This Rectangle Lace Shawl crochet pattern is inspired by the timeless beauty of ancient Egypt. Using taller stitches, the project is quick to stitch, to make a great gift.
“Dancing in Cairo Rectangle Shawl” free crochet pattern by Kim Guzman © Mar. 2023. All rights reserved.
Technique: Regular Crochet.
Skill Level: Easy.
Crochet Pattern At A Glance
Dancing in Cairo Rectangle Lace Shawl
Designer: Kim Guzman © 2022-24. All rights reserved.Rate the Pattern
Yarn
- Stylecraft “Special DK”, 100% acrylic, 322 yds/295m per 3.5 oz/100g per skein: 3 skeins (825 yards used) of Aspen.
Other Materials
- Suggested Crochet Hook Size H-8 (5mm) or hook needed to meet gauge
- Yarn Needle for weaving ends
Instructions
- Begin with a row of single crochet.
- Work rows 2-7 to establish the 6-row repeat.
- Work the 6-row repeat 24 times more.
- End with rows 2-3 to mirror the beginning. Fasten off.
Full Free Crochet Pattern Below
This is a free crochet pattern and the written instructions are below. If you prefer a printable download, a PDF is also available for purchase.
My Crochet Pattern Notes
I’ve marked this as an easy skill level due to the variety of stitches being used throughout. This takes it a step up from Beginner and places it in the #2 skill level of Easy.
This lacy shawl is made in a rectangle from short edge to short edge. The stitch multiple is provided so you could make it wider or, if you prefer to work from long edge to long edge.
The design is made to look like Ancient Egyptian Art with people lined up in rows. Can you see it? Squint your eyes a little.
There is wide open lace so the shawl is a fairly quick to stitch project.
Pin It For Later
Finished Size
15″ wide, 66″ long.
Yarn
Stylecraft “Special DK”, 100% acrylic, 322 yds/295m per 3.5 oz/100g per skein: 3 skeins (825 yards used) of Aspen. There is still sufficient yarn in the final skein if you would like to make the shawl longer. You may be able to get five more repeats.
“Special Double Knit” is classified as a DK weight (size 3) yarn and is currently available in 100 shades.
Available at LoveCrafts (aff link). If you’re in the US, look up at the top right to switch to US Dollars. I’ve purchased from them for years and love the selection.
Yarn Substitution
I‘ve used DK weight yarn (size 3) because I love this size. There’s a lot of yardage on a 100g skein of Stylecraft Special DK. You could use any yarn you like, using the hook size you prefer. You may need to make changes to the number of stitches and the amount of yarn required.
If you are unable to use Stylecraft Special DK, any acrylic or acrylic blend in size 3 lightweight yarn will be close enough.
You can also use a heavier weight yarn, if you prefer. You’ll need more yarn and a larger hook. The project will be bigger. Or, adjust the stitch count.
Other Materials
Suggested Crochet Hook Size H-8 (5mm) or hook needed to meet gauge.
Yarn Needle for weaving ends.
Special Stitches
V-Stitch (v-st): Work [dc, ch 3, dc] in indicated sc.
Cluster (cl): Work [yo, insert hook in next ch-3 sp, yo, pull lp through, yo, pull through 2 lps on hook] twice, yo, pull through 3 lps on hook.
Other Abbreviations
This rectangle lace shawl is written in US crochet terminology.
beg=beginning; ch=chain; cl=cluster; dc=double crochet; lp(s)=loop(s); RS=right side; rem=remaining; rep=repeat; sc=single crochet; sk=skip; sp(s)=space(s); st(s)=stitch(es); tr=treble crochet; yo=yarn over.
All numbers after the colon at the end of an instruction are stitch counts. Use the stitch count to check your work.
Gauge
In stitch pattern, 17 stitches for 9 rows measures 4″ x 4″.
Stitch Multiple
To change the width, make your initial chain any multiple of 8, then add 2.
Free Crochet Pattern Instructions
Note: The depiction of the ancient Egyptians will be seen when the project is turned upside down as shown in the photos above.
Row 1: Ch 66, sk first ch, sc in each rem ch across, turn: 65 sc.
Row 2 (RS): Ch 4 (counts as first dc plus ch 1), sk first and next sc, *dc in next sc, ch 1, sk 1 sc, rep from * to last sc, dc in last sc, turn: 32 ch-1 sps.
Row 3: Ch 1, sc in first dc, *sc in next ch-1 sp, sc in next dc, rep from * to beg ch-4, sc in sp formed by beg ch-4, then keeping near the top, sc in uppermost third ch of beg ch-4, turn: 65 sc.
