A crochet shawl is shaped like a triangle. The top of the triangle hangs down your back while the other two points become the pieces to wrap around your arms. Any crochet stitch can be used for the body of the shawl, but a chain loop pattern gives the shawl a lacy appearance, even when made with worsted weight yarn. This pattern is also easy for beginners to make because it uses the basic chain stitch and single crochet stitch throughout.

Worsted weight yarn and a size J hook will give you a crochet fabric with a nice texture for a shawl that is warm but not too heavy. Feel free, though, to experiment with different weight yarns and different sized crochet hooks to find the fabric style that is right for the shawl you want to make. Stitch a 4-inch swatch following the shawl pattern to get a feel for the result before you tackle the entire garment.