Crochet granny triangle shawl

Spring is heating up in Sydney (we’ve just had two days in a row that hit 32C/90F!) and I’ve finally caved in and tried to take photos of my granny triangle shawl.

Crochet granny triangle shawl

I first mentioned this granny triangle shawl in January, but among travels and distractions it was a project that I would pack away for weeks and then return to for a few evenings before packing away again. While it was easy to work on (a perfect companion to watching films on TV) I was also keen to spend time experimenting with other yarn projects.

I finally finished the shawl in June, and then ignored the dilemma of how to photograph it until now. It’s huge! I kept forgetting to ask others to photograph me wrapped up in it so here’s the best I can do without help or a model :)

Granny triangle shawl
Granny triangle shawl

Inspiration: Cozy Things describes the general crochet stitches for the granny triangle, and I made up my own scalloped/shell-style border.

Crochet hook: 5mm (US: H size)

Yarn: Fibra Natura Lima (100% superwash wool, 100g/260 metres per ball). I lost count of how many balls of each colour I used but the final weight of the shawl is around 760 grams.

Yarn colours: I had 3 solid colours and one variegated colour and I made decisions on the fly about colour order and the number of rows for each colour.

Measurements: From the neck to the bottom tip is 1.25m (4’1″) and from left to right tips is 2.5m (8’2″).

Tips for crocheting a triangle granny shawl:

  • Stock up on lots (and lots) of yarn.
  • If you’re making stripes:
    • Weave in as you go so you’re not left with a billion yarn ends at the end of your project (unless you enjoy that of course!). I wove in ends with a tapestry needle every five or so colour changes, but there are techniques to weave in as you go.
    • Think about how your colours will work together – pick up your coloured pens (or a tablet computer’s graphics program) and play with thick and thin stripes of your chosen colours, pick dominant and secondary colours, and work out which combinations look good.
  • A project bag will keep your yarns and hook organised when you need a break.
  • Write a note such as “Granny shawl 5mm hook” to keep with your project just in case the crochet hook takes on other projects during down time.

Overall I’m happy with the project. The colours are a little wild but it’s the largest item I’ve made and it’s soft and warm. I’ve got my fingers crossed for some chillier spring evenings so I don’t need to pack it away just yet.

Granny triangle shawlBack of the granny triangle shawl

Close-up of crochet granny clusters