Berroco Carob Wrap Knitting Pattern

Berroco Carob Knit Shawl

What Is Being Made

The Carob is a triangular knit shawl designed by Amy Christoffers, featuring finished measurements of approximately 40 inches wide at the widest end and 56 inches long. This intermediate-level knitting project creates an elegant wrap suitable for layering or draping, with the option to continue knitting beyond the specified length for a larger finished piece.

Knitting Techniques Used

This shawl employs several fundamental and intermediate knitting techniques to achieve its distinctive shape and drape. The pattern begins with a small cast-on of just 4 stitches, which is then expanded through strategic increases worked throughout the piece. The design uses yarn overs as a primary increase method, which also creates decorative openwork elements characteristic of shawl construction. The pattern incorporates decreases using p2tog (purl two together) to shape the fabric and create stitch definition. The shawl is worked from charts that must be read directionally—from right to left on right-side rows and from left to right on wrong-side rows—requiring attention to chart reading conventions. The construction method involves working a set-up chart section once, followed by repeating a 24-row pattern chart multiple times while adding one full pattern repeat (12 stitches) with each 24-row repeat cycle.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The Carob shawl utilizes a charted pattern combining basic knit and purl stitches to create texture and visual interest. The primary stitches include:

• Knit stitches (knit on right-side rows, purl on wrong-side rows)
• Purl stitches (purl on right-side rows, knit on wrong-side rows)
• Yarn overs for decorative increases and openwork
• P2tog (purl two together) decreases for shaping

The pattern is worked from two separate charts: a Set-Up Chart covering rows 1–34 to establish the initial stitch pattern, and a Pattern Chart covering rows 35–58 that is repeated twelve times to build the shawl to its finished size. The charted pattern repeat structure allows knitters to customize the final dimensions by continuing beyond the specified row count if desired.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The Carob shawl is designed to be knitted using Berroco Sesame yarn, a yarn weight suitable for creating fabric with good drape and stitch definition. The pattern calls for three 100-gram balls of Berroco Sesame in colorway #7407 Soba. Knitting is worked on a 32-inch circular needle in size 8 (5.00 mm), or the size needed to achieve the specified gauge. The use of a circular needle accommodates the increasing stitch count as the triangular shawl expands from the initial 4 cast-on stitches to 171 stitches at completion.

Gauge and Finishing

Achieving the correct gauge is essential for this project. The pattern specifies a gauge of 18 stitches and 24 rows equaling 4 inches in the pattern stitch after blocking. Knitters are advised to check gauge before beginning to ensure accurate finished measurements. After completing the shawl, all yarn ends are woven in and the piece is blocked as desired to enhance stitch definition and achieve the intended dimensions and drape.