Filatura Di Crosa Floral Lace Shell Jumper Crochet Pattern

Filatura Di Crosa Floral Lace Shell

What Is Being Made

This is a crocheted lace shell garment designed by Kristin Omdahl, featuring delicate floral lace patterning throughout. The shell is a sleeveless pullover sweater available in four sizes: Small (bust 36"/81.5 cm), Medium (40"/101.5 cm), Large (44"/112 cm), and XL (48"/122 cm). The finished length ranges from 23½ inches (59.5 cm) in the smallest size to 26 inches (66 cm) in the largest size, making it a versatile layering piece suitable for various occasions and seasons.

Construction Techniques

The Filatura Di Crosa Floral Lace Shell employs multiple construction methods to achieve its refined aesthetic. The garment is worked flat in sections that are subsequently seamed together, allowing for precise shaping and control over the lace pattern placement. Additionally, portions of the design are worked in the round, creating seamless cylindrical sections that enhance the garment's drape and comfort. The shell is constructed using a bottom-up approach, meaning the body is begun at the lower edge and worked upward toward the neckline, a method that allows for easy length adjustments and straightforward fit customization.

The lace technique forms the foundation of this design, creating an open, airy fabric with decorative eyelet motifs and strategic shaping. The pattern incorporates the foundation double crochet (fdc) method, which is specifically noted in the pattern as creating a base chain and a row of double crochet simultaneously. This technique produces a sturdy, elastic foundation that is particularly valuable for necklines and waistlines, ensuring the shell maintains its shape and sits comfortably against the body.

Stitches Used

The pattern employs a focused selection of fundamental crochet stitches to build the lace structure:

• Double crochet (dc) – the primary stitch forming the fabric base and creating the main texture
• Single crochet (sc) – used for shaping transitions and securing lace motifs
• 3-treble cluster (3-tr cluster) – a decorative stitch element that creates the distinctive floral lace pattern and adds visual interest
• Chain stitches (ch) – used throughout to create the open spaces characteristic of lace work, with chain-7 and chain-3 spaces forming the primary openwork elements
• Slip stitch – employed to join rounds when working in the round

The combination of these stitches, particularly the interplay between solid double crochet sections and open chain spaces, creates the floral lace effect that defines this shell's aesthetic appeal.

Materials and Tools

The Filatura Di Crosa Floral Lace Shell is designed to be worked in Filatura Di Crosa SUPERIOR, a luxurious yarn blend composed of 70% cashmere, 25% schappe silk, and 5% extrafine merino wool. Each ball contains 0.88 ounces (25 grams) and yields 330 yards (300 meters), with yardage requirements ranging from 2 balls for the smallest size to 3 balls for the XL size. The yarn is worked in color #42, lemon-lime, a fresh and versatile shade.

The recommended tool is a G-6 (4mm) crochet hook, or the size necessary to achieve the specified gauge of 16 stitches and 8 rows of double crochet measuring 4 inches (10 centimeters). Additional supplies include a yarn needle for weaving in ends and securing seams, and split ring stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and shaping points throughout the construction process. Checking gauge before beginning is essential to ensure proper fit and garment dimensions.