Vibrant Virginia Shawl

The Vibrant Virginia Shawl is a beautiful shawl worked from one side to the other. The basis of this shawl is made with single crochet stitches with increases and decreases on one side. It has a beautiful leaf border on the bottom of the shawl inspired by Virginia’s love for nature. This shawl is part of my special series of patterns dedicated to extended family (people with the same rare tumor as I).

Get the free pattern below or purchase the ad-free PDF version of this pattern on Etsy and Ravelry. The PDF is designed for printing and this way you can support me!

About Virginia

This shawl is dedicated to Virginia (33) from Germany. Virginia and I were born with the same rare condition. We met on Instagram 2 months ago because the algorithm showed Virginia my picture (thanks, Instagram!). She didn’t have a diagnosis yet, but immediately knew it was FIL when she saw my picture with Jaycee. We talked on Facebook for a while and discussed all the rare similarities we have. Only 2 months after her Instagram message I got to meet her in Germany. Of course I gave her the Vibrant Virginia Shawl dedicated to her.

Wilma (left) and Virginia (right) wearing the Vibrant Virginia Shawl

About the design

The shawl is inspired by Virginia’s love for nature. Virginia is an author, editor for sustainability & biodiversity and nature lover. I decided to keep the shawl simple with a somewhat rounded shape and a beautiful leaf border on the bottom.

I’ve used an earth tone to keep the design calm. This color looks so good with Virginia’s red hair! It can be wrapped around the shoulders like a shawl or worn upfront like a scarf.

About the pattern

For this shawl you can use any yarn; I’ve used LionBrand’s Coboo (DK weight) but you can also use fingering weight. The basis of the shawl is completely made with single crochet stitches. It’s worked from side to side with increases and decreases on the same side to create a beautiful rounded shape.

After that, we work a row of single crochet stitches along the bottom. Finally we make a beautiful leaf border which might look challenging, but is very fun to work on. Below you can find a video tutorial which shows you how to make this shawl step by step.

About this special series of patterns

I was born with a (benign) tumor in my face. For more than 22 years doctors did not know what it was. In 2017 I did a second opinion (honestly, it wasn’t the 2nd, more like a 20th opinion, lol). I finally got diagnosed with FIL, an ultra rare condition affecting only a handful of people worldwide.

I immediately started searching for others and so far I’ve found about 100 people all over the world. It’s amazing how much we look alike. It has become my life goal to find and meet them.

Many of my (upcoming) patterns are special designs inspired by my ‘extended family’ as I call them.

> Read more about me
> Read more about this special series of patterns

Vibrant Virginia Shawl
free crochet pattern

Materials

– Lion Brand Coboo (Weight 3/light, 232yds/3.5oz, 212m/100g)
4 balls in color tan [835-123]
or 315 grams

– Crochet hook 6 mm (US J/10)

– Crochet hook 5 mm (US H/8) for the border

– Stitch marker

– Tapestry needle

Finished size

Height: 17” / 43 cm
Width: 88” / 224  cm

Gauge

With hook size 6mm:
14 sc x 17 rows = 10 x 10 cm / 4″ square

Stitches & abbreviations

– sl st: slip stitch
– ch: chain
– sc: single crochet
– sc2tog: single crochet 2 together (decrease)
– dc: double crochet
– dc2tog: double crochet 2 together (decrease)
– dc3tog: double crochet 3 together (decrease)

Notes

– This pattern is written in US terminology

– This shawl is worked from one side to the other with increases and decreases on one side. Lastly we will make the border

– Turn your work at the end of each row

– Turning chains does not count as a stitch

– It is helpful to place a stitch marker on the increase side, so you can easily see when you need to make increases

– Block your finished shawl

Video

Below you can find a video tutorial of the Vibrant Virginia Shawl. If you do not see the video, turn off your ad-blocker.

