The Most Comforting Free Crochet Prayer Shawl Pattern

Updated: 6 November 2026 by Sylwia (MyCrochetory)

Sometimes a hug can’t be there in person, so this crochet prayer shawl pattern goes instead. Make it for a friend going through a rough patch, for your mom, or keep it for yourself for the hard days.

You think about that person with every single row. And they get something you made with your own hands, which no shop can sell.

Meet the Forsythia Shawl. It’s a top-down triangle with bands of tiny lace flowers, calm stripes of double crochet and a picot edge. All of it comes from one cake that fades from deep plum to soft yellow, so you never join a new color and there are no extra ends to weave in.

Thanks to the cotton and wool mix, it’s light enough for spring and still cozy on a chilly evening. Below you’ll find where the idea came from, which yarn I picked and how the rows work, then the free pattern.

Scroll down to the free Forsythia Shawl pattern, or get the ad-free, printable PDF with the stitch chart HERE on Etsy or HERE on Ravelry.

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So What Is a Crochet Prayer Shawl, Anyway?

Don’t worry, there’s no special stitch and no rulebook. A prayer shawl is simply a shawl made with one person in mind, often someone who is sick, grieving or just having a tough time.

Some people pray with every stitch, others just think about the person who will wear it. Both ways count. For me, a crochet prayer shawl pattern has to feel soft and light, so that’s what I aimed for.

A Crochet Prayer Shawl Pattern Inspired by Spring

Leaves or flowers? Ask me and I’ll never pick one, because I love them both. I really wanted to design a shawl inspired by nature, and for this crochet prayer shawl pattern the flowers won.

Then came the name. Forsythia is the shrub that turns bright yellow at the very start of spring, before almost anything else blooms. Look closely at the lace bands and you’ll spot rows of tiny flowers.

How This Crochet Prayer Shawl Pattern Works

Twelve rows. That’s all you need to learn for the whole shawl. You start at the top with a magic ring, then Rows 3 to 14 repeat until the shawl is as big as you want.

Each repeat stacks solid double crochet rows, a light mesh row with little clusters and a band of flower lace. The corner ch-3 space runs straight down the middle, so both sides grow evenly.

And the ending? Tiny picots all along the edge. Without them the edge looks plain, so please don’t skip them.

Yarn for This Crochet Prayer Shawl Pattern

Would you wrap someone in an itchy shawl? Me neither. For anything that touches the skin I always choose soft, non-itchy yarn, and Scheepjes Woolly Whirl passes the neck test.

It’s 70% cotton and 30% wool, and one cake of about 1093 yards (1000 m) covers the whole shawl. Mine is in the Crème Anglaise Centre colorway, and I still recommend it today.

Is your gauge a little off? Keep a cake of Scheepjes Woolly Whirlette in a matching shade nearby, just in case. Any fingering weight gradient cake will work too.

Yarn substitutes

Woolly Whirl is sold out at LoveCrafts for now. If you can’t wait, Scheepjes Whirl is a lovely stand-in with the same 1000 m per cake and the same slow color fade, in 60% cotton and 40% acrylic.

It’s just as soft on the skin, only a touch less warm without the wool. One cake is enough, and since there’s no wool, steam blocking works better than a soak.

Is This Crochet Prayer Shawl Pattern Beginner Friendly?

Can a confident beginner make it? Yes! You’ll use chains, single, half double, double and treble crochet plus a few clusters, and every row is written out for you.

Testers worked through this crochet prayer shawl pattern before it went live, and the PDF adds a stitch chart if you like to see the lace. Never made a magic ring? My magic ring tutorial shows three easy ways.

Planning a gift for later? Pin this crochet prayer shawl pattern so it’s ready when you need it.

Forsythia Free Crochet Prayer Shawl Pattern

• Purchase the ad-free, printable PDF with crochet 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 2020 – 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 shawl you make following this pattern is yours, and you are free to sell it, as long as you credit MyCrochetory as the original designer. For more information, please read the Terms Page.

As a bonus, the ad-free, printable PDF includes a stitch chart. If you’re a visual learner, or you just want to support my work, you can buy it HERE on Etsy or HERE on Ravelry. Thank you!

Materials & Tools:

1. Yarn SCHEEPJES Woolly Whirl 215 g = 1000 m (1093 yd), 70% Cotton and 30% Wool, 1 cake. For the shawl sample I used (478) Crème Anglaise Centre colorway. Substitute: Scheepjes Whirl 215 g = 1000 m (1093 yd), 60% Cotton and 40% Acrylic, 1 cake.

You might need one extra cake of Scheepjes Woolly Whirlette in a matching color if your gauge is a little bit off.

• Hook size 3.5 mm. Adjust hook size if necessary to obtain correct gauge.
• Tapestry needle (to weave and hide yarn ends).
• Scissors.

Level:

Beginner +

Size after blocking:

Wingspan 175 cm / 69”, center depth 78 cm / 30.75”.

