Valley Yarns 40th Anniversary Sermilik Shawl Crochet Pattern

Valley Yarns 40th Anniversary Sermilik Shawl

What Is Being Made

The Sermilik Shawl is an elegant crocheted triangle shawl designed by Kristin Omdahl for Valley Yarns' Guest Designer Series. This finished shawl measures approximately 76 inches wide and 36 inches deep, making it a substantial wrap suitable for layering or draping. The design features a top-down construction that creates a seamless, flowing garment with visual interest from strategically placed decreases and lace patterning.

Techniques Used

This shawl employs several key crochet techniques that work together to create its distinctive appearance:

• Top-down construction: The shawl is worked from the top downward, beginning with a foundation chain and expanding outward through the body of the piece
• Seamless construction: No seaming is required; the entire shawl is worked as one continuous piece
• Lace patterning: The design incorporates open lacework through strategic chain spaces and decreases that create an airy, delicate aesthetic while maintaining structural integrity
• Shell stitch motifs: Double crochet shells form the primary decorative element, with shells progressively decreasing as the shawl expands
• Color pooling: The hand-dyed yarn naturally creates intentional-looking pools of aquatic colors throughout the shawl as the stitches are worked

Stitches Used

The Sermilik Shawl utilizes fundamental crochet stitches combined in an effective pattern:

• Chain stitch (ch): Used for foundation chains, spacing, and creating openwork sections
• Single crochet (sc): Serves as anchor points between decorative shell sections and helps define the lace structure
• Double crochet (dc): Forms the primary 9-double-crochet shells that create visual texture and dimension
• Slip stitch (sl st): Used for joining yarn and moving across stitches without adding height

The pattern follows a repeat sequence of rows that gradually decrease the number of shells from 39 down to three, creating the triangular shawl shape. The main body alternates between shell rows and lace rows, with the lace rows featuring chain spaces that grow progressively larger as the shawl expands.

Materials

Yarn: The Sermilik Shawl calls for 3 skeins of Valley Yarns Huntington Hand-Dyed by Lorna's Laces. This yarn is composed of 75% Superwash Merino Wool and 25% Nylon, with each 100-gram skein providing 436 yards of yardage. The recommended colorway is Huron, a hand-dyed option that creates natural color variations and pooling effects as the shawl is worked.

Hook: A US size H/8 (5.00mm) crochet hook is used throughout the project.

Additional materials: Two locking ring stitch markers are needed to mark important positions within the pattern, particularly at the beginning and end of the final row of the main shawl body before the edging begins.

Gauge and Difficulty

The pattern specifies a gauge of approximately 4 shells measuring 5 inches across, though exact gauge is noted as not critically important for this design. This flexibility makes the pattern more forgiving for crocheters still developing consistent tension. The Sermilik Shawl is rated as an advanced beginner project, making it suitable for crocheters who have mastered basic stitches and simple patterns but are ready to tackle more complex stitch combinations and shaping techniques. The straightforward repeat pattern and logical decreases make it an excellent project for building confidence with lace construction and seamless shaping.