Ready to challenge your crochet skills and make a beautiful, show-stopping statement piece for winter? The Aimsir Celtic Shawl and Wrap combines rich, dramatic textures like basketweave and intricate arrow cables into an exquisite, cozy accessory. In Gaelic, Aimsir translates directly to "Season" or "Weather," making it the perfect name for a piece designed to shelter you from the chilly turn of the year. Measuring approximately 20 inches wide by 64 inches in length, this advanced-level project works up beautifully in either Red Heart Soft or Hobby Lobby's I Love This Yarn, making it the ultimate fashion statement or heartfelt gift to tuck into this season.
Aimsir Celtic Shawl and Wrap
Designed by Robin Harley, Threaded Flair
SKILL LEVEL: Advanced
MEASUREMENTS: Approximately 20 inches wide by 64 inches in length
ABBREVIATIONS (US Terms)
ch: chain
st(s): stitch(es)
sl st: slip stitch
hdc: half double crochet
dc: double crochet
tr: treble (triple) crochet
fp hdc: front post half double crochet
bp hdc: back post half double crochet
tch: turning chain
MATERIALS
Yarn: 7 balls of Red Heart Soft Yarn (5 oz each) OR 5 balls of Hobby Lobby I Love This Yarn (7 oz each)
Hooks: Size H (5.0mm) crochet hook, and Size I (5.5mm) crochet hook (used strictly for slip stitch rows)
Tools: Blunt tapestry needle
PATTERN NOTES
All beginning chains count as a stitch (hdc, dc, etc.).
All last stitches—including the turning chain (tch)—are counted as a stitch and must be worked.
PATTERN INSTRUCTIONS
Using your Size H hook, Ch 258.
Row 1: Hdc in 3rd ch from hook and in each st across. Turn. (257 hdc)
Row 2: Switch to Size I hook. Ch 1, sl st in the back ridge loops of each st across, making sure to work into the turning chain (tch). Turn. (257 sl st)
Row 3: Switch to Size H hook. Ch 2, hdc in each st across. Turn. (257 hdc)
Row 4 (Double Arrow Row): Ch 3, Skip next 3 hdc, tr in next 2 sts. Working around the front of the tr sts just made, dc in each of the 3 skipped hdc, starting with the stitch farthest away from the arrow direction. Repeat from until 1 st remains, dc in last st. Turn. (257 sts; 51 arrows)
Row 5 (Double Arrow Row): Ch 3, Skip next 3 hdc, tr in next 2 sts. Working behind the tr sts just made, dc in each of the 3 skipped hdc, starting with the stitch farthest away from the arrow direction. Repeat from until 1 st remains, dc in last st. Turn. (257 sts; 51 arrows)
Row 6: Ch 2, hdc in each st across. Turn. (257 hdc)
Row 7: Ch 2, hdc in each st across. Turn. (257 hdc)
Row 8: Switch to Size I hook. Ch 1, sl st in the back ridge loops of each st across. Turn. (257 sl st)
Row 9: Switch to Size H hook. Ch 2, hdc in each st across. Turn. (257 hdc)
FIRST BASKETWEAVE SECTION
Row 10: Ch 2, 3 fp hdc, 3 bp hdc; repeat from across until 1 st remains, hdc in last st. Turn. (257 sts)
Rows 11 12: Ch 2, 3 bp hdc, 3 fp hdc; repeat from across until 1 st remains, hdc in last st. Turn. (257 sts)
Row 13: Ch 2, 3 fp hdc, 3 bp hdc; repeat from across until 1 st remains, hdc in last st. Turn. (257 sts)
Rows 14 15: Ch 2, 3 bp hdc, 3 fp hdc; repeat from across until 1 st remains, hdc in last st. Turn. (257 sts)
Row 16: Ch 2, 3 fp hdc, 3 bp hdc; repeat from across until 1 st remains, hdc in last st. Turn. (257 sts)
Rows 17 18: Ch 2, 3 bp hdc, 3 fp hdc; repeat from across until 1 st remains, hdc in last st. Turn. (257 sts)
Row 19: Ch 2, 3 fp hdc, 3 bp hdc; repeat from across until 1 st remains, hdc in last st. Turn. (257 sts)
Row 20: Ch 2, 3 bp hdc, 3 fp hdc; repeat from across until 1 st remains, hdc in last st. Turn. (257 sts)
CENTER SECTION 1
Row 21: Ch 2, hdc in each st across. Turn. (257 hdc)
Row 22: Ch 2, hdc in the front loops only of each st across. Turn. (257 hdc)
Row 23: Ch 2, hdc in the back loops only of each st across. Turn. (257 hdc)
Row 24 (Half Arrow Row): Ch 3, Skip next 3 hdc, tr in next 2 sts. Working around the front of the tr sts just made, dc in each of the 3 skipped hdc, starting with the stitch farthest away from the arrow direction. Repeat from until 1 st remains, dc in last st. Turn. (257 sts; 51 arrows)
Row 25: Ch 2, hdc in each st across. Turn. (257 hdc)
Row 26: Ch 2, hdc in the front loops only of each st across. Turn. (257 hdc)
Row 27: Ch 2, hdc in the back loops only of each st across. Turn. (257 hdc)
Row 28: Ch 2, hdc in each st across. Turn. (257 hdc)
SECOND BASKETWEAVE SECTION
Row 29: Ch 2, 3 fp hdc, 3 bp hdc; repeat from across until 1 st remains, hdc in last st (repeating the structure of Row 9). Turn. (257 sts)
