Berroco Sturgeon Wrap Knitting Pattern

Berroco Sturgeon Shawl by Norah Gaughan

What Is Being Made

The Sturgeon is a knitted shawl and wrap design from Norah Gaughan Volume 13. This is a one-size garment worked as a seamless, flat-knitted piece featuring a distinctive triple wedge construction with decorative wings. The design combines geometric shaping with intricate stitch patterns to create an elegant wrap suitable for intermediate knitters.

Construction and Techniques

The Sturgeon employs several advanced knitting techniques to achieve its sophisticated structure. The main body is worked as a triple wedge section using a center chart pattern, with the knitter placing markers to define three distinct 68-stitch repeats across the cast-on edge of 216 stitches. The piece is worked flat on circular needles rather than in the round, allowing for back-and-forth rows that gradually decrease to a narrow point. The pattern incorporates cable and lace stitches throughout, creating textural interest and openwork sections. Double yarn overs appear on wrong-side rows and are worked as purl one, knit one to maintain pattern integrity. The wedge sections decrease progressively over 80 rows until only 18 stitches remain, which are then grafted together using the Kitchener stitch—a seamless joining technique that creates an invisible seam. Following the main wedge, decorative wings are picked up along the right side of the center section, worked from a separate chart with a 2-stitch repeat, and decreased until 12 stitches remain.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The Sturgeon utilizes stockinette stitch as the foundational fabric, with a gauge of 23 stitches and 32 rows equaling 4 inches. The design incorporates cable stitches for dimensional texture and lace stitches created through yarn overs and decreases to form openwork sections. Chart-based instructions guide the placement of these stitches, with specific attention to double yarn overs on wrong-side rows. The Kitchener stitch provides the seamless grafting technique for joining the final edges.

Materials and Tools

The Sturgeon is designed to be worked in Berroco Ultra Alpaca Light yarn in color 4214, requiring 3 hanks of 50 grams each. A 29-inch circular knitting needle in size 5 (3.75 millimeters) or the size needed to obtain the specified gauge is required. Additional tools include stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats, a cable needle for working cable stitches, and a tapestry needle for grafting. The pattern notes that the cast-on edge will curl and pull during knitting but will block out properly during finishing.

Skill Level and Finishing Notes

This pattern is rated at the intermediate skill level, making it suitable for knitters with foundational experience in techniques such as cable work, lace knitting, and seamless construction. The pattern is sourced from Berroco Pattern #NG13-14 and is available as a downloadable PDF. Knitters are advised to use the yarns specified in the instructions for best results and to download the most recent version of the pattern to ensure accuracy.