Berroco Briallen Wrap Knitting Pattern

Berroco Briallen Lace Shawl

What Is Being Made

The Briallen is a triangular lace shawl designed by Alison Green, measuring approximately 78 inches across by 26 inches down the center after blocking. This is an intermediate-level knitting project that creates an elegant, openwork wrap suitable for layering or draping.

Construction Method

The Briallen shawl is worked using a top-down, seamless construction approach. The shawl begins with a small cast-on of just 3 stitches and expands outward as you work, with each pattern repeat adding additional stitches to create the triangular silhouette. This method allows the shawl to grow organically from the top point downward, eliminating the need for seaming.

Knitting Techniques

This design showcases lace knitting as its primary technique. The shawl is worked flat on a circular needle, progressing through charted lace patterns that create decorative openwork throughout the fabric. The pattern uses a repeating motif worked over 18 stitches that is repeated and expanded as the shawl grows. Key decreasing techniques include k2tog (knit 2 together) and k3tog (knit 3 together) stitches, which are essential for shaping the lace pattern and creating the characteristic eyelets and texture of lace knitting.

Stitches and Pattern Details

• Main pattern: Charted lace repeat worked over 18 stitches
• Pattern rows: Rows 1–36 worked once, then Rows 25–36 repeated 12 additional times for a total of 180 rows
• Decreases: K2tog and k3tog stitches used throughout for lace shaping
• Edging: A 5-stitch cable cast-on edging worked separately and attached as you bind off the main shawl stitches, using k2tog and k3tog to integrate the edging with the shawl body
• Final stitch count: 273 stitches before edging

Yarn and Needles

This project calls for Berroco Cambria yarn in the colorway Oak (#7942). You will need 5 hanks of this yarn, with each hank weighing 50 grams. The yarn is worked on a 40-inch circular needle in size 6 (4.00 mm), or whatever size is needed to achieve the specified gauge. Circular needles are used here for their length and ability to accommodate the growing number of stitches, even though the shawl is worked flat rather than in the round.

Gauge and Finishing

The pattern gauge is 1 pattern repeat (18 stitches) measuring 4¾ inches wide, with 29 rows measuring 4 inches in height, measured after blocking. Checking gauge is essential before beginning to ensure your finished shawl matches the intended dimensions. After completing all rows, the shawl is finished with blocking, which opens up the lace pattern and helps achieve the final measurements of 78 inches across and 26 inches down the center.