* Click here to watch the video on YouTube

Pattern

** An ad-free PDF version is available on Etsy and Ravelry.
It’s designed for printing and this way you can support me **

With hook size 6mm: ch 2, turn

Row 1: 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook, ch 1, turn (1)

Row 2: 2 sc in sc, ch 1, turn (2)

Row 3: 1 sc in each sc, ch 1, turn (2)

Row 4: 1 sc in next sc, 2 sc in last sc, ch 1,  turn (3) Place a marker in last sc

Row 5: 1 sc in each sc, ch 1, turn (3)

Row 6: 1 sc in each sc across, 2 sc in last sc, ch 1, turn (4)

Row 7 – 98: repeat row 5 & 6 (50)

creating that smooth curve

Row 99 – 101: 1 sc in each sc across, ch 1, turn (50)

Row 102: 1 sc in each sc across, 2 sc in last sc, ch 1, turn (51)

Row 103 – 105: 1 sc in each sc across, ch 1, turn (51)

Row 106: 1 sc in each sc across, 2 sc in last sc, ch 1, turn (52)

45 rows straight

Row 107 – 151 (45 rows): 1 sc in each sc across, ch 1, turn (52)

time for that smooth curve again

Row 152: 1 sc in each sc across until last 2 sc, sc2tog, ch 1, turn (51)

Row 153 – 155: 1 sc in each sc across, ch 1, turn (51)

Row 156: 1 sc in each sc across until last 2 sc, sc2tog, ch 1, turn (50)

Row 157 – 159: 1 sc in each sc across, ch 1, turn (50)

decrease till end

Row 160: 1 sc in each sc across until last 2 sc, sc2tog, ch 1, turn (49)

Row 161: 1 sc in each sc across, ch 1, turn (49)

Row 162 – 255: repeat row 160 & 161 (2)

end of shawl

Row 256: sc2tog, ch 1, turn (1)

Row 257: 1 sc, ch 1, turn (1)

Do not fasten off, we will continue with the border.

Border

Continue on the bottom of the shawl. Work 1 sc in each row until the the end, and 2 sc in the last row. Make sure you have 258 stitches before you continue with the border.

Reminder: you can find my video tutorial here.

Change to crochet hook size 5mm.

Row 1: ch 9, 1 dc in 4th ch from hook, ch 2, skip 2 ch, 3 dc in next ch, ch 2, skip 2 ch, skip 1st sc, sl st in next 3 sc, turn

Row 2: ch 2, 2 dc in 1st dc, 1 dc in 2nd dc, 2 dc in 3rd dc, ch 2, 1 dc in last dc, ch 3, turn

Row 3: 1 dc in dc, ch 2, 2 dc in 1st dc, 1 dc in next 3 dc, 2 dc in last dc, ch 2, skip next sc, sl st in next 3 sc, turn

Row 4: ch 2, 2 dc in 1st dc, 1 dc in next 5 dc, 2 dc in last dc, ch 2, 1 dc in last dc, ch 3, turn

Row 5: 1 dc in dc, ch 2, 1 dc in next 9 dc, ch 2, skip next sc, sl st in next 3 sc, turn

Row 6: ch 2, dc2tog, 1 dc in next 5 dc, dc2tog, ch 2, 1 dc in last dc, ch 3, turn

Row 7: 1 dc in dc, ch 2, 3 dc in ch-2 sp, ch 2, dc2tog, 1 dc in next 3 dc, dc2tog, ch 2, skip next sc, sl st in next 3 sc, turn

Row 8: ch 2, dc2tog, 1 dc in next dc, dc2tog, ch 2, 2 dc in next dc, 1 dc in next dc, 2 dc in next dc, ch 2, 1 dc in last dc, ch 3, turn

Row 9: 1 dc in dc, ch 2, 2 dc in next dc, 1 dc in next 3 dc, 2 dc in next dc, ch 2, dc3tog, ch 2, skip next sc, sl st in next 3 sc, turn

Row 10: ch 2, skip dc3tog, 2 dc in next dc, 1 dc in next 5 dc, 2 dc in next dc, ch 2, 1 dc in last dc, ch 3, turn

Repeat row 5 – 10 for a total of 20 times. Repeat one more time, but dont’t start a new leaf in the last 3 rows (see video here).

Blocking

When your shawl is done, make sure to block it. Especially for the lace border this will make a huge difference. I wrote a blocking tutorial here.