Alikae Shawl in Berroco Ultra Wool Fine - 403-2 - Downloadable PDF

Alikae Shawl in Berroco Ultra Wool Fine – Pattern Summary

About This Design

The Alikae Shawl is an elegant, lightweight knitted shawl designed by Alison Green and published as part of Berroco Booklet #403. Rated as an intermediate skill level project, this pattern is available as a downloadable PDF, making it instantly accessible for knitters ready to cast on right away. The finished shawl measures approximately 55 inches across the top edge and 9 inches down the center after blocking, creating a graceful crescent or shallow triangular shape that drapes beautifully around the shoulders or neck.

What Is Being Made

The Alikae is a knitted shawl and wrap — a versatile accessory that can be worn in multiple ways. Its relatively compact depth of 9 inches at the center makes it ideal as a delicate neck wrap or a refined shoulder accent, while the generous 55-inch span ensures excellent coverage and drape. The design is well-suited to warmer seasons or layering, particularly given the fine-weight yarn used throughout.

Techniques Used

• Circular needle knitting: The pattern is worked on a 29-inch or longer circular needle, a common approach for shawl construction that accommodates the growing stitch count as the piece expands.
• Blocking: Blocking is an essential finishing step for this shawl. The finished measurements of 55" × 9" are achieved after blocking, meaning the wet- or steam-blocking process opens up the fabric and sets the final dimensions. This is especially important for lace or textured stitch patterns in fine-weight yarns.
• Stitch marker placement: Two stitch markers are used during construction, indicating the use of markers to delineate sections of the shawl — a typical technique in shawl knitting for tracking increases or pattern repeats.
• Bind-off technique: The pattern specifically recommends using a needle one to two sizes larger for binding off, a professional technique that ensures the bound-off edge remains loose, stretchy, and proportionate to the blocked fabric — particularly important along a shawl's top or edging row.
• Edging: A separate edging section is noted, with the suggestion that knitters may wish to use a shorter circular needle for this portion, implying the edging is worked as a distinct construction phase, possibly picked up and worked outward or knitted on as a border.

Stitches Used

• Garter Stitch: The gauge is measured in Garter Stitch, confirming it as a primary stitch pattern in this design. Garter stitch — created by knitting every row when working flat — produces a squishy, ridged fabric with excellent drape and a naturally stretchy quality, making it a popular choice for shawls. At a gauge of 20 stitches and 44 rows to 4 inches in Garter Stitch after blocking, the fabric is light and airy without being too open.

Materials

• Yarn: Berroco Ultra Wool Fine — a 4-ply (fingering weight) yarn sold in 100-gram skeins. Only 1 ball is required for this project, specifically in colorway #53153 Heather. Berroco Ultra Wool Fine is known for its smooth, polished finish and the warmth and stitch definition that a wool-blend yarn provides, making it an excellent choice for a refined accessory like this shawl.
• Needles: A 29-inch or longer circular needle in US size 6 (4.00 mm), or the size needed to achieve the stated gauge. A shorter circular needle is optionally recommended for working the edging, and a needle one to two sizes larger is suggested for the bind-off.
• Notions: 2 stitch markers.

Who Is This Pattern For?

The Alikae Shawl is best suited to intermediate knitters who are comfortable working with fine-weight yarn, managing stitch markers, and understanding the importance of gauge and blocking in achieving a finished garment