Olividae Throw in Berroco Bozzolo - Downloadable PDF

Olividae Throw in Berroco Bozzolo — Knitting Pattern Summary

The Olividae Throw is a beautifully textured, large-format knitted blanket designed by Åsa Buchta and published by Berroco. Rated as an intermediate skill level project, this downloadable PDF pattern produces a finished throw measuring approximately 41 inches wide by 52 inches long (104 cm × 132 cm) — a generous, lap-to-full-bed size that makes it an ideal knitting project for home décor or gifting. The design takes its name, Olividae, from the family of olive sea snails, likely a nod to the elegant, shell-like undulating lines created by the lace-influenced stitch pattern.

Design Overview and Construction

The Olividae Throw is worked flat on a long circular needle, meaning it is knitted back and forth in rows rather than in the round. The construction is straightforward in structure but rich in visual effect: the throw is built from alternating stripes of a Main Color (MC) and a Contrast Color (CC), which interact with the textured stitch pattern to create a rhythmic, wave-like surface across the entire fabric. The interplay of two colors and the undulating stitch repeat gives the finished piece a sophisticated, almost organic quality.

A practical construction note included in the pattern advises that MC can be carried along the edge while working the CC stripes — the yarns are twisted at the beginning of right-side rows to secure the floats — but CC should be broken between its stripes rather than carried. This approach keeps the edges tidy and the fabric from puckering, which is especially important in a large-scale project like a throw.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The pattern calls specifically for Berroco Bozzolo, an aran weight yarn sold in 100-gram skeins. The recommended colorway combination is:

• 5 balls of #10836 Blue Metalmark — used as the Main Color (MC)
• 3 balls of #10801 Sycamore Tussock — used as the Contrast Color (CC)

Berroco Bozzolo is the specified yarn for this design, and the pattern recommends using the called-for yarn to ensure accurate results. The color names — Blue Metalmark and Sycamore Tussock — suggest a palette that blends cool blue tones with warm, earthy neutrals, creating a striking yet harmonious contrast across the striped sections of the throw.

The required needle is a 32-inch (80 cm) circular needle in size US 8 / 5 mm, or the size needed to achieve the correct gauge. The long circular needle is essential for accommodating the full width of 225 cast-on stitches comfortably, even though the piece is worked flat.

Gauge

The pattern specifies a gauge of 22 stitches and 24 rows over 4 inches (10 cm) in Pattern Stitch, measured after blocking. Blocking is a finishing step in which the knitted fabric is wetted or steamed and then pinned or shaped to its final dimensions as it dries. Because the lace-style stitch pattern opens up significantly with blocking, achieving the correct gauge post-blocking is critical to hitting the finished measurements. Knitters are strongly encouraged to swatch and block their gauge swatch before beginning the full project.

Stitch Pattern and Techniques

The heart of the Olividae Throw is its 12-row repeating Pattern Stitch, worked over a multiple of 14 stitches plus 1. This stitch pattern combines elements of lace knitting and shaping through decreases and yarn overs, producing a graceful, wave-like or shell-like texture across the fabric. The pattern can be followed either from written row-by-row instructions or from a chart, giving knitters flexibility based on their preferred working style.

Key Stitches Used

• Knit (k) — the foundational stitch used throughout
• Purl (p) — used on wrong-side rows in the MC sections to create a stockinette-based fabric
• Yarn Over (yo) — creates