I’ve been wanting to design a simple, half-circular shawlette for a long time, and at long last the right yarn and the right pattern came together, and the Branching Out Shawlette is the happy end result!
Disclaimer: This post includes affiliate links. This pattern was originally published on May 1, 2015, and was updated in 2024.
The Branching Out Shawlette is a great shawl for beginners – the stitches are simple, but very pleasing, and it’s an easy shawl to make. With its clean, modern lines, I think it’ll please people of all ages. And the Knitpicks Galileo Yarn is perfect. The beautiful yarn combo of merino wool and bamboo make it light but warm, with great stitch definition – and very very soft!
My mannequin, Susan, is a lot more petite than I am – and armless, poor dear. On fluffy 3x, double-armed me with a wingspan of about 5’8″, the Branching Out Shawlette comes to the elbow – and the slightly-more-than-a-semicircle shape stays on very securely! I’m wearing it as I type!
There are no repeat rows in this pattern, so each row and little step gets its own line of instruction. Nonetheless, you’ll probably catch on to the pattern quite quickly! This eye-catching piece would also work in a heavier weight yarn for a larger finished shawl.
Branching Out Shawlette
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US – H, 5.0mm crochet hook – Furls Fiberarts
875 yds Knit Picks Galileo (Sport/5 ply; 50% Merino/50% Bamboo; 131 yards/120 meters; 50 grams)
Colorway Shown: Urchin – 7 skeins
Gauge: 13 sts x 8 rows = 4″
Finished Size: Approximately 54″ wide across top, 27″ long at center back when worn.
For stitch abbreviations and video tutorials, go to the Crochet Abbreviations page.
Special Stitch:
Cluster (dc2tog in one stitch) – yo, insert hook in indicated stitch or ch sp, yo and pull up a loop, yo and pull through 2 loops (2 loops remain on hook), yo, insert hook in same stitch or ch sp, yo and pull up a loop, yo and pull through 2 loops (3 loops remain on hook), yo and pull through all 3 loops to finish stitch.
Branching Out Shawlette Instructions
Row 1: Make a magic circle, dc 7 in the circle; turn. (7 sts)
Row 2: Ch 2 (does not count as a st), 2 dc in the 1st st, (fpdc, dc) in each of the next 2 sts, fpdc in the next st, (dc, fpdc) in each of the next 2 sts, 2 dc in the last st; turn. (13 sts)
Row 3: Ch 2, dc in 1st st, [2 dc in the next st, bpdc in the next st] 5 times, 2 dc in the next st, dc in the last st; turn. (19 sts)
Row 4: Ch 2, dc in 1st st, [2 dc in the next st, dc in the next st, fpdc in the next st] 5 times, 2 dc in the next st, dc in the last 2 sts; turn. (25 sts)
Row 5: Ch 2, dc in 1st st, [2 dc in the next st, dc in the next 2 sts, bpdc in the next st] 5 times, 2 dc in the next st, dc in the last 3 sts; turn. (31 sts)
Row 6: Ch 2, dc in 1st st, [2 dc in the next st, dc in the next 3 sts, fpdc in the next st] 5 times, 2 dc in the next st, dc in the last 4 sts; turn. (37 sts)
Row 7: Ch 2, dc in 1st st, [2 dc in the next st, dc in the next 4 sts, bpdc in the next st] 5 times, 2 dc in the next st, dc in the last 5 sts; turn. (43 sts)
Row 8: Ch 2, dc in 1st st, [2 dc in the next st, dc in the next 5 sts, fpdc in the next st] 5 times, 2 dc in the next st, dc in the last 6 sts; turn. (49 sts)
Row 9: Ch 2, dc in 1st st, [2 dc in the next st, dc in the next 6 sts, bpdc in the next st] 5 times, 2 dc in the next st, dc in the last 7 sts; turn. (55 sts)
