Abstract We explore the possible nature of high-velocity features in Type Ia supernovae by presenting synthetic spectra generated from hydrodynamic models of interaction between the supernova and a compact circumstellar shell. We use tardis to compute the spectra and compare model spectra to data from SN 2011fe at 2, 5, and 9 d after the explosion. We apply abundance models to the shells that consist of a hydrogen, helium, or carbon–oxygen substrate with overall solar abundance of metals and depletion or enhancement of calcium abundance. We vary the calcium abundances in the shell and the ejecta to study the effect on the photospheric and high-velocity components of the calcium near-infrared triplet. The substrate leaves no imprint upon the spectra, but helium substrates are discouraged by demanding excessive calcium abundances. We find that we can approximately reproduce the blended high-velocity and photospheric velocity features at 2 and 5 d. The 9 d spectrum shows a distinct high-velocity component of the line. We are unable to reproduce this specific feature with the current models. We also explore helium-shell double detonation models, finding they tend to give no high-velocity features or excessively strong features. A very carefully chosen helium-shell mass might give a reasonable reproduction of the observed calcium features. We discuss the implications of our models for the nature of high-velocity features and their significance to the evolution and explosion of SN Ia.