Chakra Shawl – Free Crochet Pattern

The Chakra Shawl was designed to keep me warm at the end of my yoga class through the transition from active movement to rest (savaasana). It is A simple elegant triangle shawl designed to reflect the chakra system with colour coded tapestry and surface crochet elements.

Purchase an add free version of this pattern on Ravelry, Etsy or Love Crafts Crochet

When designing this shawl, I knew wanted something simple, and unfussy, for drape and comfort, but with a meaningful burst of colour.

The chakra system is a map of seven energy points throughout the body. Chakras are aligned along the spinal column from the base to the crown of the head. They are made up of the root, sacral, solar plexus, heart, throat, third eye and crown chakras.

In Sanskrit, chakra means wheel or circle, and the system is consistently represented with coloured circular symbols or mandalas.

This was the inspiration behind the circular tapestry crochet colourwork, placed evenly up the central solid spine of single crochet, which is the focus of the design.

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Many yoga practitioners work with the chakra system in their practice. It is believed that paying attention to chakra’s, ensuring they remain open, allowing the energy to flow freely will maintain harmony between the physical body, mind and spirit.

Skill Level

This is a relatively simple pattern suitable for beginners looking to try a new technique or two.

You’ll need to know the following:

• Basic crochet stitches and terminology
• Working in rows
• Colour changes within a row (tapestry crochet, using a simple chart)
• Surface crochet (slip stitching across the fabric)
• Gentle Blocking

The shawl uses single crochet (UK double crochet) and chains throughout. It also incorporates some simple tapestry crochet colour work – just enough to keep it interesting without being overwhelming.

The shawl pattern itself is incredibly meditative and calming to work (or at least I found it that way!), which all adds to the mindful nature of the design.

The coloured horizontal lines are worked using surface crochet, which involves slip stitching into the finished crochet fabric. This is a great opportunity to experiment with it on a fabric which was designed for the purpose. (It’s also optional if you want to keep things simple!)

Sizing

The finished shawl measures approximately 160cm in wingspan (across the top at its widest point) and is 80cm deep.

You can change the size by adding or removing rows or working with different weight yarns.

Materials

Because of the inspiration and function of the shawl, I knew I wanted to used natural fibres which would provide warmth in addition to their sweat wicking properties.

That’s why I chose Scheepjes bamboo soft. 50% Bamboo, 50% Cotton, 50g= 150m. It is also uses recycled waste water in production to minimise the water which goes into producing cotton yarns.

You get the durability of the cotton mixed with the softness of bamboo. I love this combination!

You will need approximately 900m / 300g of fingering weight yarn in the Main Colour and 15-20m / 5g in each of 7 contrasting colours.

• MC = Antique Silver (Shade 264)
• CC1 = Hot Berry (Shade 262)
• CC2 = Real Orange (Shade 261)
• CC3 =Golden Nugget (Shade 260)
• CC4 = Jade Lapis (Shade 258)
• CC5 = Celestial Blue (Shade 255)
• CC6 = Blue Opal (Shade 253)
• CC7 = Royal Purple (Shade 252)

Hook: 4.5mm crochet hook (I’m a clover amour fan which is what I used for this shawl)

Yarn Substitutions

The yarn I used is a fingering weight yarn. However, you can work it with any yarn and an appropriate hook. The thicker the yarn, the bigger the shawl though so you may want to bear this in mind!!

If you reduce the number of rows to accommodate a thicker yarn, my advice would be to work fewer rows between the colourwork sections.

This pattern would work with most fibres, though different fibre content will have a different drape so do bear that in mind! I wanted something weighty that would feel like a hug which was another reason I chose the cotton bamboo blend!

You can find more information about how to choose a suitable yarn for crochet projects here.

Gauge

Gauge is not essential in this project, though the item you see here used the following gauge: 

24 sts and 22 rows in 10cm of the stitch pattern (after gentle blocking) using a 4.5mm crochet hook or size needed to obtain gauge.

The gauge uses the pattern repeat used in the main body of the shawl, as described in Row 16 (without the solid single crochet spine section). A swatch is not required but you could measure your gauge after the first 30(ish) rows to see if you are on track.

