Time in a Bottle Shawl

Time in a Bottle Shawl by Dawn Castillo

What is Being Made

The Time in a Bottle Shawl is a triangular crocheted shawl designed by Dawn Castillo. This downloadable crochet pattern creates a decorative shawl worked in rows from a center ring outward, expanding into a triangle shape as stitches increase with each row.

Craft and Project Type

This is a crochet project classified at an intermediate difficulty level. The shawl is worked flat in rows rather than in the round, with a marked center point that shifts with each row to maintain the triangular structure. The pattern is provided as a downloadable PDF format for independent use.

Crochet Stitches Used

The Time in a Bottle Shawl incorporates several fundamental crochet stitches to create its textured design:

• Chain stitch (ch) – forms the foundation and spacing throughout
• Slip stitch (sl st) – used to join the initial chain into a ring
• Double crochet (dc) – creates height and structure in the pattern
• Shell stitch (sh) – a decorative stitch that appears in multiple shells across rows
• V-stitch (v-st) – formed by working stitches in the same stitch space to create a V shape
• Single crochet (sc) – provides definition between decorative elements
• Through the back loop (tbl) – a technique used to create texture and definition at row edges

Techniques and Construction

The shawl is constructed using several important crochet techniques. The pattern begins with a ring formed from a chain-4 foundation joined with a slip stitch. A stitch marker is placed at the center point and moved with each row to track the shawl's center and maintain proper shaping. The triangular expansion is achieved through strategic increases created by the shell and v-stitch repeats. The instruction to work through the back loop at turn points creates a finished edge detail. The pattern can be extended by repeating the final row sequence to create a larger shawl if desired.

Yarn and Materials

The Time in a Bottle Shawl is designed to be worked with DK weight yarn. The recommended yarn is Lion Brand Mandala in the Centaur colorway, which is 100% acrylic with 591 yards (540 meters) and weighs 5.3 ounces (150 grams). A 6.50 mm (K size) crochet hook is required. Additional materials include a yarn needle for weaving in ends and stitch markers to track the center point throughout the project.

Pattern Notes

The pattern includes specific notations: a chain-5 counts as a chain-1 with through-the-back-loop technique. The center stitch should be marked and moved with each row to maintain proper shaping. The shawl can be enlarged by adding additional rows, with the final row being a repeat of Row 4. A free video tutorial is available to supplement the written pattern instructions.