Row 10: Ch 2, dc in 1st st, [2 dc in the next st, dc in the next 7 sts, fpdc in the next st] 5 times, 2 dc in the next st, dc in the last 8 sts; turn. (61 sts)
Row 11: Ch 2, dc in 1st st, [2 dc in the next st, dc in the next 8 sts, bpdc in the next st] 5 times, 2 dc in the next st, dc in the last 9 sts; turn. (67 sts)
Row 12: Ch 2, dc in 1st st, [2 dc in the next st, dc in the next 9 sts, fpdc in the next st] 5 times, 2 dc in the next st, dc in the last 10 sts; turn. (73 sts)
Row 13: Ch 2, dc in 1st st, [2 dc in the next st, dc in the next 10 sts, bpdc in the next st] 5 times, 2 dc in the next st, dc in the last 11 sts; turn. (79 sts)
Row 14: Ch 2, dc in 1st st, [2 dc in the next st, dc in the next 11 sts, fpdc in the next st] 5 times, 2 dc in the next st, dc in the last 12 sts; turn. (85 sts)
Row 15: Ch 2, dc in 1st st, [2 dc in the next st, dc in the next 12 sts, bpdc in the next st] 5 times, 2 dc in the next st, dc in the last 13 sts; turn. (91 sts)
Row 16: Ch 2, dc in 1st st, [2 dc in the next st, dc in the next 13 sts, fpdc in the next st] 5 times, 2 dc in the next st, dc in the last 14 sts; turn. (97 sts)
Row 17: Ch 2, dc in 1st st, [2 dc in the next st, dc in the next 14 sts, bpdc in the next st] 5 times, 2 dc in the next st, dc in the last 15 sts; turn. (103 sts)
Row 18: Ch 2, dc in 1st st, [2 dc in the next st, dc in the next 15 sts, fpdc in the next st] 5 times, 2 dc in the next st, dc in the last 16 sts; turn. (109 sts)
Row 19: Ch 2, dc in 1st st, [2 dc in the next st, dc in the next 16 sts, bpdc in the next st] 5 times, 2 dc in the next st, dc in the last 17 sts; turn. (115 sts)
Row 20: Ch 2, dc in 1st st, [2 dc in the next st, dc in the next 17 sts, fpdc in the next st] 5 times, 2 dc in the next st, dc in the last 18 sts; turn. (121 sts)
Row 21: Ch 2, dc in 1st st, [2 dc in the next st, dc in the next 18 sts, bpdc in the next st] 5 times, 2 dc in the next st, dc in the last 19 sts; turn. (127 sts)
Row 22: Ch 2, dc in 1st st, [2 dc in the next st, dc in the next 19 sts, fpdc in the next st] 5 times, 2 dc in the next st, dc in the last 20 sts; turn. (133 sts)
Row 23: Ch 2, dc in 1st st, [2 dc in the next st, dc in the next 20 sts, bpdc in the next st] 5 times, 2 dc in the next st, dc in the last 21 sts; turn. (139 sts)
Row 24: Ch 2, dc in 1st st, [2 dc in the next st, dc in the next 21 sts, fpdc in the next st] 5 times, 2 dc in the next st, dc in the last 22 sts; turn. (145 sts)
Row 25: Ch 2, dc in 1st st, [2 dc in the next st, dc in the next 22 sts, bpdc in the next st] 5 times, 2 dc in the next st, dc in the last 23 sts; turn. (151 sts)
Row 26: Ch 2, dc in 1st st, [dc in the next 24 sts, (fpdc, ch 1, fpdc) in the next st] 5 times, dc in the last 25 sts; turn. (161 sts)
Row 27: Ch 2, dc in 1st st, [dc in the next 24 sts, bpdc in the next st, ch 3, skip the ch -1, bpdc in the next st] 5 times, dc in the last 25 sts; turn. (171 sts)
Row 28: Ch 2, dc in the 1st st, [2 dc in the next st, dc in the next 23 sts, fpdc in the next st, ch 3, skip the ch-3, fpdc in the next st] 5 times, 2 dc in the next st, dc in the last 24 sts; turn. (177 sts)
Row 29: Ch 2, dc in the 1st st, [2 dc in the next st, dc in the next 24 sts, bpdc in the next st, ch 3, skip the ch-3, bpdc in the next st] 5 times, 2 dc in the next st, dc in the last 25 sts; turn. (183 sts)
Row 30: Ch 2, dc in 1st st, [dc in the next 26 sts, fpdc in the next st, ch 3, cluster in the ch-3 sp, ch 3, fpdc in the next st] 5 times, dc in the last 27 sts; turn. (193 sts)
