I designed and crocheted the Tango Shawl while at the CGOA Chainlink conference this year - surrounded by all the lovely crochet, there was so much inspiration! And I got a unique opportunity to have some special models that you just might know too!
Disclaimer: This post includes affiliate links; materials provided by Lion Brand and Furls Crochet.
How to Wear Asymmetrical Shawls!
The Tango Shawl is made with an easy four row repeat, in an asymmetrical style - and when you're done, you're done. No borders! It's a perfect one skein project.
But as fun as asymmetrical shawls are to make - how do you wear them? It's a question I've heard several times, so I decided to ask some very special friends to show me how *they* would wear it! In fact, that's how it got the name "Tango Shawl" - it had a few of them dancing as they tried it on!
Some of the photos are a little blurry - shooting in a hotel lobby with a cell phone isn't the best - but I hope they give you some great ideas! And I've linked their blogs for you to check out too!
Pia Thadani of Stitches 'N' Scraps! Pia wins the bravery award for going first!
Linda Dean of Linda Dean Crochet! She *really* likes this shawl. 😉
Laurinda Reddig of ReCrochetions and Ficstitches Yarns! Blurry photo because we were laughing so hard!
Kathy Lashley of ELK Studio! Who thinks we need to have a meet and greet with all these amazing designers next year?
Elena Hunt of Beatrice Ryan Designs! She's decorating a new condo right now - lots of fab patterns to share!
Jennifer Pionk of A Crocheted Simplicity! I so enjoyed getting to know Jennifer better this year - and seeing her work in person!
Andee Graves of Mamas2Hands! Andee even wore a matching skirt - and shows off her summer and winter looks!
Julie Desjardins of ACCROchet! My very favorite Québécois designer!
Jessie Rayot of Jessie at Home! Jessie is one of the kindest, most generous designers I know. ♥
Shira Blumenthal from Lion Brand! Okay, so the shawl wasn't quite done, and we totally took this photo outside the elevator at about 10pm, but she was such a good sport, and how could I pass up this opportunity! Thanks Shira!
So as you can see, there are lots of ways to wear the Tango Shawl - or any asymmetrical shawl - probably more than we were even able to show here! If you have your own way, please hop over to the Moogly Facebook page and share!
But first you need something to wear in that photo - so let's get to the pattern!
Tango Shawl
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US-J, 6.0mm hook - Furls Crochet
1 ball Lion Brand Shawl in a Ball (Worsted/”4″/UK: 10 ply; 518 yds/473 m; 5.3 oz)
Colorway Shown: Metallic - Prism
Gauge: 13 sts x 6 rows = 4"/10cm in pattern
Helpful Links:
Tango Shawl Video Tutorial and Chart
Crochet Abbreviations
Magic Circle
Wrap Stitch
Chainless Starting Double Crochet (CSDC)
Shawl pin shown in mannequin photos by Lickin Flames
Special Stitch:
Wrap St - (2 dc cluster wrapped around the last 2 sts): *Yo and placing hook in front of previous 2 sts, yo with working yarn held behind previous 2 sts, pull loop up to left of previous 2 sts, yo and pull through 2 loops on hook. (2 sts remain on hook) Repeat from *, end with 3 loops remaining on hook. Yo and pull through all 3 loops.
Notes and Tips:
Place a stitch marker on the increase side of the shawl after the first few rows, and move it up every so often as you work. Then you can always tell at a glance if you're on an increase side of the row or a decrease side (even vs odd-numbered row). (And it's right there if you need to secure your working loop when you put the project down between crochet sessions!)
If you prefer a larger shawl, you will need to purchase an additional skein of Shawl in a Ball, but you can just continue with the 4-row repeats until you get the size desired.
If you do not like the Chainless Starting Double Crochet (abbreviated CSDC), you can substitute a ch 3 for the stitch.
The "Ch 2, skip the first st, dc in the next st" at the beginning of each even-numbered row act as a dc2tog - do not crochet into the top of the ch 2 on the odd-numbered rows.
