Life in the Slow Lane – Crochet Pattern

I’m releasing the UK terms version of my Life in the Slow Lane shawl today!

I have a couple of other versions in the works, including Dutch, German and Czech!  When they’re available I’ll post them here.

The German is done, you can find it here.

The Dutch is also added, you can find that one here.

I’m also adding this to Ravelry as a printable PDF which will include a chart and US terms for a nominal fee.

What You’ll Need

1 skein of Scheepjes Whirl in your colour choice.  Colours used in this pattern are Dark Grape Squish and Coral Catastrophe
4mm (G) hook
Tapestry needle

Measurements

160 x 120 cm blocked

Tension

23 sts and 14 rows (in pattern) to measure 10 x 10 cm (4in) using a 4mm (G) hook

Abbreviations

(UK terms)

Ch chain
Miss miss instructed number of stitches
Htr half treble crochet
2htrcl  2 half treble cluster (see notes)
HtrInc Half treble increase (2 htr in the same stitch)

Notes

This is a beginner friendly pattern, worked back and forth in rows, increasing at one side only.  The shawl will become a large triangle.

Repeat instructions between brackets (…) where instructed.

Ch2 at the beginning of each row, this does not count as a stitch throughout.

The 2htrcl at the end of each second row is to straighten the edge, making a border redundant. To work the 2htrcl, yarn over hook, insert hook, pull up a loop, yarn over hook, pull through 2 loops, insert hook, pull up a loop, yarn over hook, pull through all loops.

Stitch counts are deliberately left out of this pattern to condense the length.  Each row will increase by one stitch. Remember, when working a fast lane (htr, ch1, miss 1) row, you should always have an odd stitch count.  The return row will be even.

Instructions

Row 1 Ch3, 2htr in the third ch from the hook, turn.
Row 2 Ch2 (does not count as a stitch here or throughout), htr in the same, ch1, 2htrcl in the last. Turn
Row 3 Ch2 (does not count as a stitch), htr in the same, htr in the ch space, htrInc in the last, turn.
Row 4 Ch2 (does not count as a stitch), htr in the same, ch1, htr next, ch1, miss 1, 2htrcl in the last, turn.
Row 5 Ch2 (does not count as a stitch), htr in the same, (htr in ch space, htr), repeat to and into second last, htrInc.
Row 6 Ch2 (does not count as a stitch), htr in the same, ch1, (htr, ch1, miss 1) to and into second last, 2htrcl.
Row 7 Ch2 (does not count as a stitch), htr in the same, htr to and into second last (including ch spaces), htrInc.

Repeat rows 6 and 7 five more times.

Now work the slow lanes:

Row 18 Ch2 (does not count as a stitch), htrInc in the same, htr to and into second last, 2htrcl.
Row 19 Ch2 (does not count as a stitch), htr in the same, htr to and into second last, htrInc.
Row 20 Ch2 (does not count as a stitch), htr in the same, ch1, (htr, ch1, miss 1) to and into second last, 2htrcl
Row 21 Ch2 (does not count as a stitch), htr in the same, htr to and into second last (including ch spaces), htrInc

Repeat rows 18-21 twice more.

Now work in the following sets:

(Repeat rows 6 and 7 seven times, then repeat rows 18-21 three times), which will create one full set of fast and slow lanes.

Continue in these sets until there is just enough yarn so that you will finish with a slow lane.  Do not finish on a row 6/7 repeat alone. If the tension has been matched, there will only be a small amount of yarn left over. Weave in ends and block to size.

Need Yarn?

Scheepjes as always has the full list of whirly retailers on their website, plus you can check out some of the retailers I like to recommend:

Wool Warehouse* ships all over the world, and so does Deramores*.

Caro’s Atelier* is my local yarn store here in Almere.

Black Sheep Wools* is the largest bricks and mortar yarn store in the UK, and Knotty House* has North America covered.

In South Africa you can’t go past Be Inspired, and in Australia head to Yarnish.

You can also check out my designer store at Deramores.com – it’s where I stock some of my designs, and this one will be added when it’s finished too!