Sway Wave Shawl: Inspired by the Sea

At the moment, I’m diving into at least four new shawl designs, and the very first one I’ve finished is the Sway Wave Shawl. I feel so inspired to keep creating — shawls, wraps, scarves — each with its own little story and source of inspiration.

For the Sway Wave Shawl, my inspiration came from the sea. I’ve always loved being near the water; it feels both peaceful and humbling. The sound of the waves, the shifting colours of the water, the patterns in the sand, the wind on my face — all of it feels magical. I wanted to capture even a little bit of that rhythm and movement in a shawl.

That’s why I chose wavy stitches for this design. Two different wave patterns alternate across the shawl, each wave slightly different, just like the sea itself. And the colours — a soft ombre from purple to grey — echo the water’s moods, with purple being one of my favourite colours.

About the Sway Wave Shawl

The Sway Wave Shawl is a generous rectangular shape, but you can easily adjust it to any size — instructions for that are included in the pattern. It combines two alternating wavy stitch patterns that flow beautifully together.

I used a soft fingering-weight yarn — Scheepjes Whirl and Whirlette — which gives it a lovely drape, but the pattern is versatile enough to work in slightly heavier yarns too.

Skill-wise, I’d place this pattern in the adventurous beginner to intermediate range. If you’re comfortable with single, double, and triple crochets, plus a few special stitches, you’ll pick up the rhythm quickly. The instructions are written clearly in bullet-point format, and there’s even a handy table translating US to UK crochet terms, so you can follow along with ease.

Styling & Use

What I love most about the Sway Wave Shawl is its versatility. Even though it’s rectangular, it can be worn in so many ways. Draped loosely, it has an effortless elegance; wrapped snugly, it becomes a cozy shield against chilly nights.

I’ve included a few photos below to show some of my favourite ways to drape it. Each way highlights the gentle waves in the stitches, and I love how the shawl seems to move with you as you wear it.

This shawl also makes a thoughtful, handmade gift — a piece that feels timeless because it’s inspired by nature. I hope it brings the same quiet joy of the sea to anyone who wears it.