Pattern Notes

General Notes

• Please read all the pattern notes before starting your project
• This pattern uses US crochet terms (UK equivalents are given in brackets in the abbreviations list)
• Numbers at the end of a row indicate the number of stitches in that row
• Instructions written after *asterisks should be repeated as indicated 
• Instructions written between [square brackets] should be repeated the number of times stated
• The chain 4 turning chain is used as an increase, but is not included in the stitch count
• Chain 1 spaces are included in the stitch count

Construction

• The shawl is worked from the bottom tip up to the long edge, increasing each row
• Note that the PDF version of the pattern also contains a schematic to help with visualising the construction and surface crochet
• The central ‘spine’ of the shawl contains a solid single crochet panel,  which increases from the base to 15 stitches across – this is where the tapestry crochet colourwork patterns will be made
• Colourwork instructions are given in the form of a chart
• Once the body of the shawl is complete you will use surface crochet to embellish the pattern
• Note that the fabric is reversible so there is no formal wrong side or right side, however, I worked all my ends on the same side and designated this the wrong side
• The shawl will curl a little at the edges, where the turning chains are made, but a bit of gentle blocking should flatten this out

Stitches& Abbreviations (US Terms)

(UK Equivalent in Brackets)

• ch = chain
• ch-sp = chain space
• PM = place marker
• rep = repeat
• sc = single crochet (UK double crochet)
• sk = skip (UK miss)
• sp = space
• st(s) = stitch(es)

The free pattern starts below, or you can download the add-free PDF version of the pattern, including schematic, from Ravelry, Love Crafts or Etsy.

The Chakra Shawl Pattern

Using MC and a 4.5mm hook;

Row 1: Ch2, 1sc in second ch from hook, turn. 1 sc

Row 2: Ch1 (does not count as a stitch), 3sc in sc, turn. 3 sc

Row 3: Ch4 (counts as turning chain and is not included in the st count), 1sc in first st, ch1, sk next sc, (1sc, ch1, 1sc) in last st, turn. 3 sc, 2 ch1-sp / 5 sts

Row 4: Ch4, 1sc in first sc, *ch1, sk ch1-sp, 1sc in next sc; rep from * to last sc, ch1, 1sc in ch4-sp, turn. 4 sc, 3 ch1-sp / 7sts

Rows 5 – 7: As Row 4. 7 sc, 6 ch1-sp / 13 sts

Row 8: Ch4, 1sc in first sc, [ch1, sk ch1-sp, 1sc in next sc] twice, ch1, sk ch1-sp, 1sc in next 3 sts, [ch1, sk ch1-sp, 1sc in next sc] twice, ch1, 1sc in ch4-sp, turn. 15 sts

Row 9: Ch4, 1sc in first sc, [ch1, sk ch1-sp, 1sc in next sc] twice, ch1, sk ch1-sp, 1sc in next 3 sts, [ch1, sk ch1-sp, 1sc in next sc] three times, ch1, 1sc in ch4-sp, turn. 17 sts

Row 10: Ch4, 1sc in first sc, [ch1, sk ch1-sp, 1sc in next sc] twice, ch1, sk ch1-sp, 1sc in next 7 sts, [ch1, sk ch1-sp, 1sc in next sc] twice, ch1, 1sc in ch4-sp, turn. 19 sts

Row 11: Ch4, 1sc in first sc, [ch1, sk ch1-sp, 1sc in next sc] twice, ch1, sk ch1-sp, 1sc in next 7 sts, [ch1, sk ch1-sp, 1sc in next sc] three times, ch1, 1sc in ch4-sp, turn. 21 sts

Row 12: Ch4, 1sc in first sc, [ch1, sk ch1-sp, 1sc in next sc] twice, ch1, sk ch1-sp, 1sc in next 11 sts, [ch1, sk ch1-sp, 1sc in next sc] twice, ch1, 1sc in ch4-sp, turn. 23 sts

Row 13: Ch4, 1sc in first sc, [ch1, sk ch1-sp, 1sc in next sc] twice, ch1, sk ch1-sp, 1sc in next 11 sts, [ch1, sk ch1-sp, 1sc in next sc] three times, ch1, 1sc in ch4-sp, turn. 25 sts

Row 14: Ch4, 1sc in first sc, [ch1, sk ch1-sp, 1sc in next sc] twice, ch1, sk ch1-sp, 1sc in next 15 sts, [ch1, sk ch1-sp, 1sc in next sc] twice, ch1, 1sc in ch4-sp, turn. 27 sts.

Row 15: Ch4, 1sc in first sc, [ch1, sk ch1-sp, 1sc in next sc] twice, ch1, sk ch1-sp, 1sc in next 15 sts, [ch1, sk ch1-sp, 1sc in next sc] three times, ch1, 1sc in ch4-sp, turn. 29 sts

Add a PM in each ch1-sp before and after the central spine of 15 sc. 

Row 16: Ch4, 1sc in first sc, *ch1, sk ch1-sp, 1sc in next sc; rep from * to PM, ch1, sk ch1-sp (where PM is placed), 1sc in next 15 sc, *ch1, sk ch1-sp, 1sc in next sc; rep from * to last sc, ch1, 1sc in ch4-sp, turn. 31 sts

At the end of the row, move your PMs up to the corresponding ch1-sp in the new row. 

