WEBS DIR02 Shawl Collar Stole by Doris Chan - Crochet Pattern for Women in Valley Yarns Valley Superwash Bulky

WEBS DIR02 Shawl Collar Stole by Doris Chan – Crochet Pattern Summary

The Shawl Collar Stole is the second release in the Designer in Residence Series from WEBS, designed by the acclaimed crochet designer Doris Chan. This is a downloadable PDF crochet pattern for women, producing a beautifully draped, cozy, and lightweight stole with a distinctive shawl collar. It is worked at an intermediate skill level and is offered in a single adjustable size, making it a versatile accessory for a wide range of wearers.

What Is Being Made

This pattern creates a shawl collar stole — a long, wide wrap that drapes over the shoulders and features a wide ribbed band at the top that folds over to form a snug, cozy collar. The design is carefully shaped so that the back is curved, creating roominess through the arms and allowing the front panels to sit properly. The fronts are long enough to wrap around without becoming cumbersome, and the overall width provides comfortable coverage without causing the wearer to sit on the back of the stole.

• Finished width: 22 inches
• Finished length at collar edge: 62 inches
• Finished length at lower edge: 70 inches
• Note: The fabric is stretchy and may grow considerably in length when worn.

Construction and Techniques

The stole is worked bottom-up and is constructed as a seamless, flat piece, meaning there are no seams to sew at the end. Working flat means the crocheter turns the work at the end of each row, building the fabric in a traditional back-and-forth manner. The seamless construction keeps finishing simple and the drape consistent throughout the fabric.

A key construction detail is the use of clever shaping at the back to create a curved silhouette. This curvature is what allows the stole to stay in place on the shoulders and lets the front panels hang correctly — a thoughtful design feature that elevates this piece beyond a simple rectangle.

The wide top band is worked in a gentle ribbing that is then folded over to create the shawl collar effect. Ribbing in crochet is typically achieved by working stitches through the back loop only, which creates a stretchy, ridged texture that mimics the look of knitted ribbing and allows the collar to fold and hold its shape naturally.

Stitches Used

This pattern draws on a combination of foundational and decorative crochet stitches, making it an excellent project for crocheters who are comfortable with the basics and ready to explore lace patterning:

• Foundation Single Crochet (Fsc): A special technique used to create a sturdy, elastic foundation at the back neck. Rather than working a standard chain and then a row of single crochet, Fsc builds the foundation chain and the first row of stitches simultaneously, resulting in a more flexible and even starting edge — ideal for a garment that needs to stretch comfortably around the neck.
• Single Crochet (sc): Used in the ribbed collar band and as a structural stitch throughout. Gauge is set at 9 sc stitches to 4 inches.
• Double Crochet (dc): A primary stitch in the body of the stole. Gauge is 9 dc stitches to 4 inches, and 4 rows of dc measure 3.75 inches.
• Shell Stitch (SH): The decorative lace stitch that forms the main body pattern. One full shell stitch repeat — consisting of 2 dc, a shell, and a chain-2 space — measures 4 inches. Shell stitches are a classic crochet lace technique in which multiple double crochets are worked into the same stitch or space, creating a fan-like, open motif that adds visual interest and an airy quality to the fabric.
• Chain (ch) and Chain Spaces (ch-sp): Integral to the lace pattern, creating the open spaces between shell repeats.
• Slip Stitch (sl st): Used for joining and finishing.
• Through Back Loop (tbl): Used to create the ribbed texture in the collar band.

Lace Patterning