Gauge after blocking:

After Row 6 the triangle is approx. 7.5 cm / 3” high.

Gauge is not important for this project. However, changes might result in different yardage requirements and a different finished size.

Notes:

• The pattern uses US crochet terminology.
• The shawl is worked top-down in one piece.
• You can also use yarn in different weights, but just know that the width will be different depending on your gauge.
• dc means 1dc.
• Instructions in square brackets […] are worked as many times as indicated.

Stitches & Abbreviations (US terms):

ch(s) – chain(s) stitch

st(s) – stitch(es)

sc – single crochet

hdc – half double crochet

dc – double crochet

tr – treble crochet

sl st – slip stitch

yo – yarn over

sp – space

beg – beginning

prev – previous

sk – skip

picot – ch3, insert your hook in the third chain from the hook, yarn over and draw the yarn through the stitch and through the loop on the hook.

Pattern

Start with a magic ring or with 5ch and sl st in the first st to close the round.

Row 1: ch4 (counts as a tr here and throughout), 5dc in the ring, ch3, (5dc, 1tr) in the ring. Turn.

Row 2: ch4, 2dc in first st, dc in each st until corner ch-3sp, (2dc, ch3, 2dc) in corner ch-3sp, dc in each st until last st, (2dc, 1tr) in last st. Turn.

Row 3: Rep Row 2

Row 4: ch4, 2dc in first st, ch1, sk 1dc, [dc in next dc, ch1, sk 1dc] rep until corner ch-3sp, (2dc, ch3, 2dc) in corner ch-3sp, ch1, sk 1dc, [dc in next dc, ch1, sk 1dc] rep until last st, (2dc, 1tr) in last st. Turn.

Row 5: ch4, 2dc in first st, sk next dc, dc in next dc, ch1, dc3tog around last made dc, sk next ch-1sp, dc in next dc, [sk next ch-1sp, dc in next dc, ch1, dc3tog around last made dc, sk next ch-1sp, dc in next dc] rep until 1dc remain before corner ch-3sp, ch1, sk next dc, (2dc, ch3, 2dc) in corner ch-3sp, ch1, sk next dc, [dc in next dc, sk next ch-1sp, dc in next dc, ch1, dc3tog around last made dc, sk next ch-1sp] rep until 5sts remain, dc in next dc, sk next ch-1sp, dc in next dc, ch1, dc3tog around last made dc, sk next dc, (2dc, 1tr) in last st. Turn.

Row 6: ch4, 2dc in first st, ch1, sk 1dc, [dc in next dc, ch1, sk 1dc, dc in next ch-1sp, ch1, sk 1dc] rep until 4 sts (ch-1sp counts as a st) remain before corner ch-3sp, dc in next dc, ch1, sk ch-1sp, dc in next dc, ch1, sk next dc, (2dc, ch3, 2dc) in corner ch-3sp, ch1, sk next 1dc, dc in next dc, ch1, sk next ch-1sp, dc in next dc, [ch1, sk 1dc, dc in next ch-1sp, ch1, sk 1dc, dc in next dc] rep until 2sts remain, ch1, sk next 1dc, (2dc, 1tr) in last st. Turn.

Row 7: ch4, 2dc in first st, dc in each dc and ch-1sp until ch-3sp, (2dc, ch3, 2dc) in corner ch-3sp, dc in each dc and ch-1sp until last st, (2dc, 1tr) in last st. Turn.

Row 8: Rep Row 2

Row 9: ch4, 2dc in first st, dc in next 3dcs, ch4, sk next 3dcs, [dc in next 21dcs, ch4, sk next 3dcs] rep until 3dcs remain before ch-3sp, dc in next 3dcs, (2dc, ch3, 2dc) in corner ch-3sp, dc in next 3dcs, ch4, sk next 3dcs, [dc in next 21dcs, ch4, sk next 3dcs] rep until 4sts remain, dc in next 3dcs, (2dc, 1tr) in last st. Turn.

Row 10: ch4, 2dc in first st, dc in next 3dcs, ch3, sk next 2dc, 3hdc in ch-4sp, ch3, sk next 2dc, [dc in next 17dc, ch3, sk next 2dc, 3hdc in next ch-4sp, ch3, sk next 2dc] rep until 3dcs remain before ch-3sp, dc in next 3dcs, (2dc, ch3, 2dc) in corner ch-3sp, dc in next 3dcs, ch3, sk next 2dc, 3hdc in ch-4sp, ch3, sk next 2dc, [dc in next 17dc, ch3, sk next 2dc, 3hdc in next ch-4sp, ch3, sk next 2dc] rep until 4sts remain, dc in next 3dcs, (2dc, 1tr) in last st. Turn.

