Fairy Violet Shawl

Fairy Violet Shawl by Zsuzsanna Makai

Project Overview

The Fairy Violet Shawl is a lacy crocheted shawl designed by Zsuzsanna Makai as the perfect summer accessory. This advanced-level crochet pattern offers versatility in styling—wear it draped on your shoulder at the beach or wrapped around your neck during cooler evenings. The shawl's delicate, open lacework design brightens any outfit while remaining lightweight and breathable for warm weather wear.

Craft and Construction Technique

This project is created using the crochet technique, with a partially charted pattern that combines written instructions with visual crochet charts created using crocharts.com. The charted elements help clarify the lacy stitch sequences and shaping, making it easier to follow the pattern despite its advanced difficulty level. The shawl is constructed in a radius-based design, growing outward from a center point, which is a common approach for circular or semi-circular shawlettes.

Stitches and Stitch Work

The Fairy Violet Shawl employs a range of crochet stitches to create its lacy appearance and structure. The pattern utilizes the following stitches:

• Chain stitch (ch) – the foundation stitch used throughout
• Single crochet (sc) – for tighter, more structured sections
• Double crochet (dc) – a mid-height stitch used in the lacy sections
• Treble crochet (tr) – taller stitches that contribute to the open, airy lacework
• Triple treble crochet (trtr) – extra-tall stitches for dramatic lacy elements

The pattern also incorporates standard crochet techniques including yarn overs (yo), skip stitches (sk), slip stitches (sl st), and stitch spaces (sp) to create the openwork design characteristic of lacy shawls.

Yarn and Materials

The Fairy Violet Shawl is designed to work with any type of yarn, offering flexibility in fiber choice. The sample shown in the pattern was created using worsted weight yarn, with the sample skein measuring 116 yards per 1.76 ounces (106 meters per 50 grams). A 5mm crochet hook was used for the sample, sized slightly larger than the typical recommendation for worsted weight yarn to enhance the lacy, open appearance of the finished shawl. Gauge is noted as not important for this project, making it more forgiving for crocheters working at different tensions.

Sizing and Finished Dimensions

The Fairy Violet Shawl pattern provides guidance for creating four different sizes: Small (S), Medium (M), Large (L), and Extra Large (XL). When made from worsted weight yarn, the approximate radius measurements are:

• Size S: 60cm / 24 inches
• Size M: 90cm / 36 inches
• Size L: 120cm / 48 inches
• Size XL: 150cm / 60 inches

These dimensions may vary depending on your choice of yarn weight and fiber type. Using lighter weight yarns will result in a smaller finished shawl, while heavier yarns will produce larger dimensions. The yardage required will also depend on your yarn selection, with the pattern providing adjustments for different weights.

Pattern Details

This downloadable PDF pattern is an original design by independent designer Zsuzsanna Makai, copyrighted in 2014. The pattern uses US crochet terminology and includes standard abbreviations for all stitches and techniques. The combination of written instructions and charted sections makes this an advanced-level project, suitable for experienced crocheters who are comfortable reading both text patterns and visual stitch diagrams.