Bocce

Bocce Knit Shawl by Nancy Whitman

What is Being Made

Bocce is an intermediate-level knit shawl designed by Nancy Whitman. This downloadable PDF pattern creates a triangular shawl with a generous neck edge width of approximately 64½ inches (163.83 centimeters) and a center depth of approximately 24 inches (60.96 centimeters). The shawl features a sophisticated color-work design utilizing five distinct colors throughout the construction.

Knitting Techniques Used

The Bocce shawl employs several fundamental and intermediate knitting techniques to achieve its finished structure and aesthetic. The pattern incorporates increases as a primary shaping method, including both standard increase techniques and more advanced lifted increases to create the triangular silhouette characteristic of modern shawl design. Color work is central to this design, with five colors strategically integrated throughout the piece to create visual interest and depth. The shawl construction demonstrates proper gauge management, with specific measurements provided both before and after blocking to ensure accurate sizing and drape.

Stitches and Abbreviations

The pattern uses the following key stitches and techniques:

• k (Knit): The fundamental knit stitch forming the base of the fabric
• k2tog (Knit 2 Together): A right-leaning decrease worked by inserting the right needle through two stitches on the left needle and knitting them together as one stitch
• kfb (Knit Front and Back): An increase technique created by knitting into both the front and back of a single stitch before slipping it off the left needle
• LIL (Lifted Increase Left): An advanced increase method where the left needle is inserted from left to right into the left leg of a stitch two rows below the first stitch on the right needle, then knitted through to create an invisible increase

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The Bocce shawl is designed to be worked in madelinetosh tosh merino light, a premium yarn composed of 100% superwash merino wool. This yarn provides excellent drape and softness ideal for shawl construction. Each skein contains 420 yards of yardage, and the pattern calls for one skein each of five coordinated colors: Alabaster (Main Color), Virginia Bluebell (Contrast Color 1), Lapis (Contrast Color 2), Jade (Contrast Color 3), Sequoia (Contrast Color 4), and Fig (Contrast Color 5). The actual yardage used in the completed shawl is approximately one skein total, making this an efficient project for yarn stash management.

Gauge and Blocking

Proper gauge is essential for achieving the correct finished dimensions. The pattern specifies 24 stitches over 4 inches (10 centimeters) before blocking and 20 stitches over 4 inches (10 centimeters) after blocking. This significant gauge change demonstrates the importance of blocking in shawl construction, as blocking opens up the fabric and allows the yarn to relax into its final drape and dimensions. Knitters should swatch and measure gauge both before and after blocking to ensure accuracy.