Berroco Isi Wrap Knitting Pattern

Berroco Isi Knitted Lace Shawl

What is Being Made

The Berroco Isi is a crescent-shaped knitted shawl designed by Amy Christoffers. This intermediate-level wrap measures approximately 58 inches across the top and 12 inches down the center after blocking, making it a versatile accessory suitable for layering or draping across the shoulders. The finished shawl features decorative fringe along the selvedge edge, adding movement and visual interest to the completed piece.

Techniques Used

This shawl is worked flat using fundamental shawl construction methods that begin with a single cast-on stitch and expand outward through strategic yarn overs and decreases. The pattern employs lace knitting as its primary technique, creating an openwork design that develops as you progress through the rows. The shawl construction uses a crescent or wedge-shaped increase pattern, which is a classic approach for creating shawls that drape elegantly. Blocking is essential to achieve the finished measurements and to open up the lace pattern for optimal drape and appearance.

Stitches Used

• Knit stitch (K) – forms the foundation of the fabric
• Purl stitch (P) – creates textural variation and is used in alternating rows
• Yarn over (yo) – creates the decorative eyelets characteristic of lace knitting and contributes to the shawl's expansion
• CDD (Central Double Decrease) – a lace decrease that creates visual interest by centering the decrease within the lace pattern
• Stockinette stitch (St st) – the base stitch pattern used to establish gauge

Materials and Tools

This project requires 2 hanks of Berroco Indigo yarn (100 grams each) in colorway #6414 Jean. A 29-inch circular knitting needle in size 7 (4.50 mm) is used to work the shawl flat, and a size 5.00 mm (H) crochet hook is needed for the finishing fringe application. The recommended gauge is 20 stitches and 28 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch, and checking gauge before beginning is strongly advised to ensure proper finished dimensions and yarn yardage accuracy.

Pattern Summary

The Isi shawl begins with a single cast-on stitch that is expanded into 5 stitches on the first row using a combination of knits and yarn overs all worked into the same stitch. From this foundation, the pattern systematically increases by working yarn overs at strategic points—typically at the edges and within the lace motif—while incorporating central double decreases to create a balanced, openwork design. The pattern alternates between right-side rows (where lace stitches and increases occur) and wrong-side rows (typically purled or knitted for texture). As the shawl grows, the lace pattern becomes more complex, with multiple yarn-over and decrease combinations creating visual depth. Once the desired width is achieved, the shawl is finished by weaving in ends, blocking to open the lace and achieve final measurements, and adding fringe by drawing strands of yarn through edge yarn overs using the crochet hook.