Rockport Shawl in Berroco Remix Light - Portfolio5-12 - Downloadable PDF

Rockport Shawl in Berroco Remix Light – Pattern Summary

The Rockport Shawl is a beautifully crafted asymmetrical triangular shawl designed by Kirsten Kapur and published as part of Berroco Portfolio Vol. 5. This intermediate-level knitting pattern produces a generous, elegant wrap with a finished size of approximately 80 inches wide across the top edge and 34 inches from the top edge to the deepest point, making it a truly statement accessory suitable for layering over a wide range of outfits.

What Is Being Made

The finished object is a large, asymmetrical triangular shawl — sometimes called a director's shawl or one-point shawl — that drapes gracefully over the shoulders. Its generous dimensions make it versatile enough to wear as a wrap, a scarf, or a lightweight shawl in cooler weather. The asymmetrical silhouette gives it a modern, fashion-forward feel that distinguishes it from a traditional symmetrical triangle shawl.

Construction and Techniques

The Rockport Shawl is worked flat (back and forth in rows) on a 29-inch circular needle, which accommodates the large number of stitches that accumulate as the shawl grows. Construction is bottom-up, beginning with just a handful of stitches at a single point and growing outward. Increases are worked consistently at one edge throughout the pattern, which is what creates the distinctive asymmetrical triangular shape. This approach means knitters watch the shawl grow organically from a tiny cast-on into a sweeping, full-sized wrap.

A significant portion of the design incorporates lace knitting, worked through a series of charted stitch pattern sections labeled Chart A, Chart B, and Chart C. Each chart introduces lace motifs at different stages of the shawl's construction, keeping the knitting engaging and varied from beginning to end. Notably, Chart B is used twice in the pattern — once just after the set-up rows and again toward the end — which creates a pleasing sense of rhythm and visual cohesion across the finished piece.

Stitches Used

The Rockport Shawl draws on a thoughtful combination of knitting stitches and techniques that are well within reach of an intermediate knitter:

• Yarn overs (yo) – used extensively throughout all chart sections to create the open, airy lace eyelets that define the shawl's decorative character
• SSK (slip, slip, knit) – a left-leaning decrease paired with yarn overs to form the lace motifs
• K2tog (knit two together) – a right-leaning decrease that balances the SSK decreases within the lace patterns
• Stockinette stitch (St st) – used in background sections, providing a smooth, clean canvas against which the lace motifs stand out
• Garter stitch border – the first and last two stitches of every row are knitted, creating a neat, stable garter stitch selvedge that frames the shawl and prevents curling at the edges
• Increases (yo at the edge) – the primary shaping method, worked at one edge on right-side rows to build the asymmetrical triangular form

The combination of yarn overs with paired SSK and k2tog decreases is the hallmark of traditional lace knitting. In the Rockport Shawl, these elements are arranged into repeating motifs that create flowing, open patterns across the fabric. The garter stitch border ensures that even the edges of the shawl lie flat and look polished after blocking.

Stitch Pattern Charts in Detail

The pattern is organized around three distinct charted stitch sections, each contributing to the overall visual texture of the shawl:

• Chart A – introduces the shawl's lace vocabulary in the early rows, establishing the foundational motifs as the stitch count builds from just a few stitches upward
• Chart B – a transitional lace section used at two different points in the pattern, lending structural symmetry to the design despite the asymmetrical shaping
• Chart C