Winter Berry

Winter Berry Shawlette by Jan Power

What is Being Made

The Winter Berry is a crescent-shaped shawlette composed of multiple small circles arranged in rows and strips that swirl together into an elegant, wearable design. This shallow shawl is constructed by joining 23 strips, with each strip containing 10 joined circles, creating a sophisticated garment that measures 50 inches (127 cm) along its longest edge. The circular motif construction makes this design particularly versatile and visually striking.

Design and Construction Technique

This shawlette is specifically engineered to showcase gradient yarn color changes, with the circular motifs naturally highlighting the transitions between hues as they progress across the piece. The design works equally well in solid single colors or tonal yarns, though the gradient presentation is the intended showcase. The circles are worked outward from both sides of a foundation chain, and subsequent strips are joined to create the crescent silhouette. This modular construction approach allows crafters to build the shawl systematically, strip by strip.

Crochet Stitches and Techniques

The Winter Berry pattern employs fundamental crochet stitches and techniques suitable for intermediate-level crafters:

• Chain (Ch): Foundation and connecting stitch throughout the pattern
• Chain space (Ch-sp): Used to create openwork sections and structural spacing
• Half double crochet (Hdc): Primary stitch for building the circular motifs
• Double crochet (Dc): Employed for additional stitch variation and texture
• Slip stitch (Sl St): Used for joining circles and strips together
• Half double loop: A special stitch technique created by chaining 3 and working a half double crochet into the first chain, adding decorative dimension to the circles

Materials and Specifications

The pattern is designed for 4.00 mm crochet hook (or the appropriate hook size needed to achieve the specified gauge). The recommended yarn is Bilum Hand Dyed Yarns Slika in fingering weight, requiring 1 skein of 400 meters (100 grams). This yarn is composed of 80% Merino wool and 20% silk, providing a luxurious blend that drapes beautifully and showcases color gradations effectively.

Gauge and Sizing

The pattern specifies a gauge of four circles equaling approximately 4¼ inches (11 centimeters). Achieving proper gauge is essential for the shawlette to reach its intended finished size of 50 inches (127 cm) along the longest edge, ensuring the piece drapes correctly when worn.

Skill Level

This design is rated as intermediate difficulty, making it suitable for crocheters with foundational skills who are ready to work with modular construction techniques and multiple joining methods. The repetitive circular motif provides good practice for consistent stitch work while the strip-joining construction offers a satisfying sense of progress.