Bering Shawl

Bering Shawl by Laura Nelkin

What Is Being Made

The Bering Shawl is a downloadable knitting pattern designed by Laura Nelkin for travel knitting, inspired by her 2019 knitting cruise to Alaska. This intermediate-level shawl features a unique modular construction that begins with five separate glacier sections connected by Inner Passages, finished with an outside border. The design prioritizes portability, making it ideal for knitters who want to work on a substantial project while traveling.

Construction and Design Techniques

The Bering Shawl employs a distinctive multi-part construction method that sets it apart from traditional shawl patterns. The design begins with five glacier sections that are worked individually, allowing knitters to carry their work easily during travel. These glacier sections are then connected by Inner Passages, creating a cohesive overall structure. Once the main body is complete, an outside border is added to finish the shawl. This modular approach means knitters can work on smaller, manageable pieces before assembling them into the final garment, making progress visible and the project less cumbersome to transport.

Stitches and Knitting Techniques

While the pattern uses standard knitting stitches appropriate for an intermediate skill level, the shawl incorporates beadwork as a decorative embellishment. Beads are strung onto the yarn using a dental floss threader and worked into the fabric during knitting, adding visual interest and texture to the finished piece. The pattern requires the use of double-pointed needles for sections of the construction, and knitters will need to manage multiple stitch markers to track pattern repeats and section boundaries throughout the project.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The Bering Shawl pattern calls for 3-ply and 4-ply weight yarns, offering flexibility in yarn selection. The sample shown uses SweetGeorgia Yarns Tough Love Sock, a durable blend of 80% merino wool and 20% nylon that provides both softness and longevity. The main color (MC) requires 2 skeins of this yarn, totaling 850 yards. For the five glacier sections, the pattern includes SweetGeorgia Yarns "Party of Five", a set of five 105-yard mini-skeins in coordinating colors (Color A through Color E), providing 525 total yards for accent sections. The sample uses Molasses as the main color with the Party of Five Swell collection.

Additional Materials and Tools

• Needles: US Size 5 [3.75 mm] double-pointed needles, or appropriate size for yarn
• Notions: Tapestry needle for weaving in ends, removable stitch marker, stitch markers set
• Beadwork supplies: 85 grams of custom Japanese Glass Seed Bead Mix, dental floss threader for stringing beads
• Optional tools: Digital scale for weighing yarn (helpful but not required)

Pattern Format and Difficulty

This is a downloadable PDF pattern suitable for intermediate knitters who have experience with basic stitches and can follow multi-part construction instructions. The modular design and use of beadwork add complexity beyond beginner patterns, but the portable nature of the glacier sections makes the project manageable for knitters building their skills. The pattern includes detailed instructions and references to additional photos available on the designer's website at nelkindesigns.com, where knitters can also find coordinated yarn kits specifically assembled for this project.