The Wild Orchid Shawl is a delicate work of art. It’s detailed and requires focused attention, but the effort is well worth it as the end result is a thing of beauty that showcases the skill and love that goes into crochet work. It’s a beginner friendly pattern and uses just dc, sc, tr, and ch.

The pattern is a perfect spring shawl. It adds just enough warmth to prevent a chill, but is light and lacy enough to be comfortable in warmer temps. Wear it on days when the weather can’t make up its mind or any time when you want to dress up your outfit!

Gauge, size, and fit
2” = 7 rows measured down the spine. Gauge is not essential as a shawl will fit at any size and size can be adjusted by working extra repeats. Size and yardage will vary if gauge isn’t met.
With 200yds/50g of fingering, the shawl measures 18” down the back and has a wingspan of 36”.
With 400yds/100g of fingering, the shawl measures 26” down the back and has a wingspan of 50”.
With 600yds/150g of fingering, the shawl measures 31” down the back and has a wingspan of 68”.
With 800yds/200g of fingering, the shawl measures 36” down the back and has a wingspan of 78”.
For a larger shawl, add extra yardage!

Yarn and colors
The pattern is designed to create a faux-dient (aka a faux gradient) - pick four colors that flow together and work them up to create a gradient look! I recommend using colors without too much variation so the delicate stitch pattern is fully visible.
The faux-dient looks best with at least three colors. If you’re making a smaller shawl and/or if you’re working with 100g skeins, you may want to work up the shawl using just one color.
The Wild Orchid Shawl calls for a fingering weight yarn, but would look amazing in a laceweight, too. You can also use a sport or a DK weight if you prefer a thicker yarn.

Repeat and Edging
The pattern has an 8 row repeat and can easily be adjusted to any size. It can end on the 4th or 8th row of the repeat and the pattern includes notes for adding a small edging so you can use up every scrap of yarn.

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