This impressive looking Christening Shawl from the Crochet World archives is surprisingly manageable once you get into it.
I did have a few false starts to get the pattern going but once I did it’s the same group of stitches for the entire shawl (bar the edging).

However, it did take me ages to make! I was even crocheting right up to the moment that we had to leave for the church for my first baby’s (Master. D’s) baptism!
I had never used mercerised cotton before and it’s so fine that it did take quite a while to work up. However, it is one labour of love that was absolutely worth it and I think it has definitely earned it’s ‘heirloom’ status. I have since used the shawl for my two little girls Miss E. and Miss N., and for my sister’s little girls baptism.
I hope it will be in our family for many years to come.

Materials
The pattern uses J&P Coats Royale Classic size 10 crochet thread in White, which unfortunately has been discontinued.
I substituted with 6 skeins of Red Heart Classic Crochet Thread Size 10 and it worked great. You can get it here:
US:
http://www.redheart.com/crochet-thread/red-heart-classic-crochet-size-10
Amazon.com – Red Heart Classic Crochet Thread Size 10
UK:
Amazon UK – Red Heart Classic Crochet Thread Size 10
1.5mm steel crochet hook
Pattern
Download the pattern from here: