Transformation Shawl
This is my second design for A Hundred Ravens, who will be making this pattern available as a kit with their Iachos fingering weight wool. For this design, I looked to photos of Victorian fashion for inspiration, and what I found was buttons, lace, and an abundance of shorter shawls that could be fastened at the neck so that a lady might go about her day without fear of losing her covering.
I included instructions on how to crochet your own buttons, so you needn’t worry about that pesky chore of finding just the right ones (unless, of course, you enjoy the hunt!). And here’s a fun treat for those of you crochet geeks out there who would like to enhance your knowledge of crochet mechanics: this shawl is actually a bit of a lesson in how different crochet stitch patterns relate to one another! We have dubbed it the Transformation Shawl because as you work, you will see how small shells transform into larger shells, then shell lace, and finally pineapples.
Finished Size: One size fits XS to 5X.
Patter Level: Complex
Materials:
- 1 skein (437 yd) Cascade Heritage Silk
- Size H-8 (5.0mm) crochet hook
- Yarn needle
Gauge Square: Ch 22. Row 1. Sc in 2nd ch from hook, *skip next ch, 3 dc in next ch, skip next ch, sc in next ch; rep from * across. Row 2. Ch 3 (counts as dc); turn. Dc in first sc, *skip next dc, sc in next dc, skip next dc, 3 dc in next sc; rep from * across, ending with 2 dc in last sc. Row 3. Ch 1; turn. Sc in first dc, *skip next dc, 3 dc in next sc, skip next dc, sc in next dc; rep from * across. Rows 4-9. Rep rows 2 & 3. Row 10. Rep row 2. 5 shells and 10 rows = 4 inches.
Note on Fit: This shawl has been designed to fit up to a 16-inch neck circumference and 37-inch shoulder girth. The neck is quite wide, and this was by design to make the shawl fit a wide range of sizes. The neck circumference can be adjusted at the end by the placement of the buttons: place them farther in from the edge to accommodate a smaller neck, and closer to the edge to accommodate a wider neck.
You can adjust the shawl at the beginning to make the neck shorter, but then you will also have less coverage on the shoulders because of the way the pineapples spread out from the shells in the neck. Knowing this, if you would still like to start with a shorter chain, we recommend reducing it by no more than 2 repetitions if you still want full coverage on the shoulders. The beginning chain is a multiple of 4 plus 2. The original pattern has 22 shells in the first row, so a beginning chain of 86 will give you 21 shells, and a beginning chain of 82 will give you 20 shells. Follow the rest of the pattern as written.
Shell Yoke
Worked from the neck down.
Ch 90.
Row 1. Sc in 2nd ch from hook, *skip next ch, 3 dc in next ch, skip next ch, sc in next ch; rep from * across. 22 shells.
Row 2. Ch 3 (counts as dc); turn. Dc in first sc, *skip next dc, sc in next dc, skip next dc, 3 dc in next sc; rep from * across, ending with 2 dc in last sc. 21 shells and 2 half-shells.
Row 3. Ch 6 (buttonhole made); turn. Sc in first dc, *skip next dc, 3 dc in next sc, skip next dc, sc in next dc; rep from * across. 22 shells.
Row 4. Rep row 2.
Row 5. Ch 1; turn. Sc in first dc, *skip next dc, 3 dc in next sc, skip next dc, sc in next dc; rep from * across. 22 shells.
Rows 6 & 7. Rep rows 2 & 3.
Row 8. Rep row 2.
Row 9. Ch 1; turn. Sc in first dc, *skip next dc, 5 dc in next sc, skip next dc, sc in next dc; rep from * across. 22 shells.
Row 10. Ch 3 (counts as dc); turn. 2 dc in first sc, *skip next 2 dc, sc in next dc, skip next 2 dc, 5 dc in next sc; rep from * across, ending with 3 dc in last sc. 21 shells and 2 half-shells.
Row 11. Ch 1; turn. Sc in first dc, *skip next 2 dc, 7 dc in next sc, skip next 2 dc, sc in next dc; rep from * across. 22 shells.
Row 12. Ch 3 (counts as dc); turn. 3 dc in first sc, *skip next 3 dc, sc in next dc, skip next 3 dc, 7 dc in next sc; rep from * across, ending with 4 dc in last sc. 21 shells and 2 half-shells.
Row 13. Ch 1; turn. Sc in first dc, *skip next 3 dc, 9 tr in next sc, skip next 3 dc, sc in next dc; rep from * across. 22 shells.
Row 14. Ch 4 (beg ch-4 counts as tr now and throughout the rest of the pattern); turn. 4 tr in first sc, *skip next 4 tr, sc in next tr, skip next 4 tr, 9 tr in next sc; rep from * across, ending with 5 tr in last sc. 21 shells and 2 half-shells.
Do not finish off.
Shell Lace
Row 15. Ch 4; turn. Skip first 5 tr, (tr, ch 3, tr) in next sc, *skip next 3 tr, sc in next 3 tr, skip next 3 tr, (tr, ch 3, tr) in next sc; rep from * across. Skip next 4 tr, tr in last tr.
Row 16. Ch 4 (counts as tr); turn. 9 tr in first ch-3 sp, *skip next sc, sc in next sc, skip next sc, 9 tr in next ch-3 sp; rep from * across. Tr in last tr. 22 shells.
Row 17. Ch 4; turn. Skip first 4 tr, sc in next 3 tr, *ch 3, skip next 3 tr, (tr, ch 3, tr) in next sc, ch 3, skip next 3 tr, sc in next 3 tr; rep from * across. Skip next 3 tr, tr in last tr.
