Berroco Rowley PDF

Berroco Rowley Shawl – Knitting Pattern by Brenda York

The Berroco Rowley is a beautifully crafted knitted shawl designed by Brenda York and published by Berroco. Available as a downloadable PDF, this intermediate-level pattern produces a stunning, large-format shawl with elegant lace detailing and a two-color design. After blocking, the finished shawl measures approximately 72 inches across and 29 inches down the center, making it a generous, wearable accessory suitable for a wide range of occasions.

What Is Being Made

Rowley is a large triangular or crescent-style shawl worked in two colors. The generous finished dimensions make it ideal as a statement wrap, a lightweight layer over eveningwear, or a cozy everyday accessory. The two-color construction — using a Main Color (MC) and a Contrast Color (CC) — adds visual interest and depth to the lace motifs throughout the design.

Construction Techniques

• Top-down construction: The shawl is worked from the top edge downward, allowing knitters to easily adjust the size and try the piece on as they go.
• Worked flat: Despite being knitted on a circular needle, the shawl is worked back and forth in flat rows rather than in the round, which is common for shawl construction to create the characteristic triangular or asymmetrical shape.
• Seamless construction: There are no seams to sew up at the end, making finishing straightforward and keeping the fabric smooth and uninterrupted throughout.
• Lace knitting: Lace techniques are incorporated into the design, creating decorative openwork patterns. Lace knitting typically involves a combination of yarn-overs and decreases that form the characteristic holes and motifs, adding elegance and a lightweight drape to the finished shawl.
• Blocking: The pattern specifically references finished measurements after blocking, which is an essential finishing step for lace knitting. Blocking opens up the lace motifs, evens out the stitches, and allows the shawl to reach its full intended dimensions.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette stitch (St st): The gauge is measured in stockinette stitch at 22 stitches and 30 rows over 4 inches, indicating that stockinette forms a foundational element of the fabric.
• Lace stitches: Yarn-overs and paired decreases create the openwork lace pattern that gives Rowley its decorative character.
• Bind-off row: A separate, larger needle is used for the bind-off to ensure the edge remains stretchy and does not pull in — a technique especially important for lace shawls where a loose, even edge is critical for successful blocking.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern calls for Berroco Mantra Stonewash, a DK weight yarn sold in 50-gram balls. The two-color palette used in the sample includes:

• 5 balls of #4498 Earth (MC) — a warm, earthy tone that forms the body of the shawl
• 2 balls of #4497 Mountain (CC) — a cooler accent shade used for contrast detailing

Berroco Mantra Stonewash is known for its soft, slightly textured hand and the stonewash finish that gives it a relaxed, lived-in aesthetic, making it an ideal choice for a wearable accessory like this shawl.

Needles and Notions

• Primary needle: A 40-inch or longer circular needle in US size 6 (4.00 mm), or the size needed to achieve gauge. The long circular needle accommodates the large number of stitches that accumulate as the shawl grows.
• Bind-off needle: A spare needle of US size 7 (4.50 mm) — one size larger than the working needle — used specifically for the bind-off to keep the edge loose and elastic.

Skill Level