Berroco Dahlia Wrap Knitting Pattern

Berroco Dahlia Knit Shawl

What is Being Made

The Berroco Dahlia is a large triangular shawl designed by Brenda York, measuring approximately 68 inches across by 30 inches long. This is an experienced-level knitting project that creates an elegant wrap suitable for layering or wearing as a statement accessory.

Knitting Techniques

This shawl is constructed using several advanced knitting techniques that create visual interest and structural integrity:

• Top-down construction: The shawl is worked from the top down, allowing knitters to try on the piece as it grows and adjust the final size if desired.
• Seamless knitting: The entire shawl is worked in one continuous piece without seams, creating a smooth, professional finish.
• Worked flat: Despite being seamless, the shawl is worked flat on circular needles rather than in the round, which is ideal for triangular shawl shapes.
• Stranded colorwork: The pattern incorporates stranded knitting techniques, where multiple yarn colors are carried across the back of the work to create charted color patterns. The pattern notes that sections with colors C and D may alternatively be worked in the main color and added later using duplicate stitch embroidery for those preferring to avoid managing multiple colors simultaneously.

Stitches Used

The Dahlia shawl employs charted stitch patterns combined with garter stitch sections. Knitters will work from detailed charts that guide the colorwork placement, while garter stitch (knitting every row) provides textured, reversible sections. The pattern requires careful attention to color changes, with specific instructions to hold yarn to the left and pick up new colors from underneath to prevent holes in the fabric.

Materials and Gauge

The shawl is worked on a 29-inch circular knitting needle in size 7 (4.50 mm). Gauge is critical for this project: 20 stitches and 28 rows equal 4 inches in charted pattern, while 20 stitches and 36 rows equal 4 inches in garter stitch. The pattern emphasizes checking gauge before beginning to ensure proper finished dimensions.

The yarn palette combines two Berroco yarn lines for varied texture and color:

• Berroco Fuji: 6 hanks in #9280 Deep Sea (main color) and 1 hank in #9220 Bamboo (accent color)
• Berroco Captiva: 1 hank each in #5555 Coral, #5559 Tidepool, and #5520 Honey (accent colors)

Each hank of yarn weighs 50 grams. Stitch markers are required to track pattern sections throughout the knitting process. This combination of yarn types creates visual depth through both color and subtle texture variation in the finished shawl.