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Pattern guide · Beginner

Choosing yarn for a shawl

How to choose yarn for a crochet shawl, weighing fibre, yarn weight, drape and hook size, and what each choice does to warmth, weight and how the finished piece falls.

2 min read

The same stitch pattern can make a crisp, sculptural shawl or a soft, fluid one. Most of that difference comes from the yarn.

Fibre

  • Wool is warm, springy and forgiving. Stitches look even, and the fabric recovers its shape well.
  • Wool blends, often with a little nylon, alpaca or silk, add softness, sheen or strength.
  • Cotton is cool and crisp, with excellent stitch definition. It is heavier and has less stretch, so it suits summer wraps.
  • Alpaca is very warm and soft, with a slight halo. It drapes beautifully but can stretch under its own weight in large pieces.

Weight

Lighter yarns (4-ply and DK) give a finer, more fluid shawl. Heavier yarns (aran and chunky) work up quickly into something cosy and substantial, but a large piece can become heavy on the shoulders.

Drape and hook size

For a shawl, you usually want drape more than firmness. Going up half or a whole hook size from the one on the yarn label opens the fabric and lets it fall more softly. Make a small swatch in your stitch pattern, wash it and dry it flat before you commit. It tells you more than any label.

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