The Bat Wing Shawl was inspired by a group of crocheting friends of mine who wanted to bring attention to the declining numbers of bats all around North America. I’m in Austin Texas and my town is very fortunate to have a thriving bat population. For now.  But an estimated six million bats have died due to a fungus that causes white-nose syndrome. This die off has been called one of the worst wildlife declines of the century.  Once the fungus invades a cave, 90% of the bats living there die. The National Speleological Society tracks the disease, collects funds to support research, and explains what humans can do to slow the spread of the fungus. The devastation doesn’t get much attention and I hope we crafters can raise awareness. If you like this pattern, please consider sending in a donation to The National Speleogical Society.

Before going forward there is something you should know. This is a pattern I’ve had sitting around in some dusty computer files for over a year. I’m brushing it off and posting it even though its never been tested. I’m the only person who has made one. A few of my crafty friends have started the shawl, and they seem to like it just fine. But none have finished.

What does that mean? It means crocheter beware! It also means that by starting this pattern you are entering a solemn, unbreakable, pinkie-swear promise to let me know if you think you’ve spotted a mistake. I have started a ravelry thread here on the Roving Crafters’ discussion board for any comments, concerns, compliments, pics, etc. Please let me know how your shawl is going!

 

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A Bat Wing Shawl 

A Roving Crafters’ Pattern, designed by Jenn Zeyen

The shawl is made in wedges, five of them. There are four side wedges, 2 for the left side and two for the right side, split by a center wedge.

• Yarn Used : 5 skeins of Cascade Sateen in Color Number 5 (a sport weight acrylic yarn @ 300 yds per skein)
• Hook : Size F
• Gauge : 17 Hdc = 4 inches (before blocking)

Stitch Notes

• Ch = Chain
• Hdc = Half double crochet
• FpHdc = Front post Half double crochet
• Hdc2tog = Half double crochet 2 together

 

 

The Set-up

Chain 128

Set Up Row 1: Hdc in 3^rd Ch from hook, Hdc in each Ch to end (126 Hdc), Ch 2 & turn

Set Up Row 2: FpHdc around each Hdc to end (126 FpHdc), Ch 2 & turn

Make two side wedges, a center wedge, and then two more side wedges.

A Side Wedge

Row 1: Hdc2tog, *Ch1, skip next FpHdc, Hdc in next* repeat until 4 FpHdc spaces remain (60 Hdc), Ch 3 & turn

(The 3^rd chain in the “Ch 3” will count later as a Ch 1 space.)

Row 2: *Hdc in Ch 1 space, Ch1* until 1 Ch 1 space remains, Hdc in that Ch 1 space, Hdc in the Hdc2tog (61 Hdc), Ch 2 & turn

Row 3: Hdc2tog using the 1^st Hdc & the 1^st Ch 1 space, *Ch 1, Hdc in next Ch 1 space* repeat until two Ch 1 spaces remain (57 Hdc), Ch 2 & turn

(Remember that 3^rd chain in Row 1? It counts as one of the “two Ch 1 spaces” at the end of this row.)

Row 4: *Hdc in Ch 1 space, Ch1* until 1 Ch 1 space remains, Hdc in that Ch 1 space, Hdc in the Hdc2tog (58 Hdc), Ch 2 & turn

Repeat Rows 3 & 4 ten more times. Use the table below to keep track of the number of Hdc’s in each row.

Row 5	54 Hdc	Row 9	48 Hdc	Row 13	42 Hdc	Row 17	36 Hdc	Row 21	30 Hdc
Row 6	55 Hdc	Row 10	49 Hdc	Row 14	43 Hdc	Row 18	37 Hdc	Row 22	31 Hdc
Row 7	51 Hdc	Row 11	45 Hdc	Row 15	39 Hdc	Row 19	33 Hdc	Row 23	27 Hdc
Row 8	52 Hdc	Row 12	46 Hdc	Row 16	40 Hdc	Row 20	34 Hdc	Row 24	28 Hdc

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Btw, here is how the shortened rows look. Each time you stop and turn, you leave a “step” behind.

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Row 25: Hdc2tog using the 1^st Hdc & the 1^st Ch 1 space, Hdc in each stitch and space to the neck edge (100 Hdc), Ch 2 & turn

(Be sure to put 4 Hdc in each “step”.)

Row 26: FpHdc around each stitch to end (101 FpHdc), Ch 2 & turn

Row 27: (Hdc, Ch 1, Hdc) in 1^st FpHdc, *Ch 1, skip next FpHdc, Hdc in next* repeat until 4 FpHdc remain (50 Hdc), Ch 3 & turn

Row 28: *Hdc in 1^st Ch 1 space, Ch 1* until one Ch 1 space remains, work 2 Hdc in last Ch 1 space (50 Hdc), Ch 2 & turn

Row 29: (Hdc, Ch 1, Hdc) in 1^st Hdc, *Ch 1, Hdc in next Ch 1 space* repeat until two Ch 1 spaces remain (49 Hdc), Ch 3 & turn

(Again, that 3^rd chain in Row 27 counts as one of the “two Ch 1 spaces” at the end of this row.)

