Berroco Marblehead Wrap Knitting Pattern

Berroco Marblehead Knit Shawl

What Is Being Made

The Berroco Marblehead is a seamless, top-down knit shawl designed by Amy Christoffers. This intermediate-level project creates a triangular wrap measuring approximately 76 inches across the top edge and 32 inches down the center, not including fringe. The shawl is worked flat on circular needles and features a sophisticated color-work design with three coordinating yarn colors.

Techniques Used

This shawl employs several key knitting techniques that contribute to its elegant construction:

• Top-down construction: The shawl begins with a small garter stitch tab created using a provisional cast-on method, allowing for seamless integration of stitches picked up along the tab edges
• Seamless knitting: The entire garment is worked without seams, creating a continuous fabric from the top point downward
• Worked flat: Despite using circular needles, the shawl is worked back and forth in rows rather than in the round, allowing for the triangular shawl shape
• Striping: The design incorporates color changes across multiple rows using charted pattern instructions, with specific rows dedicated to color transitions
• Slip stitch colorwork: Rows 9, 10, 21, 22, 33, and 34 employ slip stitches to create pattern definition while changing between colors
• Garter ridge detail: Rows 10, 22, and 34 are worked in knit on the wrong side to form decorative garter ridges that add textural interest

Stitches Used

The Marblehead shawl utilizes fundamental knitting stitches combined with charted stitch patterns:

• Garter stitch: Used for the foundational tab at the shawl's point and for edge stitches throughout
• Stockinette stitch: Forms the base fabric in charted pattern areas
• Slip stitches: Incorporated into color-work rows to create clean transitions between yarn colors without carrying unused colors along edges
• Charted pattern stitches: The shawl follows a detailed chart that guides stitch placement and color changes across the design

Materials: Yarn and Needles

Yarn: The pattern calls for Berroco Ultra Wool Fine, a 100-gram ball weight yarn. The project requires 2 balls of #53153 Heather (main color), 1 ball of #53170 Granite (contrast color 1), and 1 ball of #5300 Snow (contrast color 2). This yarn choice provides excellent stitch definition for the charted colorwork and creates a fabric with good drape suitable for a wrap-style shawl.

Needles and Notions: A 36-inch circular needle in size 7 (4.50 mm) is required, or the size needed to obtain proper gauge. Additional supplies include 4 stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats, a tapestry needle for weaving in ends, waste yarn for the provisional cast-on method, and a crochet hook for attaching fringe to the finished shawl edges.

Gauge and Finishing

The pattern specifies a gauge of 16 stitches and 18 rows over 4 inches in the charted pattern after blocking. Checking gauge before beginning is essential to ensure the finished shawl achieves the intended measurements. The fringe attachment adds a decorative finishing touch to the shawl's edges, enhancing its elegant appearance.