Berroco Vivian Wrap Knitting Pattern

Berroco Vivian Lace Shawl

What Is Being Made

The Berroco Vivian is an elegant triangular lace shawl designed by Amy Christoffers. This intermediate-level knitting project creates a generous wrap measuring approximately 80 inches across the top edge and 27 inches down the center, making it a versatile accessory suitable for layering or draping.

Yarn and Materials

This shawl is crafted using Berroco Chai yarn in the colorway #8608 Silver. The project requires 4 balls of yarn, with each ball weighing 50 grams. A 32-inch circular needle in size 7 (4.5 mm) is used to work the piece. The recommended gauge is 16 stitches and 22 rows over 4 inches in the charted pattern after blocking.

Knitting Techniques

Vivian employs several key knitting techniques to achieve its beautiful drape and structure:

• Lace knitting: The shawl features a charted lace pattern that creates openwork throughout the design, allowing light to pass through the fabric for an ethereal appearance
• Seamless construction: The shawl is worked as one continuous piece without seams, creating a smooth and polished finish
• Flat working method: Rather than working in the round, the shawl is worked flat back and forth on circular needles, which provides stability for the lace pattern
• Strategic increases and decreases: The pattern incorporates increases during the expansion phase and decreases during the finishing phase to create the triangular silhouette

Stitches and Stitch Techniques

The Vivian shawl utilizes a variety of essential knitting stitches and techniques to build its lace pattern:

• Yarn overs (YO): These create the characteristic holes and openwork that define lace knitting
• Knit stitches (K): Worked on right-side rows and purled on wrong-side rows to create stockinette fabric
• Purl stitches (P): Worked on right-side rows and knitted on wrong-side rows as part of the lace pattern
• K2tog (knit two together): A right-leaning decrease used to balance yarn overs and shape the shawl
• SSK (slip, slip, knit): A left-leaning decrease that pairs with yarn overs for symmetrical lace motifs
• M1R (make one right): An increase stitch used during the expansion rows to gradually widen the shawl

Pattern Structure and Construction

The Vivian follows a three-phase construction method. The shawl begins with a small cast-on of 2 stitches, then works through an initial 14-row setup section. The main expansion phase repeats rows 15–20, with increases worked on every right-side row until the piece reaches approximately 40 inches from the cast-on edge. A transition section follows with rows 21 and 22. The final phase repeats rows 23–28 with decreases on every right-side row until 9 stitches remain, followed by a finishing section of rows 29–40 that tapers to 3 stitches for binding off. The entire pattern is charted, with instructions to work from right to left on right-side rows and from left to right on wrong-side rows.

Finishing

After completing all pattern rows and binding off, the shawl requires blocking to achieve its final dimensions and to open up the lace pattern fully. All yarn ends are woven in before blocking, ensuring a polished, professional appearance.