The remainder of the shawl will repeat the Row 16 pattern (pattern row) with the solid spine of 15 sc in the centre of the shawl. The PMs are there to remind you to change from working the ‘ch1, sk ch1-sp, 1sc’ pattern rep to work sc only. You can continue to use them or discard them once you get into the rhythm.

Rows 17 – 20: As Row 16. 39 sts

Colourwork Section Begins

Tips For Colourwork

• Change colours on the final pull through of the previous stitch
• I recommend carrying the MC yarn through your work
• Drop the CC at the end of each colour section and pick it up when needed on the next row
• The chart relates to the 15sc column in the centre of your shawl only
• Each square on the chart represents 1sc in either the MC or CC
• The chart is symmetrical so it doesn’t matter if you start on the left or right, top or bottom, though the tradition is to start on the bottom right for right-handed crocheters and bottom left for left-handers

Continuing with the Row 16 pattern row repeat, you will now begin the colourwork in the block of 15 sc which form the central spine of the shawl.

Colourwork Section:

Rows 21 – 30: Continuing to repeat Row 16, follow the colourwork chart below for the central spine, using CC1. 61 sts

Rows 31 – 40: As Row 16. 79 sts

Rows 41 – 50: Repeat the colourwork section using CC2. 99 sts

Rows 51 – 60: As Row 16. 119 sts

Rows 61 – 70: Repeat the colourwork section using CC3. 139 sts

Rows 71 – 80: As Row 16. 149 sts

Rows 81 – 90: Repeat the colourwork section using CC4. 189 sts

Rows 91 – 100: As Row 16. 199 sts

Rows 101 – 110: Repeat the colourwork section using CC5. 219 sts

Rows 111 – 120: As Row 16. 239 sts

Rows 121 – 130: Repeat the colourwork section using CC6. 259 sts

Rows 131 – 140: As Row 16. 279 sts

Rows 141 – 150: Repeat the colourwork section using CC7. 299 sts

Rows 151 – 160: As Row 16. 319 sts

Row 161: Ch4, 1sc in first sc, *ch1, sk 1 st, 1sc in next st; rep from * to last st, ch1, 1sc in ch4-sp, turn. 321 sts

Rows 162 – 167: Ch4, 1sc in first sc, *ch1, sk ch1-sp, 1sc in next sc; rep from * to last sc, ch1, 1sc in ch4-sp, turn. 333 sts

Fasten off, block to shape and to reduce any curl in the edges, sew in ends

Surface Crochet Section

To achieve the same decorative pattern as you see here, follow the instructions below. If you wish you can play with the surface crochet technique to work any design which calls to you!

Tips on surface crochet

• Surface crochet is essentially slip stitching across the surface working through the fabric
• In this pattern, you will work into the chain spaces across the rows, around the circles from the colourwork section and back across the next row to the edge of the shawl
• You will work with your chosen right side facing 
• Insert your hook from front to back of the fabric, (with your working yarn underneath), pull up a loop to slip stitch, continuing across the rows as instructed
• Make sure you keep your tension loose so you do not pull the fabric of the shawl too tight – keep checking this as you work!
• Surface crochet can take a bit of practice but once you get into it, I find it very enjoyable to work and a great way to create effective patterns

Surface crochet embellishment instructions

Working with the right side facing, add place markers up the row ends of your shawl at the 5th row of each of the 10-row colourwork sections, alternating sides with each colourwork section. So on one side for CC1, CC3, CC5, CC7 and on the other side for CC2, CC4, CC6. You can refer to the schematic for an illustration.

Using the relevant CC;

Attach your yarn to the row end and work your surface crochet slip stitch into each ch1-sp across the row until you reach the colourwork section (you should hit the centre of the circle), continue the surface crochet down and around the outside edge of the circle then back across row 6 of the 10-row of colourwork section (again working into the ch1-sp) to the end of the row.

Repeat for each of the colourwork chakras.

Fasten off and sew in ends

Time to hit the mat!

Sharing your finished makes

I love seeing your finished makes – it gives me all the happy feels!

Here’s how you can share them on social media, if that’s your cup of tea!

• On Instagram, you can use the hashtag #HookMeHappy or #ChakraShawl or just tag me @doradexplored
• You can tweet me your pictures, or add them to my Facebook page
• If you have the bug for creating garments, why not join my dedicated facebook group “My Crochet Wardrobe” and share them there?
• If Pinterest is your happy place, you can add them there too – check out my Pinterest account for lots more crochet inspiration from makers across the web!

Happy Hooking 

Dx

Find more shawl patterns here

(C) DoraDoes 2020.  You may sell what you make from my patterns, but please credit me as the designer. The pattern is for personal use only and may not be shared without written consent.  My photos may be shared with full credit.