How to Crochet a Triangle Shawl with a Picot Point Border

Materials & tools you'll need

Step 1 — Start the shawl at a single point

Chain 2, then insert your hook back into the first chain, pull up a loop, and pull through both loops on your hook to create one stitch — this small knot becomes the very center point of your shawl. Chain 2 and turn, then work 2 double crochet into that single stitch, followed by a chain-2, chain-1, chain-2 sequence, then 2 more double crochet and a third double crochet worked into that same stitch to balance the other side. This first row establishes the corner shaping that the rest of the shawl will repeat.

Step 2 — Build the triangle with a repeating corner shell

For each following row, chain 2 and turn, then work 2 double crochet into the first stitch, regular double crochet across to the chain-2 corner space, then 2 double crochet, chain 2, and 2 more double crochet into that same corner space to keep the growing point sharp. Continue double crochet across the rest of the row, adding an extra stitch at the far end to keep both sides even. Once the triangle has some size, alternate stitch types for texture — work 3 rows of double crochet followed by 2 rows of half double crochet, repeating this pattern throughout the body. Keep repeating the same corner shell at each row end; this single repeat is what grows the triangle evenly in both directions without any shaping or decreasing.

Step 3 — Add color blocks

Once your main color reaches the size you'd like for the largest section of the shawl, switch to an accent color for a few rows to create a color-blocked stripe, continuing the same 3-rows-double-crochet, 2-rows-half-double-crochet repeat and the same corner shell shaping. A second, smaller stripe in a third accent color right before the border adds contrast without overwhelming the main color. Lay a few yarn strands side by side against your main color before committing, since darker wool tones can shift how lighter or brighter accent colors read next to them.

Step 4 — Check your sizing before the border

Before starting the border, lay the shawl flat and measure both short edges and the long edge. A generously sized triangle shawl measures roughly 30 inches along each short edge and 45 to 50 inches along the long edge — keep in mind that wool will stretch and open up further once it's washed and blocked, so it's fine to stop slightly short of your final target size at this stage.

Step 5 — Crochet the picot point border

Switch to a smaller crochet hook to tighten up the border stitches. Divide your total edge stitch count into groups of five to determine how many picot points will fit evenly along each side. For each point: work a single crochet, a half double crochet, and a double crochet into the stitch, then chain 3 and slip stitch back into the top of that same double crochet to form the picot tip. Complete the point with a half double crochet and a single crochet worked into the same stitch, then slip stitch across the next few stitches before starting the next point. Repeat evenly all the way around the shawl's edges.

Step 6 — Wash, block, and finish

Weave in all yarn tails securely with a yarn needle. Run the shawl through a gentle soak cycle with a wool wash, then lay it flat on blocking mats. Use knit blockers and T-pins to pull each picot point out to a crisp, even shape, keeping the spacing consistent along every edge. Leave the shawl to dry fully — this can take several hours to a full day — before unpinning. Blocking relaxes and opens up the stitches, sharpens the picot points, and gives the finished shawl its soft, cozy drape.

Frequently asked questions

How do I pull apart a skein of yarn without a winder?
You can hook the skein around a sturdy, rounded surface — the back of a chair works well — and unwind the yarn from there instead of using a yarn winder or swift. This lets the skein spin freely as you pull, keeping the strand feeding out smoothly without tangling.

How much yarn do I need for a triangle shawl this size?
This shawl used about two full skeins of sportweight wool (approximately 430 yards / 110 grams each) as the main color, plus smaller amounts of two or three accent colors for the color-blocked stripes. The finished shawl measured roughly 30 inches along each short edge and 45 to 50 inches along the long edge before blocking opened it up further.

How do I crochet the picot point border on a triangle shawl?
Divide your edge stitch count into groups of five. For each point, work a single crochet, a half double crochet, and a double crochet, then chain three and slip stitch back into the top of that double crochet to form the picot tip. Complete the point with a half double crochet and a single crochet, then slip stitch across the next few stitches before starting the next point.

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