Row 18. Ch 4 (counts as tr); turn. Skip first tr and first sc, sc in next sc, ch 3, skip next sc and first ch-3 sp, 6 tr in next ch-3 sp, *ch 3, skip next ch-3 sp and next sc, sc in next sc, ch 3, skip next sc and next ch-3 sp, 6 tr in next ch-3 sp; rep from * across. Skip next ch-3 sp and next sc, ch 3, sc in next sc, skip next sc, tr in last tr. 21 shells.
Do not finish off.
Pineapple Border
Row 19. Ch 4; turn. Tr in first tr, ch 3, tr in next tr, (ch 1, tr in next tr) 5 times, ch 3, *skip next ch-3 sp, 2 tr in next sc, ch 3, skip next ch-3 sp, tr in next tr, (ch 1, tr in next tr) 5 times, ch 3; rep from * across. 2 tr in last tr.
Row 20. Ch 4; turn. Tr in first tr, ch 3, skip next tr, ch-3 sp, and next tr, sc in next ch-1 sp, (ch 4, sc in next ch-1 sp) 4 times, *ch 3, skip next tr and ch-3 sp, 2 tr in ea of next 2 tr, ch 3, skip next ch-3 sp and next tr, sc in next ch-1 sp, (ch 4, sc in next ch-1 sp) 4 times; rep from * across. Ch 3, skip ch-3 sp and next tr, 2 tr in last tr.
Row 21. Ch 4; turn. Tr in first tr, ch 3, skip next tr and ch-3 sp, sc in next ch-4 sp, (ch 4, sc in next ch-4 sp) 3 times, *ch 3, skip next ch-3 sp and tr, 2 tr in next tr, ch 3, 2 tr in next tr, ch 3, skip next tr and ch-3 sp, sc in next ch-4 sp, (ch 4, sc in next ch-4 sp) 3 times; rep from * across. Ch 3, skip ch-3 sp and next tr, 2 tr in last tr.
Row 22. Ch 4; turn. Tr in first tr, ch 3, skip next tr and ch-3 sp, sc in next ch-4 sp, (ch 4, sc in next ch-4 sp) twice, *ch 3, skip next ch-3 sp and tr, 2 tr in next tr, ch 3, sc in next ch-3 sp, ch 3, 2 tr in next tr, ch 3, skip next tr and ch-3 sp, sc in next ch-4 sp, (ch 4, sc in next ch-4 sp) twice; rep from * across. Ch 3, skip ch-3 sp and next tr, 2 tr in last tr.
Row 23. Ch 4; turn. Tr in first tr, ch 3, skip next tr and ch-3 sp, sc in next ch-4 sp, ch 4, sc in next ch-4 sp, *ch 3, skip next ch-3 sp and tr, 2 tr in next tr, ch 3, skip next ch-3 sp, 2 tr in next sc, ch 3, skip next ch-3 sp, 2 tr in next tr, ch 3, skip next tr and ch-3 sp, sc in next ch-4 sp, ch 4, sc in next ch-4 sp; rep from * across. Ch 3, skip ch-3 sp and next tr, 2 tr in last tr.
Row 24. Ch 4; turn. Tr in first tr, ch 3, skip next tr and ch-3 sp, sc in next ch-4 sp, *ch 3, skip next ch-3 sp and tr, 2 tr in next tr, ch 3, skip next ch-3 sp, 2 tr in ea of next 2 tr, ch 3, skip next ch-3 sp, 2 tr in next tr, ch 3, skip next tr and ch-3 sp, sc in next ch-4 sp; rep from * across. Ch 3, skip ch-3 sp and next tr, 2 tr in last tr.
Row 25. Ch 4; turn. Tr in first tr, skip next tr, next ch-3 sp, next sc, next ch-3 sp, and next tr, *2 tr in next tr, ch 3, skip next ch-3 sp and tr, 2 tr in next tr, ch 3, 2 tr in next tr, ch 3, skip next tr and ch-3 sp, 2 tr in next tr, skip next tr, next ch-3 sp, next sc, next ch-3 sp, and next tr; rep from * across. 2 tr in last tr. Finish off.
Buttons – make 2.
Worked in the round.
Ch 2.
Rnd 1. 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook. Join with sl st in first sc to form ring. 6 sc.
Rnd 2. Ch 1; do not turn. 2 sc in ea sc around. Join with sl st in first sc. 12 sc.
Rnd 3. Ch 1; do not turn. *Sc2tog over next 2 sc; rep from * around. Join with sl st in first st. 6 st.
Finish off, leaving a 6-inch tail. Weave tail through stitches of last row and pull tight to close button.
Finishing
Block shawl. Sew buttons onto Yoke on opposite edge of buttonholes so that they line up with the button holes. The placement of the buttons greatly affects the fit around the neck. You will want to sew them about 1 1/2 inches from the edge. Sew them further from the edge for a tighter fit around the neck; sew them closer to the edge for a looser fit.
Stitch Diagram
Abbreviations
- ch (chain)
- dc (double crochet)
- ea (each)
- mm (millimeter)
- rep (repeat)
- rnd (round)
- rnds (rounds)
- sc (single crochet)
- sl st (slip stitch)
- sp (space)
- t-ch (turning chain)
- tog (together)
- tr (treble crochet)
- yd (yard)
Special thanks to Cassandra B., fxsprite, Stavroula, Tiffany R., and Traci S. for their assistance in the development of this pattern!
