Leonora Crochet Shawl and Bag by Cassie Ward in West Yorkshire Spinners Elements - DBP0282 - Downloadable PDF

Leonora Crochet Shawl and Bag by Cassie Ward – Pattern Summary

The Leonora Crochet Shawl and Bag is a beautifully coordinated set designed by Cassie Ward for West Yorkshire Spinners, worked in their Elements DK yarn. This downloadable PDF pattern is rated as intermediate in difficulty and covers two distinct crochet projects: an elegant shawl and a matching bag. Together they create a cohesive, stylish accessory pairing suitable for confident crocheters looking to expand their skills.

About the Two Designs

The Leonora Crochet Shawl

The Leonora Shawl is a hand-crocheted accessory designed to drape beautifully around the shoulders. Shawls of this style are a popular crochet project because they showcase stitch texture and yarn colour to great effect, and they are highly wearable as a lightweight layer. The shawl is worked using West Yorkshire Spinners Elements DK weight yarn, which provides a soft, drapeable fabric ideal for accessories worn close to the skin.

• Craft: Crochet
• Yarn: West Yorkshire Spinners Elements DK
• Difficulty: Intermediate
• Finishing: Blocking is an essential finishing step — the completed shawl should be pinned out to the dimensions stated in the pattern, covered with a damp cloth, and left to dry to achieve the correct drape and size

Blocking is particularly important for lace or openwork crochet shawls, as it opens up the stitch pattern and allows the full beauty of the design to be revealed. Cassie Ward's pattern includes tension guidance to ensure the finished shawl achieves the correct size and fabric hand.

The Leonora Crochet Bag

The Leonora Bag is a crocheted bag designed to coordinate with the shawl, making the two pieces a complete matched set. Crocheted bags are a practical and fashionable accessory, and working one in DK weight yarn produces a fabric with good structure and stitch definition. Like the shawl, this project is worked in West Yorkshire Spinners Elements DK.

• Craft: Crochet
• Yarn: West Yorkshire Spinners Elements DK
• Difficulty: Intermediate
• Finishing: Seaming techniques such as mattress stitch or whip stitch are recommended for joining any seamed sections of the bag

Techniques and Stitches

As an intermediate crochet pattern, the Leonora Crochet Shawl and Bag set draws on a range of crochet techniques that go beyond basic beginner skills. Crocheters working at this level will be comfortable with standard stitch construction and ready to tackle more complex stitch combinations and shaping.

• Tension swatching: The pattern emphasises the importance of working a tension square before beginning either project. Achieving the stated tension is essential for correct sizing and fabric quality. Hook size should be adjusted up or down as needed to match the stated tension exactly
• Hook sizing: If fewer stitches than stated are achieved in the tension swatch, a smaller hook is required; if more stitches are achieved, a larger hook should be used
• Seaming: Mattress stitch and whip stitch are the recommended finishing seam techniques where pieces need to be joined
• Blocking: Wet blocking using a damp cloth and pins is a required finishing technique for achieving the correct final dimensions and stitch appearance
• Charts and schematics: The pattern includes charts and schematics to support the written instructions, making it accessible to crocheters who prefer visual guidance

Materials

• Yarn: West Yorkshire Spinners Elements DK — a DK weight yarn chosen for its softness, drape, and stitch definition