Quadrilateral, a broomstick lace shawl is a deceptively simple rectangular shawl pattern. Although lacy, the size makes it cozy and luxurious. The pattern includes a step-by-step tutorial for broomstick lace.
This post contains affiliate links. Yarn for the sample was generously provided by the now defunct Schaefer Yarn Company. Yarn for the tutorial was provided by Made in America Yarns.
Quadrilateral, a broomstick lace shawl was my third published pattern, released in the August 2011 issue of the now defunct KnitCircus magazine. It was one of my early explorations into broomstick lace, and it’s very simple to make but quite stunning.
It’s actually one of my favorite shawls to wear, but due to the rectangular shape, I usually use a shawl pin.
The yarn in the photographed sample was is the now discontinued Schaefer Yarn Company Heather. You can substitute any fingering weight yarn. I used Made in America Yarns Wayfarer in Bordeaux for the pictures in the tutorial. I’m now sharing Quadrilateral for free on the blog, along with a photo tutorial.
If you make your own Quadrilateral, a broomstick lace shawl, I’d love to see it! Share your progress and questions by tagging me on Facebook as @Underground Crafter or on Instragram as @ucrafter. You can also share a picture in the Underground Crafters Facebook group. Sign up for my weekly newsletter and get a coupon code for your choice of one of my premium patterns and private access to my vault of subscriber goodies. Plus, you’ll never miss one of my free patterns again!
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Quadrilateral, a broomstick lace shawl
Crochet Pattern by Underground Crafter
This simple broomstick lace shawl looks complex, but it is friendly introduction to broomstick lace with no shaping. It includes step-by-step tutorial.
Finished Size
- Length: 20 in (51 cm); Width: 54 in (137 cm)
Materials
- Approximately 1200 yds (1097 m) in any fingering weight yarn
- F-5 (3.75 mm) crochet hook or any size needed to obtain gauge
- US 35 (19 mm) 14 in (36 mm) straight knitting needle or any size needed to obtain gauge
- Yarn needle
- Shawl pin (optional)
Gauge
- 6.5 broomstick lace groups (33 sc) and 9.5 rows (5 rows sc + 4.5 rows broomstick lace loops) = 4 in (10 cm) before blocking. Exact gauge is not critical to this project.
Abbreviations Used in This Pattern
- 5 lp-sp – 5 loop space – space created by 5 broomstick lace loops on hook
- BL – back loop only
- ch(s) – chain(s)
- rep – repeat
- sc – single crochet
- t-ch – turning chain
- yo – yarn over
- * Repeat instructions after asterisk as indicated.
Pattern Note
- Pattern uses one straight knitting needle as the “broomstick” to create the lace stitches. A broomstick handle or other wide, rounded stick can substitute for the needle.
- Right handed crocheters should work Row 3 with knitting needle in left hand and hook in right hand, working from left to right across the row. Rows 1, 2, 4, and 5 are worked from right to left as usual.
- Left handed crocheters should work Row 3 with knitting needle in right hand and hook in left hand, working from right to left across row. Rows 1, 2, 4, and 5 are worked from left to right as usual.
- Once you are comfortable with the grouping of loops worked with the crochet hook, you may remove the knitting needle from all loops in Row 4, taking care to keep the first active loop from unraveling.
- Photo tutorial follows written pattern.
Pattern Instructions
Shawl
- Ch 146.
- Row 1: Turn, skip first ch, sc in next ch and in each ch to end of row. (145 sc)
- Row 2: Turn, ch 1, skip t-ch, scBL in first and in each st to end of row.
- Row 3: Do not turn. Pull up loop on hook and place it on needle, skip first sc, *insert hook in BL of next sc, yo, draw up loop and place on needle; rep from * across. (145 broomstick lace loops)
- Row 4: Do not turn, insert hook under first 5 loops, remove loops from needle (being careful not to unravel), yo, draw loop through 5 lp-sp, ch 1, 5 sc in 5 lp-sp, *insert hook under next 5 loops, remove loops from needle, 5 sc in 5 lp-sp; rep from * across. (29 broomstick lace groups, 145 sc)
- Rep Rows 3 and 4 until shawl measures approximately 48” long, ending on Row 4.
- Row 5: Rep Row 2. Fasten off.
- Using yarn needle, weave in ends. Wet block shawl to measurements.
Stitch Symbol Pattern Key
Stitch Symbol Pattern
Broomstick Lace Tutorial
So *that’s* how you do Broomstick lace! I wondered if the “broomstick” was for the end effect or the tool used to make it… I see it’s kind of both!
Haha, it is a little bit of both, Adri H. The “broomstick” helps to create loops of a certain size.
This is so pretty! I haven’t done broomstick lace since I was a child and remember that I had made a blanket for my Barbie dolls. It was really just a bit square, but it worked for Barbie and Skipper.
I love your shawl and your yarn is gorgeous for this! :). 🙂
______
Lee Ann
Crochetgottaloveit.blogspot.com
Thanks so much, Lee Ann. I hope this shawl lets you get back into broomstick lace.
hi, that’s a lovely shawl ! i was wondering if this shawl could be worked width-wise. when the pattern reads “Ch 146.”, i think it means the shawl is worked length wise. rather than that, is it possible to do the broomstick stitch starting with as many chains as I want the shawl to be wide. in that case, how many chains and in how many multiples would be correct ? i usually prefer working up the length as chaining so many in the beginning gives so much uncertainty to me….not sure if anyone thinks the same way as I do though !
Thanks for stopping by, Niko. This shawl is actually worked width-wise already. But yes, as with any pattern, you can make adjustments. For this particular version of broomstick lace, you would be working in groups of 5, plus 1 for your turning chain on the first row. So you could add or subtract multiples as you see fit to get the width you are looking for. Good luck!
I am so surprised I can do this-thank you for the beautiful pattern and instructions
Glad you’re enjoying it, Denise!
I want to see a fully diagram
Thanks for writing, Thiri. The diagram pictured above is the only one available for this pattern.
Nice shawl.
Did you know you can also knit broomstick lace? On the first pass you make multiple yarn overs in each stitch, and on the return pass you release the yarn overs in groups of four and knit, purl, knit, purl into each group. It’s a little more complicated than crochet, but I have done it both ways and liked the results either way.
Also, one of my favorite baby blankets was a broomstick lace in pink, blue, and white made for me by a dear friend. Gifts like that are priceless.
Thanks for sharing your broomstick lace knitting experience!