Valley Yarns Branca Shawl Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Branca Shawl

What Is Being Made

The Branca Shawl is a lightweight, crescent-shaped shawl measuring approximately 20 inches wide and 72 inches long. Designed by Kirsten Hipsky, this shawl showcases a beautiful interplay of four distinct colors from the Valley Yarns Hatfield yarn line, creating a sophisticated striped pattern inspired by the soft hues of spring thaw. The finished piece is versatile enough to drape elegantly around the shoulders or wear as a decorative wrap.

Techniques Used

This shawl employs two primary knitting techniques that make it particularly appealing to beginner knitters. The garment is worked in the round using circular needles, which eliminates the need for purling—a significant advantage for those new to knitting. Additionally, the shawl features a unique finishing technique where the piece is intentionally cut and unraveled to create its own decorative fringe along the edges. This innovative approach means there are no ends to weave in at the completion of the project, streamlining the finishing process considerably.

Stitches Used

The Branca Shawl is constructed primarily using stockinette stitch, the most fundamental stitch pattern in knitting. When worked in the round, stockinette stitch creates smooth, even rows of V-shaped stitches on the right side of the fabric. The pattern incorporates color changes and stripes worked in a specific sequence, with varying stripe widths ranging from 4 to 12 rounds depending on the color being used. This straightforward stitch choice makes the pattern accessible to beginners while still producing a visually striking finished garment.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The Branca Shawl requires one skein each of four colors of Valley Yarns Hatfield, a luxurious yarn composed of 100% baby alpaca. Each skein contains 50 grams and yields 437 yards, with the complete project using approximately 850 total yards across all four colors combined. The four colorways used are Winter Sky, Light Gray, Natural, and Lilac Snow.

Knitting needles required are US size 7 (4.50mm) circular needles measuring 40 inches in length, or a size adjusted as needed to achieve the specified gauge. The recommended gauge for this project is 5 stitches and 7 rows per 1 inch when measured in stockinette stitch.

Construction Details

The shawl begins with a cast-on of approximately 360 stitches using either a long-tail or backwards loop cast-on method. The pattern provides helpful guidance for managing the cast-on process, suggesting the use of two yarn ends from a center-pull ball to simplify tail management. Once cast on, stitches are joined to work in the round with a marker placed to denote the beginning of each round.

The color sequence follows a repeating pattern of stripe combinations:

• 8 rounds of Color A (Winter Sky)
• 8 rounds of Color B (Light Gray)
• 4 rounds of Color C (Natural)
• 12 rounds of Color D (Lilac Snow)

This sequence repeats with variations in stripe width throughout the piece. The pattern notes that knitters may cut yarn colors when transitioning between shades, as the first and last stitches of the round will eventually be unraveled and converted into fringe during finishing.

Skill Level

The Branca Shawl is classified as a beginner-friendly pattern, making it an excellent choice for knitters new to the craft or those seeking a straightforward project. The elimination of purling, the use of basic stockinette stitch, and the simplified finishing process all contribute to its accessibility for less experienced knitters.