Rows 30 31: Ch 2, 3 bp hdc, 3 fp hdc; repeat from across until 1 st remains, hdc in last st. Turn. (257 sts)
Row 32: Ch 2, 3 fp hdc, 3 bp hdc; repeat from across until 1 st remains, hdc in last st. Turn. (257 sts)
Rows 33 34: Ch 2, 3 bp hdc, 3 fp hdc; repeat from across until 1 st remains, hdc in last st. Turn. (257 sts)
Row 35: Ch 2, 3 fp hdc, 3 bp hdc; repeat from across until 1 st remains, hdc in last st. Turn. (257 sts)
Rows 36 37: Ch 2, 3 bp hdc, 3 fp hdc; repeat from across until 1 st remains, hdc in last st. Turn. (257 sts)
Row 38: Ch 2, 3 fp hdc, 3 bp hdc; repeat from across until 1 st remains, hdc in last st. Turn. (257 sts)
Row 39: Ch 2, 3 bp hdc, 3 fp hdc; repeat from across until 1 st remains, hdc in last st. Turn. (257 sts)
CENTER SECTION 2
Row 40: Ch 2, hdc in each st across. Turn. (257 hdc)
Row 41: Ch 2, hdc in the back loops only of each st across. Turn. (257 hdc)
Row 42: Ch 2, hdc in the front loops only of each st across. Turn. (257 hdc)
Row 43 (Half Arrow Row): Ch 3, Skip next 3 hdc, tr in next 2 sts. Working behind the tr sts just made, dc in each of the 3 skipped hdc, starting with the stitch farthest away from the arrow direction. Repeat from until 1 st remains, dc in last st. Turn. (257 sts; 51 arrows)
Row 44: Ch 2, hdc in each st across. Turn. (257 hdc)
Row 45: Ch 2, hdc in the back loops only of each st across. Turn. (257 hdc)
Row 46: Ch 2, hdc in the front loops only of each st across. Turn. (257 hdc)
Row 47: Ch 2, hdc in each st across. Turn. (257 hdc)
THIRD BASKETWEAVE SECTION
Row 48: Ch 2, 3 fp hdc, 3 bp hdc; repeat from across until 1 st remains, hdc in last st (repeating the structure of Row 9). Turn. (257 sts)
Rows 49 50: Ch 2, 3 bp hdc, 3 fp hdc; repeat from across until 1 st remains, hdc in last st. Turn. (257 sts)
Row 51: Ch 2, 3 fp hdc, 3 bp hdc; repeat from across until 1 st remains, hdc in last st. Turn. (257 sts)
Rows 52 53: Ch 2, 3 bp hdc, 3 fp hdc; repeat from across until 1 st remains, hdc in last st. Turn. (257 sts)
Row 54: Ch 2, 3 fp hdc, 3 bp hdc; repeat from across until 1 st remains, hdc in last st. Turn. (257 sts)
Rows 55 56: Ch 2, 3 bp hdc, 3 fp hdc; repeat from across until 1 st remains, hdc in last st. Turn. (257 sts)
Row 57: Ch 2, 3 fp hdc, 3 bp hdc; repeat from across until 1 st remains, hdc in last st. Turn. (257 sts)
Row 58: Ch 2, 3 bp hdc, 3 fp hdc; repeat from across until 1 st remains, hdc in last st. Turn. (257 sts)
FINAL EDGING and BORDER
Row 59: Switch to Size I hook. Ch 1, sl st in both loops of each st across. Turn. (257 sl st)
Row 60: Switch to Size H hook. Ch 2, hdc in the third loop (the very front loop located right underneath the top two slip stitch loops) of each st across. Turn. (257 hdc)
Row 61: Ch 2, hdc in each st across. Turn. (257 hdc)
Row 62 (Double Arrow Row): Ch 3, Skip next 3 hdc, tr in next 2 sts. Working around the front of the tr sts just made, dc in each of the 3 skipped hdc, starting with the stitch farthest away from the arrow direction. Repeat from until 1 st remains, dc in last st. Turn. (257 sts; 51 arrows)
Row 63 (Double Arrow Row): Ch 3, Skip next 3 hdc, tr in next 2 sts. Working behind the tr sts just made, dc in each of the 3 skipped hdc, starting with the stitch farthest away from the arrow direction. Repeat from until 1 st remains, dc in last st. Turn. (257 sts; 51 arrows)
Row 64: Ch 2, hdc in each st across. Turn. (257 hdc)
Row 65: Switch to Size I hook. Ch 1, sl st in both loops of each st across. Turn. (257 sl st)
Row 66: Switch to Size H hook. Ch 2, hdc in the third loop (the very front loop located right underneath the top two slip stitch loops) of each st across. Do not fasten off. (257 hdc)
FINISHING
Turn your work to begin processing the short edges. Work the Double Arrow pattern (following the instructions from Rows 4 and 5) evenly along both short ends of the shawl to finish the border cleanly.
Fasten off and use your blunt needle to securely weave in all remaining loose ends.
Trilogy Teaser: Stay Tuned for Part 2!
The Aimsir Celtic Shawl is only the beginning. Because I love the unbeatable warmth and texture of these historic stitches, I have designed an exclusive three-part series!
This month, challenge your skills with the rectangular dimensions of the Aimsir. Then, keep a close eye on your inbox next month for Part 2 of the Celtic Shawl Trilogy, featuring a brand-new silhouette and an entirely different combination of intricate Celtic stitchwork. You won't want to miss it!
Happy crocheting!