Row 4: Ch 1, sc in first sc, *ch 3, sk 3 sc, v-st (see Special Stitches above), ch 3, sk 3 sc, sc in next sc, rep from * across, turn: 8 v-sts.
Row 5: Ch 3, dc in first ch-3 sp, *ch 3, [sc, ch 3, sc, ch 3, sc] in ch-3 sp of v-st, ch 3, cl (see Special Stitches above), rep from * to last v-st, ch 3, [sc, ch 3, sc, ch 3, sc] in ch-3 sp of last v-st, ch 3, yo, insert hook in last ch-3 sp, yo, pull lp through, yo, pull through 2 lps on hook, yo, insert hook in last sc, yo, pull lp through, yo, pull through 2 lps on hook, yo, pull through 3 lps on hook, turn: 7 cl.
Row 6: Ch 4 (counts as tr), tr in same st, *ch 2, sk next ch-3 sp, cl, ch 2, sk next ch-3 sp, 3 tr in top of cl, rep from * to last 4 ch-3 sps, ch 2, sk next ch-3 sp, cl, ch 2, sk last ch-3 sp, 2 tr in top of beg ch 3, turn: 7 3-tr groups.
Row 7: Ch 1, sc in first and next tr, *2 sc in next ch-2 sp, sc in next cl, 2 sc in next ch-2 sp, sc in next 3 tr, rep from * to ch-2 sp before last cl, 2 sc in next ch-2 sp, sc in last cl, 2 sc in last ch-2 sp, sc in last 2 tr, turn: 65 sc.
Rows 8-151: Rep rows 2-7.
Rows 152-153: Rep rows 2-3. Fasten off after final row.
Finishing
Weave in ends with yarn needle. Block lightly, if desired.
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TERMS: To my fellow crafters, you have my permission to use my patterns to make and sell your projects* anywhere you like. You cannot use my images to sell your projects, though. You must take photos of your own work. All patterns have been tested but mistakes can happen. If you find a mistake, please let me know. Everything at MakeItCrochet.com is protected by copyright to Kim Guzman. Other than the permissions previously given, no one other than Kim Guzman has permission to: reproduce, copy, publish or distribute this pattern, its parts or photos in any way or form, including, but not limited to, translations into foreign languages & video production.
*Not intended to be blanket permission for mass production.
Scott says
CL is defined as beginning the stitch in next ch 3 space.
In ROW 5 – ch3 [sc, ch 3, sc, ch 3, sc] in ch-3 sp of v-st, ch 3, cl and repeat … there are two ch3 spaces – does it mean I put the CL in the first ch 3 space and skip the second? Same thing in Row 6 – there are two ch3 spaces at the top of the Vst – I make a cluster in the first one and the instructiions say to “sk next ch 3 space” and then to make 3tr in the top of the cluster – but I need to skip 2 ch 3 spaces to get to the cluster.
Can’t figure out where I’m going wrong
Kim Guzman says
Are you perhaps making the cluster in the chain-3 space instead of across the 2 chain-3 spaces? Here is the cluster instruction:
Work [yo, insert hook in next ch-3 sp, yo, pull lp through, yo, pull through 2 lps on hook] twice, yo, pull through 3 lps on hook.
If I rewrite it, it will be:
Yo, insert hook in next ch-3 sp, yo, pull lp through, yo, pull through 2 lps on hook
Yo, insert hook in next ch-3 sp, yo, pull lp through, yo, pull through 2 lps on hook
Yo, pull through 3 lps on hook
Does this help? Please let me know and, if not, please send a photo to me at [email protected] and I’ll check it against my sample.
Lera Michelle says
That helped me as well! Thank you:)
Kim Guzman says
That’s good. I’m glad it helped. 🙂
nascar4433 says
I just completed a 6″ swatch after making a couple of attempts, but I kept thinking I wasn’t doing it correctly. This change makes all the difference!!!!! I just didn’t feel like I was getting it quite right, but didn’t know what else to do with the clusters. Now I can start a “real” version of the rectangle “doily ” I’m making for a friend. I let out the biggest sigh of relief! Thank you Scott, and thank you Kim for updating this cluster clarification. Whew! A few hours wasted, but now I can get to work for real.
Kim Guzman says
It seems like that word “next” is the tricky part so I will add another note to the photo tutorial about it. Thank you for writing!
nascar4433 says
Thanks! That helps even more to spread the CL across 2 spaces. I was doing a CL in EACH one, and my width just kept growing, lol. Appreciate the quick response.