X's & O's Shawl

The "X's" & "O's" Shawl is a great way to break into the intermediate level of crochet.  It uses simple stitches with techniques that step outside the box of your contemporary crochet rules.  Make it as large or small as you like.  This pattern looks fantastic as a scarf as well as a shawl.  Its light and airy lacy texture allows for all sorts of yarn choices.  Be creative with this one!

This shawl came together by accident. This past spring I was practicing stitches and making swatches. I find making swatches is great way to get new ideas for crochet projects, plus I hone in on skills and stitches not used in a while.

I was working up swatches for "x" stitches in single and double crochet and was surprised when the book I was following did not continue on by the using the treble crochet as an "x" stitch. So I started working an "x" stitch using treble crochets and instantly fell in love with the look of it.

I was working on new designs to thrust me out of the hat trench I found myself in. I love designing hats, but I was ready for the next level and since shawls were such a popular thing this past spring and Valentines day was a few weeks away I knew this stitch was screaming to be a shawl!

It took a few weeks for me to design and write up a pattern for. The first two rows are the hardest then the rest just falls into place. I was so excited to get this girl into testing. Finally the time came. I found some amazing testers to start the next phase of the designing process, who instantly found issues with the pattern. Thankfully they were all issues with the wording and not the design. After being in testing a little longer than anticipated she was ready for her debut!

What makes this design different?

What I love most about this shawl is the way the stitches workup. I love the way the "X" stitch looks in the treble crochet. I also love how they make the "O's" between each stitch, hence the name "X's" & "O's" shawl.

Another aspect that makes this pattern different is the techniques used to increase in each row. The increases alternate different amounts for every two rows. The increases are not traditional, they do not increase by one each row.  Rather they increase by two and four.  When repeating row 2 the “X’s” will increase by two.  When repeating row 3 the “X’s” will increase by four

Since you liked the "X's" & "O's" Shawl, try these too!

The Pattern:

This pattern is worked in a forward and backward motion.  This means making the “X’s” will consist of skipping ahead stitches then skipping backward stitches.  I have provided photo tutorials to assist with this.  The increases are made at the beginning of each row.  The increases are not traditional, they do not increase by one each row.  Rather they increase by two and four.  When repeating row 2 the “X’s” will increase by two.  When repeating row 3 the “X’s” will increase by four.  I recommend placing a marker in the center of the shawl, the chain 2 space, so it is not missed.  The chain 2 is important to the structure of the shawl as it allows for the shawl to come to a nice point.

Materials: 

Approximately 540 yards of #3 or lighter weight yarn, you want something that will display the stitches and drapes nicely.  I used “Yarn Bee Chloe” in Carnation. 

6mm/J crochet hook

Stitch marker

Scissors

Yarn needle

Try these alternatives!

Abbreviations/Stitches:

Magic Circle

Ch-chain

DC- Double Crochet

Tr- Treble Crochet

Rsc- Reverse Single Crochet

Sk- Skip stitch

Sp- Space

St- Stitch

Tips:

To make it easier to remember where the center of the shawl is, place a marker in the ch-2 space at the tip of the shawl. 

Ch3 and Ch4 count as 1^st stitch of the row.

Work the 2^nd side of the “X” behind the first side.

Each “X” stitch will share space with another.

Do not forget to count the chain stitches when counting skipped spaces.

The beginning and end will always have 3 treble crochets in the same space.

Okay let’s go!...

Start a magic circle.  Ch3 (counts as 1^st dc), 3dc into circle, ch2, 4dc into circle (Do not slip stitch closed).  Cinch the circle closed and secure.  Turn

Row 1:

ch1, skip 1 dc, 1tr in next, ch1, working behind the tr just made skip backward two stitches to the beginning dc from the previous row; 1tr in this space.  You have just made your first “X” and “O”. 

Ch1, skip to the ch-2 space, 1tr in the ch-2 space, ch1, skip back to the 1st 1tr of the previous “X”, 1tr in this space.  

Ch2, from the ch-2 space skip 1 dc, 1tr in next (this will be the 2^nd dc after the ch-2 space).  Ch1, skip back to the ch-2 space, 1tr in the ch-2 space. 

Ch1, skip 1 dc, 1tr in next (this will be the top ch of the beginning ch3).  Ch1, skip back 2 dc’s 1tr in this space.  Ch1, 2 more tr’s in beginning ch of the previous row.  Turn

Row 2:

Ch4, 2tr in same space, ch1, 1tr into the center of the 1^st “X” of the previous row, ch1, skip backward 2 stitches (this is the 2^nd tr of the previous row) 1tr in this stitch. 

Ch1, 1tr into the center of the next “X”, 1tr into the center of the previous “X”. 

Ch1, 1tr into the ch-2 space, ch1, 1tr into the center of the previous “X”.

Ch2, 1tr into the center of the next “X”, ch1, 1tr into the ch-2 space. 

Ch1, 1tr into the center of the next “X”, ch1, 1 tr into the center of the previous “X”. 

Ch1, 1tr in 2^nd to last tr of previous row, ch1, 1tr into the center of the previous “X”. 

Ch1, 3tr in the top of beginning ch from previous row.  Turn

Row 3:

Ch4, 1tr in the same space, ch1, skip 1 stitch, 1tr in next, ch1, 1tr backward into beginning treble.

Ch1, 1tr into the center of the 1^st “X” of, ch1, skip back 2 work 1tr in this stitch (3^rd tr of prev row). 

Ch1, 1tr into the center of next “X”, ch1, 1tr into the center of the previous “X”. 

Ch1, 1tr in next “X”, ch1, 1tr in previous “X”. 

Ch1, 1tr into the ch-2 space, ch1, 1tr in previous “X”.

Ch2.  1tr in next “X”, ch1, 1tr in ch-2 space. 

Ch1, 1tr in next “X”, ch1, 1tr in previous “X”.

Ch1. 1tr in next “X”, ch1, 1tr in previous “X”.

There will now be the 3 tr from the previous row left

Ch1, 1tr in the 3^rd tr of the previous row, ch1, 1tr in previous “X”.  (if this is confusing, refer to the beginning stitches of this row).

Ch1, 1tr in top of turning ch, ch1, skip back 2 stitches, 1tr in this stitch.

 ch1, 2 more tr in top of turning ch.  Turn

Rows 4-18: 

repeat rows 2-3, continuing to treble crochet in the center of each “X”, the ch-2 space, and increasing at the beginning and end of each row. 

Row 19: 

Ch3, dc in same stitch,

dc around each ch-1 between each “X” and the center of each “X” and each treble crochet until you reach the ch-2 space.

2dc, ch2, 2dc in ch-2 space

continue 1dc in each stitch to the end, 2dc in turning ch. Turn

Row 20: 

Dc in each dc; At ch-2 space, 2dc, ch2, 2dc; continue 1dc in each dc to the end, 2dc in last st.

Finish:

Reverse single crochet to the ch-2 sp, rsc 2x’s in ch-2 space, continue rsc to end.  Fasten off and weave in ends.

You have conquered the “X’s” & “O’s” shawl! 

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Please Note:

This pattern and its pictures are the property of Knottie Hooks.  You are welcome to sell your finished items from this pattern in any manner you choose.  However, do not copy, share, or redistribute the pattern or pictures in this pattern in any way. Please provide a link if you sell your finished items online. (If you change the name when you sell your item, please mention the pattern name in the link so other people can find the pattern.)