Valley Yarns Vanda Stole Crochet Pattern

Valley Yarns Vanda Stole

Project Overview

The Vanda Stole is an elegant, tapered crochet shawl designed by Sara Delaney that transitions gracefully from 22 inches wide at the center back to a finished length of 92 inches. This versatile accessory works equally well as a sophisticated wrap for formal occasions paired with a little black dress or as a casual layering piece with jeans and a t-shirt. The stole's refined construction and hand-dyed colorway make it a statement piece suitable for various settings and seasons.

Yarn and Materials

The Vanda Stole is worked using Valley Yarns Northfield Hand Dyed, a premium blend consisting of 70% Merino Wool, 20% Baby Alpaca, and 10% Silk. This fiber composition is specifically chosen to enhance the finished garment: the baby alpaca and merino provide bounce and structural strength, while the silk content allows the hand-dyed color to truly shine and display its full richness. The project requires 4 skeins of yarn, with each skein containing 248 yards at a weight of 100 grams. The sample shown is worked in the colorway Radiant Orchid. A US size J/10 (6.00mm) crochet hook is used, with gauge adjusted as needed to obtain the specified tension of 2 pattern repeats and 8 rows over 6 inches.

Crochet Techniques

The Vanda Stole employs lace crochet techniques to create an open, airy fabric with visual interest and drape. The shawl is worked flat in rows rather than in the round, making it accessible for intermediate-level crocheters. The construction is seamless, meaning no seaming or joining is required after completion. The tapered shape is achieved through strategic increases and decreases worked directly into the fabric as the piece grows.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The Vanda Stole utilizes a variety of fundamental and decorative crochet stitches to build its lace pattern:

• Single Crochet (sc): Used as anchor points between cluster groups to create structure and definition in the lace pattern
• Double Crochet (dc): The primary stitch used throughout most rows, providing the foundation of the fabric
• Treble Crochet (tr): Employed in specific rows to create height and openness within the pattern
• Double Crochet Decrease (dc2tog): Used to shape the stole and create visual transitions between pattern sections
• 3dc Cluster: A special stitch technique where three double crochets are worked together into a single stitch, creating a textured, dimensional element. This is accomplished by working three incomplete double crochets (each brought to two loops on the hook) and then pulling yarn through all loops at once
• Picot: A small decorative element worked between cluster groups to add delicate embellishment to the lace
• Chain Spaces (ch-3 sp): Created by chain stitches and skipped stitches, these spaces form the open areas characteristic of lace crochet and allow the fabric to drape beautifully

Pattern Structure

The stole is constructed by working the right half beginning at the center back with a foundation chain of 67 stitches. The pattern is built on a four-row repeat that is worked eight times, creating the tapered silhouette. The repeating rows progress through different stitch combinations: Row 1 establishes the cluster groups with chain spaces; Row 2 adds picot details and decreases; Row 3 creates height with treble stitches and fan-like increases; and Row 4 transitions back to double crochets while maintaining the overall shape. This systematic repetition of the four-row sequence builds the stole to its finished dimensions while maintaining consistent tension and pattern integrity throughout.

Difficulty Level

Rated as intermediate, the Vanda Stole requires solid foundational crochet knowledge. Crocheters should be comfortable with double crochet, treble crochet, and decrease techniques before beginning. The special cluster stitch and picot details add complexity but are explained clearly in the pattern. The flat, row-by-row construction allows for easy error correction, and the repeating four-row pattern becomes intuitive after the first repeat or two.