Felia Shawl

Felia Shawl by Emily J. Designs

What is Being Made

The Felia Shawl is a half-circle crochet shawl designed by Emily J. Designs. This garment measures 22.5 inches (57 centimeters) deep and 72 inches (183 centimeters) wide, making it a generous wrap suitable for layering or draping across the shoulders. The shawl features a simple, elegant construction with a plain body and a decorative scallop lace border that adds visual interest to the finished piece.

Crochet Techniques and Construction

The Felia Shawl employs a side-to-side construction method, meaning the shawl is worked horizontally from one side to the other rather than from the top down. This technique uses strategic increases and decreases throughout the rows to shape the half-circle silhouette. Once the main body is complete, the scallop lace border is picked up from the edges of the body and worked outward, creating a finished edge with decorative shaping.

This construction approach is characteristic of intermediate-level crochet projects, as it requires understanding how to manage shaping while maintaining consistent tension and stitch placement across a larger garment.

Stitches Used

The Felia Shawl pattern utilizes a combination of fundamental crochet stitches to create both structure and decorative elements:

• Double crochet – forms the main body of the shawl, creating rows of consistent fabric
• Single crochet – used selectively to help shape the scallops in the border
• Treble crochet – incorporated into the border design to add height and help define the scallop lace pattern
• Chain stitches – used for foundation and shaping throughout the pattern

The combination of these stitches creates a relaxing crochet experience while producing a shawl with visual depth and texture variation between the plain body and the ornamental border.

Yarn and Materials

The Felia Shawl is designed to be worked in sport weight yarn, which creates a fabric with excellent drape – an important quality for a shawl that will be worn close to the body. The pattern calls for 8 skeins of Cascade Yarns 220 Merino Superwash Sport yarn, which provides 136 yards (125 meters) per 50-gram (1.75-ounce) skein and is composed of 100% superwash merino wool. This fiber choice offers softness, breathability, and easy care, as superwash treatment allows the finished shawl to be machine washed.

The pattern notes that a DK weight yarn can be substituted for the sport weight if a slightly thicker, less drapey fabric is preferred. A US H/8 (5mm) crochet hook is recommended to achieve the correct gauge of 16 stitches and 10 rows equaling 4 inches (10 centimeters) when worked in double crochet. Proper gauge is essential for achieving the intended finished dimensions and ensuring the shawl drapes as designed.

Skill Level

The Felia Shawl is classified as an intermediate crochet project. While the basic stitches employed are fundamental, the combination of side-to-side construction with shaping, border pickup, and the coordination of multiple stitch types makes this pattern suitable for crocheters who have mastered basic techniques and are ready to tackle projects with more complex construction methods.