Belcourt in Berroco - Downloadable PDF

Belcourt Knit Shawl Pattern by Berroco Design Team

The Belcourt is a beautifully simple, generously sized rectangular shawl or wrap designed by the Berroco Design Team and featured in Berroco Book #417. Rated as an Easy project, this pattern is an ideal choice for beginner knitters looking to create a striking, wearable accessory with minimal complexity. The finished shawl measures approximately 22 inches wide by 64 inches long, making it a versatile wrap that can be draped over the shoulders, worn as a scarf, or styled in a variety of ways for both casual and dressed-up occasions.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a large rectangular shawl and wrap — a classic, elongated shape that provides excellent coverage and warmth. The generous dimensions make it a practical everyday accessory as well as a thoughtful handmade gift. The colorwork design gives the finished piece a visually interesting, textured appearance that belies the beginner-friendly construction.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern calls for Berroco Gingham, a chunky weight yarn sold in 100-gram skeins. Gingham is a signature Berroco yarn known for its rich texture and substantial heft, which works beautifully on large needles to create a cozy, drapey fabric. The colorway combination specified in the pattern adds a playful, palette-driven character to the finished shawl:

• 1 ball of #3120 Marmalade (C1) — a warm, vibrant orange tone
• 2 balls of #3103 Salt (C2) — a clean, neutral light shade used as the primary color
• 1 ball of #3124 Pesto (C3) — a rich, earthy green accent

A total of 4 balls of Berroco Gingham are required to complete the project. The multi-color approach creates a striking striped or blocked visual effect that makes the shawl feel lively and contemporary despite its straightforward construction.

Needles and Notions

Because of the wide, sweeping dimensions of the shawl, the pattern specifies a 36-inch circular needle in size 17 (12.00 mm), or the size needed to obtain the correct gauge. Circular needles are used here not for knitting in the round, but to accommodate the large number of stitches across the width of the shawl — a common and practical technique for wide flat pieces. The long cable of the circular needle allows all stitches to rest comfortably without crowding.

Gauge

The stated gauge is 14 stitches and 18 rows equal 4 inches in the Pattern Stitch. As with any project where finished dimensions matter, checking gauge before casting on is strongly recommended. Even small variations in tension can result in a shawl that is significantly wider, narrower, longer, or shorter than the intended 22" x 64" finished measurements.

Techniques and Stitches

The Belcourt shawl is worked in what the pattern refers to as a Pattern Stitch — a repeating stitch sequence that gives the fabric its distinctive texture and structure. While the full stitch breakdown is contained within the downloadable PDF, chunky-weight shawl patterns at this difficulty level typically incorporate straightforward knit and purl combinations, making them accessible to those who have mastered basic knitting fundamentals. The Easy difficulty rating confirms that no advanced techniques such as lace, cables, or complex colorwork construction are required.

The use of three colors introduces simple color changes into the work, which is an excellent skill-builder for beginner knitters ready to move beyond single-color projects. Color changes in flat knitting are generally managed by dropping one color and picking up the next at the beginning of a row or at designated intervals, keeping the process clean and manageable.

Pattern Format and Designer

Belcourt is available as a downloadable PDF, designed by the Berroco Design Team and published by Berroco, Inc. of North Smithfield, Rhode Island. The pattern is copyright 2019 in the USA and Canada. PDF patterns from Berroco are updated when corrections are made, so downloading the most current version is always advised. The pattern is part of the broader Berr