Berroco Sliver Wrap Knitting Pattern

Berroco Sliver Shawlette by Norah Gaughan

What is Being Made

The Berroco Sliver is a lace shawlette designed by renowned knitwear designer Norah Gaughan. This is a triangular wrap garment worked from the top down, featuring finished measurements of 26 inches wide at the shoulder and 18 inches in length. The shawlette is a versatile accessory piece suitable for layering or wearing as a lightweight wrap.

Knitting Techniques

This pattern employs several advanced knitting techniques to create its elegant construction. The shawlette is worked flat on straight needles rather than in the round, making it accessible for knitters who prefer traditional flat knitting methods. The design uses a top-down construction, meaning you begin with a small number of cast-on stitches and progressively increase to the full width. The pattern is entirely seamless, requiring no finishing seams, which creates clean lines and minimal finishing work. The lace stitch pattern is the primary design element, creating an open, delicate fabric that showcases the yarn's characteristics.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The Sliver shawlette is constructed using lace stitch as its foundation. The pattern is worked from charts labeled Chart A, Chart B, and Chart C, which guide the knitter through the different sections of the shawlette. Chart A establishes the initial stitches, Chart B creates the main body with repeating 3-stitch motifs worked on both sides of center stitches, and Chart C shapes the two wings. The pattern involves systematic increases, adding one additional 3-stitch repeat every 6-row repeat to create the triangular silhouette. The wings are worked separately after the center section, with decreases worked to taper each wing to completion.

Materials and Yarn Requirements

This pattern calls for Berroco Folio yarn in colorway 4502, requiring 2 balls of yarn total. Knitters will need size 6 (4 millimeter) knitting needles, or the size required to obtain proper gauge, along with a stitch holder for managing the stitches during the wing construction. The recommended gauge is 15 stitches and 28 rows over 4 inches when worked in lace stitch and blocked, making this an intermediate-level project. The pattern emphasizes the importance of checking gauge before beginning to ensure the finished measurements match the designer's specifications.

Pattern Details

This is an intermediate-skill-level pattern from Norah Gaughan Vol. 14, published by Berroco, Inc. The shawlette is worked in one size only, making it a straightforward project once gauge is established. The top-down, seamless construction and chart-based lace pattern make this suitable for knitters with experience reading charts and managing increases and decreases. The finished piece is blocked to set the lace pattern and achieve the specified dimensions.