Melisandre

Melisandre Crochet Shawl by Berniolie

What Is Being Made

Melisandre is a crocheted shawl designed by Berniolie, an independent designer. This project creates a lightweight, elegant wrap measuring approximately 52 cm (20.5 inches) wide and 190 cm (76 inches) long after blocking, making it a versatile accessory suitable for layering or draping.

Craft and Techniques

This is a crochet project classified as beginner level, making it an excellent choice for those new to crochet or looking for a straightforward shawl pattern. The design employs fundamental crochet techniques combined with decorative stitch variations to create visual interest and texture throughout the piece.

Stitches Used

The Melisandre shawl incorporates a variety of essential crochet stitches:

• Chain (ch) – the foundation stitch used to create base rows and spacing
• Single crochet (sc) – a tight, dense stitch often used for structure and detail work
• Double crochet (dc) – a medium-height stitch forming the primary fabric of the shawl
• Treble crochet (tr) – a taller stitch adding height and openness to the design
• Double crochet 3 together (dc3tog) – a decrease technique that reduces stitch count and creates shaping
• Picot – a decorative element created by chaining 4 stitches and single crocheting into the first chain, adding delicate edging details
• V-stitch (V-st) – formed by working a double crochet, chain 1, and another double crochet into the same stitch, creating a V-shaped motif that adds texture and visual dimension
• Chain spaces (ch-sp) – gaps created by chains between stitches, allowing for openwork sections and lacy effects

Materials and Specifications

The Melisandre shawl is constructed using Scheepjes Cotton 8 yarn in color 717. The project requires 7 skeins, with each skein containing 50 grams (1.76 ounces) and 170 meters (186 yards) of yarn, providing approximately 1,190 meters of total yardage.

The yarn weight is classified as 4-ply, a medium-weight cotton that offers breathability and drape ideal for shawl construction. A 4 mm (size G) crochet hook is used to work with this yarn weight.

Gauge

The pattern specifies a gauge of 17 double crochets over 10 rows equaling 10 cm × 10 cm (4" × 4") when measured before blocking. Achieving proper gauge is important for obtaining the correct finished measurements after the blocking process, which helps set the stitches and shape the shawl to its intended dimensions.