Berroco Clew Wrap Knitting Pattern

Berroco Clew Lace Shawl

What is Being Made

The Berroco Clew is a triangular lace shawl designed by Alison Green. This intermediate-level knitting project creates a generous wrap measuring approximately 72 inches across the top and 30 inches down the center, making it a versatile accessory suitable for layering or wearing as a statement piece.

Craft and Construction Method

This shawl is knitted flat on circular needles, a common construction method for large triangular shawls. The design begins with a small garter stitch tab that serves as the foundation, which is then picked up and expanded through strategic increases. The shawl grows outward from this central starting point, allowing knitters to adjust the final size by working more or fewer rows before binding off.

Techniques Used

• Lace knitting: The primary decorative technique, featuring yarn overs and decreases that create openwork patterns throughout the shawl
• Garter stitch: Used for the initial tab and edge borders to provide structure and prevent curling
• Stockinette stitch: Forms the base fabric between lace pattern repeats
• Strategic increases: Yarn overs and knit-front-and-back increases expand the shawl from a small cast-on to its full triangular dimensions
• Slip-stitch decreases: Creates the characteristic decreases within the lace pattern for balanced shaping

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The shawl features a repeating lace pattern worked over a multiple of 10 stitches plus 1, spanning 16 rows. Key stitches include:

• Knit (K) and purl (P) for basic fabric
• Yarn overs (yo) for creating the lace openings
• Slip 1, knit 2 together, pass slipped stitch over (sl 1, k2tog, psso) for centered double decreases
• Knit 2 together (k2tog) and slip, slip, knit (SSK) for directional decreases at edges
• Garter stitch (knitting every row) for structural elements

Materials

Yarn: Berroco Quinoa in the colorway Basmati (#1002), a natural fiber yarn. The pattern requires 6 balls of 50 grams each, providing ample yardage for the full 72-inch width.

Needles and Notions: A 29-inch circular needle in size 8 (5.00 mm) is used for the main knitting. Additionally, needles 2–3 sizes larger are recommended for binding off loosely, which prevents the finished edge from puckering. The pattern specifies a gauge of 18 stitches and 26 rows per 4 inches in stockinette stitch, making accurate gauge checking essential before beginning.