Updated: 25 September 2026 by Sylwia (MyCrochetory)

This simple crochet shawl pattern began as a small game with my hook. I saw a nice mix of stitches and rows somewhere, and I wanted to know what shape it could make. After a lot of playing, I got a triangle that grows from one tip, with stripes that run on the diagonal.

You only need three basic stitches and a 4-row repeat, so it’s an easy first shawl if you’re new to crochet. Below, I show you how the shawl grows, which yarn to pick and how to block it.

The free pattern comes after that, so just scroll down. Want an ad-free printable PDF with the stitch chart? You can get it on Etsy or Ravelry.

Not ready to start yet? Save this pin to your Pinterest board, so you can find this easy shawl fast when you are.

How this simple crochet shawl grows

This simple crochet shawl grows from one tiny tip, and that shape is the reason I designed it. You start with a chain of 5 and one double crochet. That’s all Row 1 is: two double crochets with a small chain space between them.

From there, every row adds a few stitches at the same edge. So the shawl gets wider on that side, row by row, while the other side stays straight. In a top-down triangle shawl, like my Aprilace Shawl, the rows run straight across. In Aprilis, they run on a slant, so every row becomes a diagonal stripe. To keep the straight side neat, try my tips on how to crochet straight edges.

Look at the photo of my shawl on the wall, and you’ll see them right away. The stripes start at the top edge and go down at an angle, one next to the other.

Why it’s an easy crochet shawl pattern for beginners

If you can chain, single crochet and double crochet, you can make this easy crochet shawl pattern for beginners. Those are the only three stitches in the whole pattern. Some single crochets go into the back loop only, but it’s the same stitch, just in a different place. That’s why I marked the level as Beginner+: you need the basics, and nothing more.

If these stitches are new to you, my free crochet tutorials for beginners show each one step by step.

The other easy part is the repeat. It’s only 4 rows long, and each row has its own clear job. In Row 3, you work single crochet into every stitch and space, so you get a flat row. In Row 4, you work single crochet in the back loop, which leaves a thin ridge line on top. Then come Rows 5 and 6, with double crochet and one chain between them, and together they make an open band with little holes.

After Row 6, you simply go back to Row 3 and start again. So after two or three repeats, you’ll know the pattern by heart, and you won’t need to check it all the time.

Which yarn to use for your Aprilis Shawl

I made my Aprilis with Scheepjes Our Tribe, and for your shawl you can use it or any other sport or fingering weight yarn. You’ll need about 840 m, which is 2 skeins of Our Tribe. It’s 70% merino and 30% polyamide, and in this thin yarn the shawl is great for warmer weather.

My colorway is Cypress Textiles (970), and that’s where the blue, sage green, gray and cream come from. Because it’s a yarn that changes color on its own, every few rows get a new shade. So you get color stripes on top of the texture stripes, without changing colors yourself.

A solid color works too. Then you’ll mostly see the texture: the open bands and the ridge lines. Pick what you like more, since the pattern works the same way with both.

With 2 skeins, you’ll need to join new yarn once. My guide on how to join yarn ends shows 4 easy ways to do it. And if you join at the start of a row, a standing stitch gives you a neater edge than a turning chain.

How to make your Aprilis Shawl bigger or smaller

To make your Aprilis Shawl bigger or smaller, you just stop on a different row, and that’s the fun of a shawl that grows from one tip. You can finish on Row 8, 12, 16 and so on, on any row that’s a multiple of 4. My shawl ends on Row 140, and it’s about 154 cm wide and 76 cm deep at the center.

Why a multiple of 4? Because then you always finish at the end of a full repeat, on a back loop row with its neat ridge line. So for a smaller shawl, stop on Row 100 or 120. For a bigger one, keep going past Row 140 until you like the size.

Just keep an eye on your yarn when you go bigger, because every extra row is a little longer than the last one. Before you start a new repeat, check that you have enough yarn left to get to the next multiple of 4.

How to block your crochet shawl

Before I wear my Aprilis, it gets a bath: I wet block it, because Our Tribe is a merino yarn. First I soak the shawl in water. Then I gently stretch it into shape and pin it to a blocking mat, and I let it dry completely before I take the pins out.

Blocking matters here because the size and gauge in the pattern are measured after blocking. So if you skip it, your shawl may come out smaller than mine.

Using cotton or acrylic yarn? You can block it the same way, with water, but I like steam more for these fibers, because it’s faster and safe for them. I pin the dry shawl to the mat and hold my iron about 1 cm above it, moving it over the whole shawl with hot steam. The iron never touches the yarn, only the steam does.

Aprilis shawl FAQ

Is the Aprilis Shawl pattern good for beginners? Yes, and the section on why it’s easy for beginners shows exactly what you need to know. If you’ve never made a shawl before, start with my guide on how to crochet a triangle shawl.

Is there a video tutorial for this shawl? No, the pattern is written only. To check your work as you go, use the stitch counts after each row, which are in the pattern.

Can I use half double crochet instead of single crochet? I haven’t tested it, so I can’t tell you how it will look. But it’s worth a try. Make a small piece first and see if you like the result before you start the whole shawl.

Is there a stitch chart? Yes, the stitch chart is in the ad-free printable PDF on Etsy and Ravelry. The blog has the written pattern and a blurred preview of the chart.

Why is it called Aprilis? I published the pattern in April 2018, and Aprilis is the Latin word for April.

