Project introduction
This is a pattern overview, not a full tutorial. The Lacy Fans Shawl is a crochet design by Kathy North of Designs by KN, published in the 2011 Crochet Pattern-a-Day Calendar and later offered as a free Ravelry download. The designer describes it as an experiment in trying a new lace pattern on a larger scale that turned out to be a total surprise when completed. It is a one-piece rectangle worked flat from a written pattern, with a bold look softened by chain fringe at each end.
The full row-by-row instructions live with the designer, so use the link below to reach them.
Lacy Fans Shawl
Kathy North lists this shawl under Neck and Torso, in the Shawl and Wrap category. Its Ravelry attributes are lace, one-piece, rectangle, worked-flat and written-pattern. Construction runs from the center back outward so the directional stitch pattern sits correctly across the fabric. The designer calls it an intermediate-level project that only looks complex, which is a useful signal for anyone deciding whether to attempt it. The pattern page shows 23 projects, 164 queues, an overall rating of 4.5 from 6 votes, and an average difficulty from 7 ratings.
The free web version is hosted on Ravelry, so the pattern itself can be reached there at no cost. That free access applies to the Ravelry download; it does not automatically mean every other format or reprint is free, and the original calendar publication is a separate matter. Read the listing carefully before you begin so you know which version you are working from. For the actual instructions, go to the Original designer’s pattern and instructions.
Two yarns appear on the pattern page, both Aran weight. King Cole Luxury Mohair is 78% Mohair, 13% Wool and 9% Nylon, with 110 yards / 50 grams per ball. Caron Perfect Match is 100% Acrylic, with 355 yards / 198 grams per ball. Those are the yarns the source lists; the pattern page does not state a total quantity for the shawl, so treat any estimate as sample-specific rather than fixed.
Supplies to have ready before you start:
- Aran weight yarn, with King Cole Luxury Mohair or Caron Perfect Match listed on the pattern page
- A crochet hook matched to the pattern’s stated size, including the metric equivalent if your hook is labeled in millimeters
- Stitch markers for tracking repeats and the center-back starting point
- A yarn needle for weaving in ends
- Scissors or snips for trimming the chain fringe
Construction is straightforward in shape but directional in stitch. You begin at the center back and work outward, which keeps the fan motifs facing the same way across the rectangle. Chain fringe finishes each end. Because the source does not publish row counts, hook size or finished dimensions here, the honest next step is the designer’s own page rather than a guess. If you enjoy this style of shawl, the Bat Wing Crochet Shawl: Pattern Overview and the Subaqueous Crochet Shawl: Pattern Overview are worth a look for comparison.
