718 Arkose Shawl - Crochet Pattern for Women in Valley Yarns Pocumtuck

718 Arkose Shawl – Crochet Pattern for Women by Sara Delaney in Valley Yarns Pocumtuck

The 718 Arkose Shawl is a beautifully elegant crochet shawl pattern designed by Sara Delaney and published by Valley Yarns. This downloadable PDF pattern produces a graceful asymmetrical triangle shawl with finished dimensions of 66 inches wide and 26 inches long at the point, making it a generously sized accessory that drapes beautifully over the shoulders. The design is rated advanced beginner, meaning it is accessible to those who have mastered basic crochet stitches and are ready to explore simple lace construction without complex stitch manipulation.

Design Overview and Construction Method

The Arkose Shawl is worked top-down and flat, beginning at the long upper edge and tapering gradually toward a single pointed tip. This top-down, worked-flat construction is a satisfying approach because the project starts with its longest, most active rows and progressively shortens with each repeat — meaning the work accelerates exponentially as you approach the final rows. Rather than the more common experience of rows growing longer as a shawl progresses, this method gives crocheters a rewarding sense of momentum as the end draws near.

The shawl is worked seamlessly in one continuous piece with no seaming required. Construction begins with a foundation chain of 144 stitches, which establishes 18 shells across the first row. Each subsequent repeat of the two-row pattern reduces the shell count by one, continuing until a single shell remains and the yarn is fastened off. For crocheters who prefer a larger shawl, the pattern includes a helpful customization note: increasing the foundation chain by 8 stitches adds one additional shell and proportionally increases both the width and depth of the finished piece.

Techniques and Stitches Used

The Arkose Shawl uses a lace technique built around a repeating shell stitch pattern. The primary structural element is a five-treble shell, constructed as one treble crochet followed by four chain-one treble crochet combinations worked into the same stitch — written in the pattern as [1tr, (ch1, 1tr) four times]. These open, airy shells are separated by slip stitches and connected across rows with long chain arches, creating the characteristic lacy mesh typical of elegant shawl designs.

The full stitch vocabulary used in this pattern includes:

• Treble crochet (tr) – the primary stitch forming each shell
• Chain (ch) – used within shells and as row-connecting arches
• Single crochet (sc) – used in alternating rows to anchor shells and in the finishing edging
• Slip stitch (sl st) – used to join shells at their base and close row transitions

The pattern is built on a simple two-row repeat that is easy to memorize after just one or two repetitions. Row 1 establishes the shells; Row 2 creates the chain bridges between them. These two rows are repeated 16 additional times after the initial setup, for a total construction that is both rhythmic and meditative to work.

Once the body is complete, a single crochet edging is worked along the entire outer edge of the shawl. The pattern instructs crocheters to work three single crochets into the same stitch or chain at each corner to ensure the edging lies flat and frames the shawl neatly. The result is a clean, polished border that gives the finished piece a refined, professional appearance.

Finishing

Finishing is straightforward: ends are woven in and the shawl is lightly blocked. Blocking is particularly important for lace crochet, as it opens up the shell and chain structure, evens the fabric, and allows the full drape and dimensions of the shawl to be realized. The stated gauge of 1.5 shells and 3 rows to 4 inches in pattern, after blocking, confirms that the finished measurements depend on proper blocking technique.

Materials – Yarn and Hook

The pattern calls for 2 skeins of Valley Yarns Pocumtuck, a luxurious 100% cashmere worsted weight yarn that comes