Days of Summer

Days of Summer Crochet Shawl by Rosina Northcott

What is Being Made

Days of Summer is a season-inspired crocheted shawl designed by Rosina Northcott. This pattern is the final installment in a collection of four seasonal shawl designs, following Emergence of Spring, Harvest Moon, and Waking Winter. The shawl draws inspiration from the lush, verdant greens that emerge after rainfall, capturing the essence of summer's natural beauty. This downloadable PDF pattern includes both written instructions in US crochet terms and stitch charts to guide crafters through the project.

Techniques and Construction

Days of Summer employs intermediate-level crochet techniques suitable for crafters with foundational skills who are ready to tackle more complex stitch patterns and shaping. The pattern utilizes a combination of fundamental and specialized crochet stitches to create texture and visual interest. Construction involves careful attention to stitch counts and pattern repeats, with charts provided to help visualize the design as it develops. Blocking is an essential finishing step, as the completed shawl requires blocking to achieve its final dimensions and shape.

Stitches Used

The Days of Summer shawl incorporates the following crochet stitches:

• Chain (ch): The foundation stitch used to create the base of the pattern
• Single crochet (sc): A basic short stitch for structure and detail
• Double crochet (dc): A medium-height stitch that forms the primary fabric
• Treble (tr): A taller stitch used for creating openwork and drape
• Slip stitch (sl st): Used for joining rounds and finishing edges
• Double crochet 2 together (dc2tog): A decrease stitch for shaping
• Chain spaces (ch-sp): Gaps created by chains that contribute to the lace or openwork elements of the design

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The Days of Summer shawl is designed to be worked with 4-ply weight yarn, a lightweight option that creates delicate, refined fabric ideal for shawls. The original pattern calls for Baa Ram Ewe Titus, a premium yarn blend composed of 70% British wool and 30% British alpaca. This fiber content provides warmth, elasticity, and a subtle halo effect characteristic of alpaca blends. Two skeins are required, with each skein weighing 100g and offering 320 meters or 350 yards of yardage, providing approximately 640 to 700 yards total.

The original shade specified is Nidderdale (024), a rich green colorway that complements the summer-inspired design theme. However, as this color has been discontinued, Rosina Northcott notes that other 4-ply or sock-weight yarns work well as substitutes. When selecting alternative yarns, crafters should look for similar yardage and weight to maintain the intended finished dimensions and drape.

Tools and Tension

A 3.5mm (US size E/4) crochet hook is used to work this pattern. Achieving the correct tension is important for proper sizing and finished appearance. The pattern specifies a tension of 21 stitches and 10 rows of pattern measuring 10 x 10 centimeters (4 x 4 inches). Crafters should work a tension swatch before beginning the full project to ensure their stitch size matches the designer's specifications, as variations in tension can significantly affect the final shawl dimensions.

Pattern Format and Difficulty Level

This is an intermediate-level crochet pattern offered as a downloadable PDF file. The pattern is written in US crochet terminology and includes both written instructions and charts, making it accessible to crafters who prefer either format or benefit from visual references. The intermediate difficulty rating indicates that crafters should be comfortable with basic crochet stitches and techniques before beginning, though the pattern provides clear guidance through abbreviations and stitch definitions to support successful completion.