Berroco Varennes Scarf Knitting Pattern

Berroco Varennes Knit Scarf

What is Being Made

The Berroco Varennes is a knitted scarf designed by Amy Christoffers, suitable for knitters with intermediate skill level. This finished scarf measures approximately 14 inches wide by 68 inches long (not including fringe), making it a substantial accessory piece that combines colorwork and textural interest through strategic yarn color blocking.

Construction Technique

This scarf is worked using a distinctive bottom-up, seamless, flat construction method. The design begins with a center panel that is knitted from end to end, establishing the length of the scarf. Once the center panel is complete, stitches are then picked up along the side edges of this center panel, and the side panels are worked outward from there. This modular approach allows for interesting visual effects and makes the construction process logical and manageable.

Stitches and Stitch Pattern

The primary stitch used throughout the Berroco Varennes is Garter Stitch, which creates a reversible, textured fabric with visible horizontal ridges. Garter Stitch is worked by knitting every row, whether working flat or in the round, and produces a fabric with excellent drape and elasticity. The pattern specifies a gauge of 16 stitches and 30 rows equaling 4 inches in Garter Stitch, which is essential for achieving the correct finished dimensions.

Colorwork and Design Details

The scarf features a striking three-color design created through color blocking rather than traditional stranded colorwork. The center panel alternates between blocks of Plum (CC1) and Vanilla (MC), with each color block consisting of 36 rows, which creates 18 garter ridges per color section. This pattern repeats to create 8 Plum blocks and 7 Vanilla blocks in the center panel. The side panels are worked in Red Bean (CC2), providing a complementary third color that frames the striped center.

Materials and Tools Required

Yarn: The pattern calls for Berroco Mochi yarn, a premium fiber choice. Specifically, you will need 3 balls of #3202 Vanilla (the main color), 1 ball of #3212 Plum (contrast color 1), and 1 ball of #3219 Red Bean (contrast color 2). Each ball weighs 50 grams, allowing for a total of approximately 5 balls of yarn for the complete project.

Needles and Notions: A 40-inch circular needle in size 8 (5 mm) is required for working the flat panels. A tapestry needle is needed for the sewn bind-off technique and for weaving in ends. A size H (8 mm) crochet hook is also specified, likely for adding the fringe finish to the scarf edges.

Finishing Technique

The Berroco Varennes employs a Sewn Bind Off method, which creates a particularly neat and professional-looking edge. This technique involves threading the yarn tail through a tapestry needle and working through pairs of stitches in a specific sequence—running the needle purlwise through two stitches, then returning knitwise through the first stitch before dropping it from the needle. This method is repeated until all stitches are bound off, resulting in a finished edge that matches the aesthetic of the garter stitch fabric.

Skill Considerations

Rated as an intermediate project, the Berroco Varennes requires knitters to be comfortable with basic techniques including casting on using the long-tail method, maintaining consistent gauge in garter stitch, managing color changes, picking up stitches along edges, and executing a sewn bind-off. The modular construction and use of straightforward garter stitch make it accessible to intermediate knitters while still offering interesting design elements and construction techniques to develop skills.