Row 31: Ch 2, dc in 1st st, [dc in the next 26 sts, bpdc in the next st, ch 3, cluster in the next ch-3 sp, skip the next st, cluster in the next ch-3 sp, ch 3, bpdc in the next st] 5 times, dc in the last 27 sts; turn. (198 sts)
Row 32: Ch 2, dc in the 1st st, [2 dc in the next st, dc in the next 25 sts, fpdc in the next st, ch 3, cluster in the next ch-3 sp, skip the next 2 sts, cluster in the next ch-3 sp, ch 3, fpdc in the next st] 5 times, 2 dc in the next st, dc in the last 26 sts; turn. (204 sts)
Row 33: Ch 2, dc in 1st st, [2 dc in the next st, dc in the next 26 sts, bpdc in the next st, ch 3, cluster in the next ch-3 sp, skip the next 2 sts, cluster in the next ch-3 sp, ch 3, bpdc in the next st] 5 times, 2 dc in the next st, dc in the last 27 sts; turn. (210 sts)
Row 34: Ch 2, dc in the 1st st, [dc in the next 28 sts, fpdc in the next st, ch 3, cluster in the next ch-3 sp, skip the next 2 sts, cluster in the next ch-3 sp, ch 3, fpdc in the next st] 5 times, dc in the last 29 sts; turn. (220 sts)
Row 35: Ch 2, dc in 1st st, [dc in the next 28 sts, bpdc in the next st, ch 3, cluster in the next ch-3 sp, ch 1, skip the next 2 sts, cluster in the next ch-3 sp, ch 3, bpdc in the next st] 5 times, dc in the last 29 sts; turn. (225 sts)
Row 36: Ch 2, dc in the 1st st, [dc in the next 28 sts, fpdc in the next st, ch 3, cluster in the next ch-3 sp, skip the next st, cluster in the ch-1 sp, skip the next st, cluster in the next ch-3 sp, ch 3, fpdc in the next st] 5 times, dc in the last 29 sts; turn. (225 sts)
Row 37: Ch 2, dc in 1st st, [2 dc in the next st, dc in the next 27 sts, bpdc in the next st, ch 3, cluster in the next ch-3 sp, skip the next st, cluster in the next st, skip the next st, cluster in the next ch-3 sp, ch 3, bpdc in the next st] 5 times, 2 dc in the next st, dc in the last 28 sts; turn. (231 sts)
Row 38: Ch 2, dc in the 1st st, [2 dc in the next st, dc in the next 28 sts, fpdc in the next st, ch 3, cluster in the next ch-3 sp, skip the next st, cluster in the next st, skip the next st, cluster in the next ch-3 sp, ch 3, fpdc in the next st] 5 times, 2 dc in the next st, dc in the last 29 sts; turn. (237 sts)
Row 39: Ch 2, dc in 1st st, [2 dc in the next st, dc in the next 29 sts, bpdc in the next st, ch 3, cluster in the next ch-3 sp, skip the next st, cluster in the next st, skip the next st, cluster in the next ch-3 sp, ch 3, bpdc in the next st] 5 times, 2 dc in the next st, dc in the last 30 sts; turn. (243 sts)
Row 40: Ch 2, dc in 1st st, [dc in the next 31 sts, fpdc in the next st, ch 3, cluster in the next ch-3 sp, ch 1, skip the next st, cluster in the next st, ch 1, skip the next st, cluster in the next ch-3 sp, ch 3, fpdc in the next st] 5 times, dc in the last 32 sts; turn. (253 sts)
Row 41: Ch 2, dc in 1st st, [2 dc in the next st, dc in the next 30 sts, bpdc in the next st, ch 3, cluster in the next ch-3 sp, skip the next st, cluster in the next ch-1 st, skip the next st, cluster in the next ch -1 sp, skip the next st, cluster in the next ch-3 sp, ch 3, bpdc in the next st] 5 times, 2 dc in the next st, dc in the last 31 sts; turn. (254 sts)
Row 42: Ch 2, dc in 1st st, [2 dc in the next st, dc in the next 31 sts, fpdc in the next st, ch 3, cluster in the next ch-3 sp, skip the next st, cluster in the next 2 sts, skip the next st, cluster in the next ch-3 sp, ch 3, fpdc in the next st] 5 times, 2 dc in the next st, dc in the last 32 sts; turn. (260 sts)