Row 11: ch4, 2dc in first st, dc in next 3dcs, ch4, sk next 2dc, dc in ch-3sp, dc in next 3hdc, dc in next ch-3sp, ch4, sk next 2dc, [dc in next 13dc, ch4, sk next 2dc, dc in ch-3sp, dc in next 3hdc, dc in next ch-3sp, ch4, sk next 2dc] rep until 3dcs remain before corner ch-3sp, dc in next 3dcs, (2dc, ch3, 2dc) in corner ch-3sp, dc in next 3dcs, ch4, sk next 2dc, dc in ch-3sp, dc in next 3hdc, dc in next ch-3sp, ch4, sk next 2dc, [dc in next 13dcs, ch4, sk next 2dcs, dc in ch-3sp, dc in next 3hdc, dc in next ch-3sp, ch4, sk next 2dcs] rep until 4sts remain, dc in next 3dcs, (2dc, 1tr) in last st. Turn.

Row 12: ch4, 2dc in first st, dc in next 5dc, 2dc in next ch-4sp, ch3, sk first dc, sc in next 3dcs, sk next dc, ch3, 2dc in next ch-4sp, [dc in next 13dcs, 2dc in next ch-4sp, ch3, sk first dc, sc in next 3dcs, sk next dc, ch3, 2dc in next ch-4sp] rep until 5dc remain before corner ch-3sp, dc in next 5dc, (2dc, ch3, 2dc) in corner ch-3sp, dc in next 5dc, 2dc in next ch-4sp, ch3, sk first dc, sc in next 3dcs, sk next dc, ch3, 2dc in next ch-4sp, [dc in next 13dcs, 2dc in next ch-4sp, ch3, sk first dc, sc in next 3dcs, sk next dc, ch3, 2dc in next ch-4sp] rep until 6sts remain, dc in next 5dc, (2dc, 1tr) in last st. Turn.

Row 13: ch4, 2dc in first st, dc in next 9dc, 2dc in next ch-3sp, ch4, sk all sc, 2dc in next ch-3sp, [dc in next 17dc, 2dc in next ch-3sp, ch4, sk all sc, 2dc in next ch-3sp] rep until 9dc remain before corner ch-3sp, dc in next 9dc, (2dc, ch3, 2dc) in corner ch-3sp, dc in next 9dc, 2dc in next ch-3sp, ch4, sk all sc, 2dc in next ch-3sp, [dc in next 17dc, 2dc in next ch-3sp, ch4, sk all sc, 2dc in next ch-3sp] rep until 10sts remain, dc in next 9dc, (2dc, 1tr) in last st. Turn.

Row 14: ch4, 2dc in first st, dc in each dc and 3dc in each ch-4sp across until corner ch-3sp, (2dc, ch3, 2dc) in corner ch-3sp, dc in each dc and 3dc in each ch-4sp across until last st, (2dc, 1tr) in last st. Turn.

Repeat Rows 3 – 14 until desired length.

Picot Row: ch4, (dc, picot, dc) in first st, dc in next 3dcs, picot, [dc in next 4dcs, picot] rep until 2dcs remain before corner ch-3sp, dc in next 2dcs, (2dc, picot, ch3, dc, picot, dc) in corner ch-3sp, dc in next 3dcs, picot, [dc in next 4dcs, picot] rep until 3sts remain, dc in next 2dcs, (2dc, picot, tr) in last st.

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

Stuck on a row? Ask in my Facebook Group or Ravelry Group, or email me at mycrochetory@gmail.com.

Finished your Forsythia? Share it on Instagram with #mycrochetory or #forsythiashawl and tag @mycrochetory so I can see it.

More Lacy Shawls to Give With Love

Got another person in mind? Each of these lacy shawls could be your next crochet prayer shawl pattern.

• Despina Shawl, an asymmetrical shawl with lacy shells and solid stripes.
• Field of Flowers Shawl, a top-down shawl covered in little lace flowers.
• Greta Shawl, a light, airy lace shawl to throw over your shoulders.
• Goldenrod Shawl, a lightweight triangle shawl with simple lace.

More Free Top-Down Triangle Shawls

Hooked on the way a top-down triangle grows? Here are a few more you can start tonight.

• Kalinda Shawl, my wavy top-down triangle shawl in one cake of Scheepjes Whirl.
• Willow Shawl, a moss stitch triangle shawl made with one cake of Woolly Whirl.
• ZygZak Shawl, a bold chevron shawl in three colors.
• Triangle Moss Stitch Shawl, a striped moss stitch shawl that’s easy to memorize.

Crochet Prayer Shawl Pattern FAQ

How can I make this crochet prayer shawl pattern bigger?

Just add more repeats before the Picot Row. Every extra repeat needs more yarn, so keep a second cake close.

What colors work best for a prayer shawl?

Pick the colors the person reaches for most. That can be a soft gradient like this one or something loud and bright.

How do I block the Forsythia Shawl?

Woolly Whirl has wool in it, so wet blocking works well. Soak the shawl, gently squeeze out the water, then pin it into a triangle, open up the flower lace and let it dry.