the next ch-sp, dc, dc in the next ch-sp, dc, skip to the 2nd dc of the next petal, sl st 4, ch 2, dc in the second htc of the previous petal (the 6th st up from the bottom of the petal), ch] 25 times, skip 1 st, ch, (hdc, ch 8, sl st in the 7th ch, ch, hdc) in the next st, skip 1 st, ch, hdc in the next st, ch 2, ttc in the last sl st. Turn.

Row 35: ch, [((dtc, ch) 12 times, dtc) in the ch-7 loop, starting in the 2nd tc of the next petal: (sl st 2, picot*) twice, sl st, ch 2, sl st, (picot, sl st 2) twice] 25 times, ((dtc, ch) 12 times) in the ch-7 loop, (dtc in the ch-7 loop and dc INTO the 6th ch of the turning chain) together. Turn.

*picot = ch 3, sl st in the 3rd ch from the hook.

Row 36: ch 2, skip 3 sts, [sc in the ch-sp, sc, sc in the ch-sp, hdc, dc in the ch-sp, dc, 2 htc in the next ch-sp, tc, 2 tc in the next ch-sp, 2 tc in the next st, 2 tc in the next ch-sp, tc, 2 htc in the next ch-sp, dc, dc in the ch-sp, hdc, sc in the next ch-sp, sc, sc in the next ch-sp, ch 4, skip to the center of the next petal, (tc, ch 8, tc) in the ch-2 space of the next petal, ch 4, skip to the 4th st of the next petal] 25 times, sc in the ch-sp, sc, sc in the ch-sp, hdc, dc in the ch-sp, dc, 2 htc in the next ch-sp, tc, 2 tc in the next ch-sp, 2 tc in the next st, 2 tc in the next ch-sp, tc, 2 htc in the next ch-sp, dc, dc in the ch-sp, hdc, sc in the next ch-sp, sc, (sc in the next ch-sp and hdc in the turning chain of the previous row) together. Turn.

Row 37: skip the first st, sl st 2, [(sl st 3, ch 2) 5 times, sl st 3, skip to the ch-8 loop, ((3 tc-bobble*, ch 2) 6 times, 3 tc-bobble) in the ch-8 loop, skip to the first hdc of the next petal] 25 times, (sl st 3, ch 2) 5 times, sl st 5. Turn.

*3 tc-bobble = [YO twice, pull up a loop in the indicated st, (pull a loop through 2 loops on the hook) twice] 3 times, pull a loop through 4 loops on the hook.

Row 38: ch 8, [dc in the first ch-2 sp of the petal, ch 3, dc in the next ch-2 sp, (ch 4, dc in the next ch-2 sp) twice, ch 3, dc in the last ch-2 sp of the petal, ch, skip to the 2nd bobble of the next petal, dc, ch, dc in the next ch-sp, (dc, 2 dc in the next ch-sp) twice, dc, dc in the next ch-sp, ch, dc, ch] 25 times, dc in the first ch-2 sp of the petal, ch 3, dc in the next ch-2 sp, (ch 4, dc in the next ch-2 sp) twice, ch 3, dc in the last ch-2 sp of the petal, ch 2, ttc in the together st 2 rows below. Turn.

Row 39: skipping the ch-spaces: ch 8, dtc in the next st, [ch 3, tc in the next st, ch 3, htc in the next st, ch 3, tc in the next st, ch 3, dtc in the next st, ch 3, skip the next (ch, dc, ch, dc), htc in the next st, ch 3, skip 2 sts, dc in the next st, ch 3, skip 2 sts, htc in the next st, ch 3, skip the next (dc, ch, dc, ch), dtc] 25 times, ch 3, tc in the next st, ch 3, htc in the next st, ch 3, tc in the next st, ch 3, dtc in the next st, ch 3, dtc INTO the 6th ch of the turning chain. Turn.

Row 40: ch 2, dc, dc in the next ch-sp, (dc, 2 dc in the next ch-sp) 4 times, [2 dc in the next st, 2 dc in the next ch-sp, (dc, 2 dc in the next ch-sp) 3 times] 50 times, dc, dc in the ch-sp, dc INTO the 6th ch of the turning chain. Turn.

Row 41: standing bobble*, sl st in the first st, [sl st 2, (sl st, standing bobble, sl st) in the next st] 222 times.

*standing bobble = ch 3, dc, ch 2, sl st in the bottom of the dc.

If you find yourself off by 1 or 2 stitches at the end, don't worry. Just skip 1 slip stitch or add one extra slip stitch in between the 2nd and 3rd to last bobble, ensuring that you stitch a standing bobble in the last stitch.

Tie off.

Blocking

Either steam block or wet block depending on the fiber content (acrylic or natural, respectively) of the yarn you are using.