Row 43: Ch 2, dc in 1st st, [2 dc in the next st, dc in the next 32 sts, bpdc in the next st, ch 3, cluster in the next ch-3 sp, skip the next st, cluster in the next 2 sts, skip the next st, cluster in the next ch-3 sp, ch 3, bpdc in the next st] 5 times, 2 dc in the next st, dc in the last 33 sts; turn. (266 sts)
Row 44: Ch 2, dc in 1st st, [2 dc in the next st, dc in the next 33 sts, fpdc in the next st, ch 3, cluster in the next ch-3 sp, skip the next st, cluster in the next 2 sts, skip the next st, cluster in the next ch-3 sp, ch 3, fpdc in the next st] 5 times, 2 dc in the next st, dc in the last 34 sts; turn. (272 sts)
Row 45: Ch 2, dc in 1st st, [dc in the next 35 sts, bpdc in the next st, ch 3, cluster in the next ch-3 sp, skip the next st, cluster in the next st, ch 1, cluster in the next st, skip the next st, cluster in the next ch-3 sp, ch 3, bpdc in the next st] 5 times, dc in the last 36 sts; turn. (277 sts)
Row 46: Ch 2, dc in 1st st, [2 dc in the next st, dc in the next 34 sts, fpdc in the next st, ch 3, cluster in the next ch-3 sp, cluster in the next st, skip the next st, cluster in the ch-1 sp, skip the next cluster, cluster in the next st, cluster in the next ch-3 sp, ch 3, fpdc in the next st] 5 times, 2 dc in the next st, dc in the last 35 sts; turn. (283 sts)
Row 47: Ch 2, dc in 1st st, [2 dc in the next st, dc in the next 35 sts, bpdc in the next st, ch 3, cluster in the next ch-3 sp, cluster in the next st, skip the next st, cluster in the next st, skip the next st, cluster in the next st, cluster in the next ch-3 sp, ch 3, bpdc in the next st] 5 times, 2 dc in the next st, dc in the last 36 sts; turn. (289 sts)
Row 48: Ch 2, dc in 1st st, [2 dc in the next st, dc in the next 36 sts, fpdc in the next st, ch 3, cluster in the next ch-3 sp, cluster in the next st, skip the next st, cluster in the next st, skip the next st, cluster in the next st, cluster in the next ch-3 sp, ch 3, fpdc in the next st] 5 times, 2 dc in the next st, dc in the last 37 sts; turn. (295 sts)
Row 49: Ch 2, dc in 1st st, [2 dc in the next st, dc in the next 37 sts, bpdc in the next st, ch 3, cluster in the next ch-3 sp, cluster in the next st, skip the next st, cluster in the next st, skip the next st, cluster in the next st, cluster in the next ch-3 sp, ch 3, bpdc in the next st] 5 times, 2 dc in the next st, dc in the last 38 sts; turn. (301 sts)
Edging/Border:
Round 50 (Edging Round 1): Ch 1, sc in 1st st, [2 sc in the next st, sc in the next 38 sts, fpsc in the next st, 3 sc in the next ch-3 sp, sc in the next 5 sts, 3 sc in the next ch-3 sp, fpsc in the next st] 5 times, 2 sc in the next st, sc in the next 38 sts, 2 sc in the last st, sc evenly across top edge of shawl, work 2 sc in the last st; join with a sl st in the 1st sc st.
Round 51 (Edging Round 2): Ch 1, *2sc in the next st, skip the next st; rep from * around (do not skip st at 2 corners); join with a sl st in the 1st sc st, break yarn and weave in ends.
The Fine Print
I hope you enjoy the Branching Out Shawlette pattern! It’s comforting to make, and comforting to wear on the next crisp day!
Written pattern copyright Tamara Kelly 2015. Please do not reprint or repost this pattern. Please do link to this page to share this pattern with others. If you wish to sell a finished article made from this pattern, please visit the About page for details. Thank you to Knit Picks for providing the yarn for this pattern!