Can I sell the shawls I make from this pattern? Yes, the shawl you make is yours to sell. Please credit MyCrochetory as the designer. You can’t sell or share the pattern itself.

I love seeing your finished shawls, so please share your Aprilis on social media with the hashtag #mycrochetory.

Got a question while you crochet? Come ask in my Facebook Group or my Ravelry Group. You can also find me on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest.

Aprilis simple crochet shawl free pattern

• Purchase the ad-free, printable PDF with stitch chart here on ETSY or here on Ravelry.
• Add this pattern to your Ravelry Queue HERE.
• Grab the MyCrochetory Shawl Pattern BUNDLE that includes 14 patterns for one low price HERE.
• Pin it for later.

Copyright 2018–2026 MyCrochetory. All rights reserved. This pattern is property of Sylwia Kawczyńska @MyCrochetory. Please DO NOT sell the pattern and claim this pattern as your own. The pattern is for personal use only and may not be translated or reproduced in another language. Please respect my rights, DO NOT share or publish this pattern anywhere without my permission.

The simple crochet shawl you make following this pattern is yours, you are free to sell it, as long as you credit MyCrochetory as original designer. For more information, please read the Terms Page.

As a bonus I have included a stitch chart in the ad-free, printable PDF  crochet pattern for anyone, who want to support my work and purchase this crochet pattern HERE on ETSY or HERE on Ravelry.

Materials & Tools:

1. Yarn SCHEEPJES Our Tribe 100g = 420m, 70% Merino Superwash and 30% Polyamide, 2 skeins. For the shawl sample I used Cypress Textiles (970) colorway.
2. Hook size 3.5 mm. Adjust  hook size if necessary to obtain correct gauge.
3. Tapestry needle (to weave and hide yarn ends)
4. Scissors.

Level:

Beginner +

Gauge after blocking:

After 12 rows triangle is approx. 10cm/4in wide.

Gauge isn’t very important for this project, but a different gauge will change the amount of yarn you need and the finished size.

Size after blocking:

Approx. wingspan 154cm, center depth 76cm.

Notes:

• The pattern uses US Terminology
• Aprilis Shawl is worked from one corner of the shawl to the opposite side.
• You can adjust the length/width of this shawl by adding or removing rows. You can finish on any row that’s a multiple of 4, starting from Row 8 (Row 8, 12, 16 and so on). My shawl finished at Row 140.

Stitches & Abbreviations (US terms):

ch – chain stitch

st(s) – stitch(es)

sc – single crochet

BLsc – back loop only single crochet

dc – double crochet

Instructions in square brackets […] are worked as many times as indicated

PATTERN

Row 1: ch5 (counts as ch1, dc and ch1) and dc in 5th ch from hook. Turn. (2dc, 1 ch-1 space)

The chain-5 counts as ch1 (the chain your dc goes into), a dc (the next three chains) and a ch1 (the last chain).

Row 2: ch4 (counts as a dc and ch-1 space), skip first ch-1 space, (dc, ch1, dc) in 4th chain of 5th at beginning of previous row. Turn. (3dc, 2 ch-1 spaces)

“4th chain of 5th” means: count the chain-5 from Row 1 from the bottom, starting with the chain your dc went into. The 4th chain is the top of the part that works as a double crochet.

Row 3: ch1 (counts as a sc), 2sc in first st, sc in every st(s) and ch-1 spaces to the end of row. Turn. (7sc)

Row 4: ch1 (does not count as a sc), BLsc until last st remain, 3 sc in last st. Turn. (9sc)

Row 5: ch4 (counts as a dc and ch-1 space), dc in first st, [ch1, skip 1 st, dc in next st] repeat to the end of row. Turn. (6dc, 5 ch-1 spaces)

Row 6: ch4 (counts as a dc and ch-1 space), skip first ch-1 space, [dc in next st, ch1, skip next ch-1 space] repeat until last st remain, (dc, ch1, dc) in 3rd chain of 4th at beginning of previous row. Turn. (7dc, 6 ch-1 spaces)

Rows 7-140: Repeat Rows 3-6

Fasten off yarn, weave in all ends and block your shawl.

If you have any suggestions or have detected any mistakes, please feel free to email me at mycrochetory@gmail.com

MORE FREE SIMPLE CROCHET SHAWL PATTERNS YOU MIGHT LIKE

• Aprilace Shawl. Liked the rows in Aprilis? Aprilace uses the same kind of 4-row repeat, with single crochet, back loop single crochet and double crochet. The difference is the shape: it’s a symmetrical triangle worked from the top down.
• Flores Shawl. Still have some Our Tribe? Flores is made with 2 skeins of it too. It’s an asymmetrical shawl worked from the top down, and it’s a quick project for adventurous beginners.
• Willow Shawl. This one grows the same way as Aprilis, from a few stitches at one tip. It’s worked in moss stitch with V-stitch rows and a pointed edge, and it takes one cake of Scheepjes Wolly Whirl. The pattern has written instructions and a chart.
• Triangle Moss Stitch Shawl. Want something even simpler? This shawl has a one-row repeat of moss stitch, so you only need chains and single crochet. It’s worked from the center top down in fingering weight yarn.

Want more? Browse all my free crochet shawl patterns.

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Where did you stop your Aprilis: Row 140, or earlier or later? Tell me in the comments, along with the yarn you picked. And if a row doesn’t work out, ask me there too. Someone else is probably stuck on the same row.