INSTRUCTIONS:
Row 1: Make a magic circle, CSDC in the ring, 2 dc in the ring; close magic circle and turn. (3 sts)
Row 2: Ch 2, skip the first st, dc in the next st, 3 dc in the last st; turn. (4 sts)
Row 3: CSDC in the first st, 2 dc in the same st, dc in the next st, dc2tog; turn. (5 sts)
Row 4: Ch 2, skip the first st, dc in the next st, skip the next st, dc in the last 2 sts, wrap st, 2 dc in the last st; turn. (6 sts)
Row 5: CSDC in the first st, 2 dc in the same st, dc in the next 3 sts, dc2tog; turn. (7 sts)
(Repeat Begins Here)
Row 6: Ch 2, skip the first st, dc in the next st, *skip the next st, dc in the next 2 sts, wrap st, dc in the next st; rep from * until 1 st remains, 3 dc in the last st; turn. (8 sts)
Row 7: CSDC in the first st, 2 dc in the same st, dc in each st until 2 sts remain, dc2tog; turn. (9 sts)
Row 8: Ch 2, skip the first st, dc in the next st, *skip the next st, dc in the next 2 sts, wrap st,** dc in the next st; rep from * ending last rep at **, 2 dc in the last st (same st as last dc before wrap st); turn. (10 sts)
Row 9: Repeat Row 7.
Rows 10 - 77 (or to size desired): Repeat Rows 6 - 9, with the stitch count increasing by 1 for each row.
Row 78: Ch 1, sc in each st across; break yarn and weave in ends. Lightly block if needed.
More Ideas Please!
Easy as can be! I loved seeing all these wonderful designers try on one of my designs fresh off the hook - such an honor!
And I hope you enjoy crocheting the Tango Shawl! I can't wait to see what all of you do with the pattern too!
Looking for other patterns that use Lion Brand Shawl in a Ball? Check out these freebies: Lotus Blossom Shawl, Winged Wrap, Amara Shawl, and the Amelia Shawl!
THE FINE PRINT
Written pattern copyright Tamara Kelly 2017, all rights reserved. Please do not reprint or repost this pattern, but please do link to this page to share this pattern with others.
To print or download, use the Print Friendly button below, or go to PrintFriendly.com, or right click to copy and paste it into a word processing document if those options do not work for you (please note that Print Friendly is a free outside website that the button links to, and you can click here for a tutorial on how to use it, but I cannot provide additional technical support for this service). If you wish to make items for sale from this pattern or translate it to another language, please visit the About page for details.
Thank you to Lion Brand Yarn for providing the yarn for this pattern. And thank you to all the designers for being such great models!
kris says
Gorgeous! Thanks for sharing. And all the lovely ladies featured here look so nice in their shawls! I love all the pics of them!
Tamara Kelly says
😀 Thank you so much Kris! I was so honored they all agreed to model for me!
SHeila says
Love the finished product -- the shawl,........the colouration of 'yarn gives "weight" to an otherwise skinny piece (one half), and 'just love the jeweltones: ). .........the "girls" are great models and look happy.......ALL of 'em! .....'like your directions 'n description -- all-around, 'am so pleased you shared this! Can't wait to yarn-shop tomorrow (for similar tones) and get at it!
Tamara Kelly says
Thank you so much Sheila! 😀
BeXaida says
Hi I found it with joy , saw this on Instagram and looked ofr it and came to qeo g place ro findIt?... But finally fot ir!.... thanks !.
Tamara Kelly says
🙂 I'm so glad you like it, thank you!
Lesley says
Thanks for a lovely pattern beautifully modeled. Would it be possible for you to do a Video to show the first 8 or 10 rows. I have looked up the videos on CSDC and the Wrapped Stitches but am still having a little trouble getting started.
Tamara Kelly says
Hi Lesley! I'll add it to my schedule for sure!
Lesley Innes says
Thank you Tamara.. Looking forward to the Video.
Alison Hall says
A great post Tamara, interesting to meet the other designers. It's a stunning shawl, thank you for the free pattern.
Alison
Tamara Kelly says
Thank you so much Alison!
