Berroco Henning Wrap Knitting Pattern

Berroco Henning Knit Shawl

What Is Being Made

The Henning is a sophisticated knit shawl designed by Alison Green, measuring approximately 19½" wide by 58" long (not including fringe). This intermediate-level project creates an elegant wrap suitable for layering or draping, finished with a decorative fringe edge.

Techniques Used

This shawl employs several advanced knitting techniques to create visual interest and texture:

• Bottom-up construction: The shawl is worked from the cast-on edge upward, allowing knitters to monitor progress and adjust length as desired
• Seamless, flat knitting: The entire piece is worked flat on straight needles without seaming, creating a continuous fabric
• Cable work: Cables are incorporated into the pattern using a cable needle (cn), specifically the CB4 abbreviation which involves slipping stitches to hold in back before crossing
• Lace elements: Yarn overs (yo) and decreases (k2tog, SSK) create openwork sections that add drape and visual lightness to the design
• Textured stitches: The pattern includes knit-in-stitch-below techniques that create dimensional texture throughout

Stitches Used

The Henning pattern incorporates a variety of fundamental and intermediate stitches:

• Knit (k) and purl (p) stitches form the base fabric
• Cable stitch (CB4): slip 2 stitches to cable needle and hold in back, knit 2, then knit 2 from cable needle
• Yarn over (yo) for lace openings
• Knit two together (k2tog) for right-leaning decreases
• Slip, slip, knit (SSK) for left-leaning decreases
• Knit in stitch below to create textural variation

Materials and Tools

Yarn: Berroco Mistico, a specialty yarn requiring 4 balls (200 grams total) in colorway #2522 Pensive. Each ball weighs 50 grams.

Needles and notions: US size 7 (4.5 mm) knitting needles, or the size needed to achieve proper gauge. A cable needle is essential for executing the cable crossings. A crochet hook, approximately size H (5 mm), is used to add fringe to the finished edges.

Gauge: 17 stitches and 24 rows equal 4 inches (10 cm) in pattern stitch, measured after blocking. Achieving correct gauge is critical for accurate finished dimensions.

Pattern Structure

The shawl begins with a cast-on of 84 stitches and is worked using an established pattern stitch that repeats across the width. The pattern may be followed either from written row-by-row directions or from a charted representation. The design alternates between right-side rows featuring lace decreases and cable rows, creating a rhythmic pattern of texture and openwork. Fringe is added after the main knitting is complete, enhancing the finished edges.