Valley Yarns Sumac Berry Shawl Crochet Pattern

Valley Yarns Sumac Berry Shawl

What Is Being Made

The Sumac Berry Shawl is a crocheted lace shawl designed by Sara Delaney that combines elegance with versatility. Measuring 76 inches long by 9 inches wide when finished, this shawl is constructed with a mesh foundation and decorative berry edging featuring bobbles and picots. The beveled edges and generous length make it wearable as either a traditional shawl or a longer scarf, offering styling flexibility for various occasions.

Techniques Used

This advanced-beginner crochet project employs several key techniques to achieve its distinctive appearance:

• Lace construction: The shawl body is built using a mesh pattern created with chain spaces and single crochet stitches, allowing light to pass through the fabric for an airy, delicate effect
• Seamless construction: The shawl is worked in one continuous piece without seaming, beginning with a long foundation chain and building rows progressively
• Flat working method: All rows are worked flat in a back-and-forth direction rather than in the round, making it accessible for crocheters transitioning from basic patterns
• Bobble and picot edging: The berry edging incorporates textured bobble stitches paired with decorative picots to create dimensional fans along the perimeter
• Stitch marker placement: Markers are strategically positioned to identify corner increases and guide the edging application

Stitches Used

The Sumac Berry Shawl utilizes fundamental crochet stitches combined with specialty stitch variations:

• Chain (ch): Forms the foundation and creates the open spaces characteristic of the mesh pattern
• Single crochet (sc): Anchors the chain spaces and creates structure within the lace mesh
• Double crochet (dc): Used in groups of eight to form the fan elements of the berry edging
• Bobble stitch: A specialty stitch created by repeating yarn over and loop pulls five times in the same stitch, then drawing through all loops simultaneously. This creates a three-dimensional textured bump approximately three inches high when blocked
• Picot: A decorative element formed by chaining three stitches and slip stitching to the base of the preceding double crochet, creating small loops along the edge

Gauge and Finished Dimensions

Proper gauge is essential for achieving the intended finished size. The pattern specifies 7 chain-4 spaces over 14 mesh rows equals 4 inches when blocked. Individual bobble fans measure approximately 3 inches high by 3 inches at the widest point when blocked. The completed shawl reaches 76 inches in length and 9 inches in width, providing substantial coverage suitable for layering or draping.

Materials

The Sumac Berry Shawl is designed to showcase the qualities of premium yarn fibers:

• Yarn: Valley Yarns 2/14 Alpaca Silk Hand Dyed, composed of 80% alpaca and 20% silk, providing a luxurious blend of warmth and sheen. One skein containing approximately 865 yards is required, with the pattern using approximately 650 yards of the Red Riding Hood colorway
• Hook: Size E/4 (3.5mm) crochet hook, appropriately sized for the yarn weight and stitch gauge
• Notions: Stitch markers are used to track pattern repeats and corner placement during construction

Pattern Structure

The shawl is constructed in two distinct sections. The mesh body begins with a 344-chain foundation row, which is then reduced through strategic skipping to create 114 chain-4 spaces. Subsequent rows maintain the mesh pattern through 19 rows of repetition, gradually decreasing to 98 chain-4 spaces. Once the body is complete, the berry edging is joined and worked along the right edge, incorporating bobble and picot combinations with fan-shaped double crochet clusters to create the signature flamenco-inspired aesthetic.