Connie sTern says
Another gorgeous pattern! Should be no surprise though. Could you recommend a substitute for the yarn? I love the look of the shawls you have made with it but it is not available locally for me to see and touch. I have read lots of negative reviews on the quality of 'shawl in a ball' so I am wary of ordering it online. I absolutely love your patterns and have used many of them . Thanks so much for sharing them.
Tamara Kelly says
Hi Connie! Thank you so much! Hm, that's a tough one, it's a pretty unique yarn. Perhaps Landscapes, or Color Waves? Both will require more than one skein though.
Deborah Kearney says
Thanks so much for this beautiful shawl ,Pattern,I remember seeing quite a few of these designers at Cgoa conference with so many beautiful garments ,it truly has inspired me to get back in the hooks again 😁.i finished a top I started at the conference just the other day 😊
Tamara Kelly says
😀 Thank you so much Deborah!
Elizabeth says
Beautiful
Tamara Kelly says
Thank you so much! 🙂
Laura says
I think the shawl is stunning! I'm having a hard time understanding the first few rows of the pattern. Do the CSDC stitches count as a stitch?
I can't wait for the video tutorial to go along with it. 😄😄
Tamara Kelly says
Hi Laura! Yes, the CSDC counts as a dc - if you prefer, you can just do the usual ch-3 for the first dc. 🙂
Brigitta Harris says
Hi Tamara, I’m just starting this wonnderful shawl. When I do the 2nd row, I’ve got 5 stitches, including the CDSC, rather than 4. Any thoughts as to what I might be doing wrong?
Thanks
Brigitta
Brigitta Harris says
Sorry, I meant to say ‘including the ch2’ at beginning of row. 😁
Tamara Kelly says
Hi Brigitta! The ch 2 does not count as a stitch - combined with the dc in the next st, it acts as a dc2tog. 🙂
Bh says
Thanks for the reply! 😃 I think that’s my problem sorted lol! Thank you! X
Brigitta Harris says
Thanks Tamara! I really appreciate the help! 🙂 I'm doing row 3. It says at the end (5sts); I have 6, if I include the CSDC 🙁 I think I'm not too good at this malarkey, I'm not sure where I'm going wrong. Again. So sorry to bother you again... x
Tamara Kelly says
Hi Brigitta! Here's how to count the sts in Row 3:
CSDC - 1
2dc in the same st - 2
dc in the next st - 1
dc2tog - 1
Does that help? 🙂
sylvia says
Can you please let me know if you upload the video?
I can crochet like a crazy woman, but suck at understanding how to fallow the written instructions...
Thanx,
Sylvia
Tamara Kelly says
Hi Sylvia! I can't send out individual emails, but if you follow Moogly on social media or subscribe to the newsletter you'll get the link within a week of it going live!
Barb Hanzelka says
Hi, Tamara - another vote for a video tutorial of the first few rows ... Really want to make this pattern (plan to make it with Mandala) but I'm also having a terrible time understanding the wrap stitch in this context. Thanks! Barb
Tamara Kelly says
Hi Barb! Thank you for the feedback, I've got it on the schedule for early next month!
Brigitta Harris says
And another! Mine looks like a holey mess! Lol!
Tamara Kelly says
Barring any additional tech issues, the video tutorial will be up on November 14!
Brigitta Harris says
Ah thank you so much! I'm such a klutz lol! I love your videos, you're so thorough. Oh and I love your nail coverings, too! :0) xx
Tamara Kelly says
😀 Thank you!
Brigitta Harris says
And another! :)) I love this shawl and am hoping to make one for my daughter in law and one for my other son's gf for Christmas. 🙂 Thank you. xx
Marilou says
Thanks a lot, Tamara for showing the different ways to wear an asymmetrical shawl! This is one of my favorite posts of yours because it shows and ids other crochet bloggers, and your work with different options to wear it. The only other blogger I follow is Kathy from Elk Studios at this point. I'll need to check out the other bloggers and increase my time to crochet to take it to the next level. I hope the trip was a great time.
Tamara Kelly says
I'm so glad to hear it Marilou - I was just lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time for this one! 😀 It was so much fun, I hope you can join us someday!
Albertine says
Hi Tamara,
I have crocheted row 6 3 times now but after the wrap st I have 2 stitches left. So when I've done the wrap stitch I do a dc in the next st and 3 dc in the last stitch. That makes 8 st, but no 'rep from * until 1 st remains.' Am I doing something wrong?
And when I look at the picture with the measurements I see one hole in row 6, so only one wrap stitch.
So my row 6 is:
Ch 2, skip the first st, dc in the next st, skip the next st, dc in the next 2 sts, wrap st, dc in the next st, 3 dc in last stitch (8 sts)
Tamara Kelly says
Hi Albertine!
Row 6 reads: Ch 2, skip the first st, dc in the next st, *skip the next st, dc in the next 2 sts, wrap st, dc in the next st; rep from * until 1 st remains, 3 dc in the last st; turn. (8 sts)
So working across the row, you'll have: ch 2, dc, dc, dc, wrap st, dc, 3 dc
Sounds like you have it correct! The rep from comes into play on the repeats beginning in Row 10.
Albertine says
I thought of the row 6 - 9 repeat when I was lying in bed last night. (Time difference is 7 hours. Almost time to go to sleep again...).
But it's better to be safe than sorry. Thank you!
Tamara Kelly says
😀 I understand! Sleep well!
Albertine says
And goodmorning to you 🙂
I'm making the shawl as a going away present for a colleague of mine. Or I might keep it for myself. Nooo. I can always make another one.
Tamara Kelly says
😀
Dawn says
I am good with the repeat part of the instructions but am confused by the "8 stitches" part. Do you not count something ie the chain 2 maybe since we don't crochet into iron the next row?
Tamara Kelly says
Hi Dawn! The “Ch 2, skip the first st, dc in the next st” at the beginning of each even numbered row act as a dc2tog – do not crochet into (or count as a stitch) the top of the ch 2 on the odd numbered rows. 🙂
Dawn says
Perfect! Thank you very much!
Dawn says
Hi Tamara, I love this shawl! Thanks for sharing the pattern. Quick question about the instructions - where you indicate # of stitches at end your of the first 9 rows, is this how many stitches you have done or how many stitches for the next row? This may be a dumb question but referring to Albertine's question above and row 6, you list 9 stitches but the end count is 8, is there something that is not being counted ie the chain 2, since we do not work into on next row?
Tamara Kelly says
Hi Dawn! The stitch count at the end of the row indicates how many stitches were made in that row. The “Ch 2, skip the first st, dc in the next st” at the beginning of each even numbered row act as a dc2tog – do not crochet into (or count as a stitch) the top of the ch 2 on the odd numbered rows.
Darlene Jansen says
Hi, Would sure love to see a tutorial on the first few rows. Having problems!! Getting tired of ripping out my rows. Thanks
Tamara Kelly says
It's in progress now, and I hope to have it up next week! 🙂
Darlene Jansen says
Been checking in all day today and no tutorial. I read above should be on the 14th. . Hope to make up a couple of these for Christmas gifts. if I can get to see the tutorial soon.
Tamara Kelly says
I'm sorry Darlene, we had a technical snafu uploading the videos to youtube as they are so very long. Barring further issues it will be up tomorrow. I apologize for the delay.
Barb says
Tamara - You are MORE than generous sharing your talents with us! NO need to apologize. Thanks again! Barb
Tamara Kelly says
Thank you for understanding!
Kathleen Wrona says
Love your patterns, thank you for sharing.
I would like to know where I can purchase the pins/stick pins used like a broach to fasten the shawl.
Thank you.
Tamara Kelly says
Hi Kathleen! Thank you! The Shawl pin shown on the mannequin is at https://www.lickinflames.com/ and the other one was a gift from a friend. 🙂
KathLeen says
Oh wow, I love these . Thank you . I already put some in my cart now have to decide which ones I like best.
Tamara Kelly says
😀 You're so welcome! I hope you enjoy using them!
Elaine says
Thanks for the video tutorial, without which I would have been lost. Beautiful shawl.