If a poncho-type shawl is a possibility, look at the easy poncho pattern in the book The Knit Stitch. http://www.amazon.com/Knitting-Exper...2329608&sr=8-1 You basically make 2 garter stitch rectangles (I used bulky weight yarn, so it went pretty quickly) and sew them together.
My sisters and recently made a shawl by making a bunch of scarves and sewing them together.