Row 30: *Hdc in 1^st Ch 1 space, Ch 1* until one Ch 1 space remains, work 2 Hdc in last Ch 1 space (50 Hdc), Ch 2 & turn

Repeat Rows 29 & 30 ten more times. Use the table below to keep track of the number of Hdc’s in each row.

Row 31	48 Hdc	Row 35	46 Hdc	Row 39	44 Hdc	Row 43	42 Hdc	Row 47	40 Hdc
Row 32	48 Hdc	Row 36	46 Hdc	Row 40	44 Hdc	Row 44	42 Hdc	Row 48	40 Hdc
Row 33	47 Hdc	Row 37	45 Hdc	Row 41	43 Hdc	Row 45	41 Hdc	Row 49	39 Hdc
Row 34	47 Hdc	Row 38	45 Hdc	Row 42	43 Hdc	Row 46	41 Hdc	Row 50	39 Hdc

Row 51: 2 Hdc in 1^st Hdc, Hdc in each stitch and space to the neck edge (126 Hdc), Ch 2 & turn

Row 52: FpHdc around every stitch (126 FpHdc), Ch 2 & turn.

One side wedge is now complete. Repeat Rows 1 – 52 to make a second side wedge.

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Here is how the neck edge looks:

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A Center Wedge

Row 1: Hdc2tog, *Ch1, skip next FpHdc, Hdc in next* repeat until 6 FpHdc spaces remain (59 Hdc), Ch 3 & turn

(By stopping with 6 spaces, this wedge has shorter rows. But it’s the same basic shape as what you did earlier.)

Row 2: *Hdc in Ch 1 space, Ch1* until 1 Ch 1 space remains, Hdc in that Ch 1 space, Hdc in the Hdc2tog (60 Hdc), Ch 2 & turn

Row 3: Hdc2tog using the 1^st Hdc & the 1^st Ch 1 space, *Ch 1, Hdc in next Ch 1 space* repeat until three Ch 1 spaces remain (55 Hdc), Ch 2 & turn

Row 4: *Hdc in Ch 1 space, Ch1* until 1 Ch 1 space remains, Hdc in that Ch 1 space, Hdc in the Hdc2tog (56 Hdc), Ch 2 & turn

Repeat Rows 3 & 4 ten more times. Use the table below to keep track of the number of Hdc’s in each row.

Row 5	51 Hdc	Row 9	43 Hdc	Row 13	35 Hdc	Row 17	27 Hdc	Row 21	19 Hdc
Row 6	52 Hdc	Row 10	44 Hdc	Row 14	36 Hdc	Row 18	28 Hdc	Row 22	20 Hdc
Row 7	47 Hdc	Row 11	39 Hdc	Row 15	31 Hdc	Row 19	23 Hdc	Row 23	15 Hdc
Row 8	48 Hdc	Row 12	40 Hdc	Row 16	32 Hdc	Row 20	24 Hdc	Row 24	16 Hdc

Row 25: Hdc2tog using the 1^st Hdc & the 1^st Ch 1 space, Hdc in each stitch and space to the neck edge (100 Hdc), Ch 2 & turn

 (Be sure to put 6 Hdc in each “step”.)

Row 26: FpHdc around each stitch to end (101 FpHdc), Ch 2 & turn

Row 27: (Hdc, Ch 1, Hdc) in 1^st FpHdc, *Ch 1, skip next FpHdc, Hdc in next* repeat until 6 FpHdc remain (49 Hdc), Ch 3 & turn

Row 28: *Hdc in 1^st Ch 1 space, Ch 1* until one Ch 1 space remains, work 2 Hdc in last Ch 1 space (49 Hdc), Ch 2 & turn

Row 29: (Hdc, Ch 1, Hdc) in 1^st Hdc, *Ch 1, Hdc in next Ch 1 space* repeat until three Ch 1 spaces remain (47 Hdc), Ch 3 & turn

Row 30: *Hdc in 1^st Ch 1 space, Ch 1* until one Ch 1 space remains, work 2 Hdc in last Ch 1 space (47 Hdc), Ch 2 & turn

Repeat Rows 29 & 30 ten more times. Use the table below to keep track of the number of Hdc’s in each row.

Row 31	45 Hdc	Row 35	41 Hdc	Row 39	37 Hdc	Row 43	33 Hdc	Row 47	29 Hdc
Row 32	45 Hdc	Row 36	41 Hdc	Row 40	37 Hdc	Row 44	33 Hdc	Row 48	29 Hdc
Row 33	43 Hdc	Row 37	39 Hdc	Row 41	35 Hdc	Row 45	31 Hdc	Row 49	27 Hdc
Row 34	43 Hdc	Row 38	39 Hdc	Row 42	35 Hdc	Row 46	31 Hdc	Row 50	27 Hdc

Row 51: 2 Hdc in 1^st Hdc, Hdc in each stitch and space to the neck edge (126 Hdc), Ch 2 & turn

Row 52: FpHdc around every stitch (126 FpHdc), Ch 2 & turn.

The center wedge is finished. Make two more side wedges to complete the shawl.

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