Berroco Alethea Wrap Knitting Pattern

Berroco Alethea Lace Shawl

What Is Being Made

The Berroco Alethea is a lace shawl designed by Amy Christoffers. This elegant wrap measures approximately 13 inches wide by 80 inches long after blocking, making it a versatile accessory suitable for layering or draping. The shawl is worked flat using a single-piece construction that begins with a small number of cast-on stitches and expands through strategic increases to create the finished dimensions.

Techniques Used

This intermediate-level knitting project employs lace knitting as its primary technique. The shawl is worked flat, meaning it is knitted back and forth on straight needles rather than in the round. The construction method uses progressive increases throughout the piece to shape the garment, with yarn overs and decreases strategically placed to create the lace pattern. The design features multiple lace motifs that develop as the stitch count increases, creating an open, airy fabric characteristic of lace shawlettes.

Stitches Used

The Alethea pattern incorporates several fundamental knitting stitches and techniques:

• Yarn overs (yo) — used extensively throughout to create the openwork lace effect and contribute to the shawl's expansion
• Knit stitches (k) — form the base structure and solid sections between lace motifs
• Knit two together (k2tog) — a right-leaning decrease used in conjunction with yarn overs to create the lace pattern
• Knit three together (k3tog) — a more pronounced decrease used strategically in the pattern
• Garter stitch — the primary stitch pattern, created by knitting every row, which provides a textured, reversible fabric

Materials and Tools

The Alethea requires 5 hanks of Berroco Mykonos yarn in colorway #8510 Kratos. Berroco Mykonos is a specialty yarn that contributes to the shawl's drape and appearance. Knitters will need straight knitting needles in size 6 (4.00 mm), though the pattern notes that needle size should be adjusted as needed to obtain the correct gauge. The recommended gauge is 14 stitches and 14 rows over 4 inches in garter stitch. Knitters are advised to swatch and check gauge before beginning the project to ensure proper finished dimensions and fabric characteristics.