Berroco Asawa PDF

Berroco Asawa PDF – Stranded Knitting Cowl and Mittens Pattern by Amy Christoffers

The Berroco Asawa pattern, designed by Amy Christoffers and published by Berroco, is a beautifully coordinated set featuring a stranded colorwork cowl and a pair of mittens. Both pieces share a cohesive charted colorwork motif, making them ideal as a matching accessories set. The pattern is available as a downloadable PDF and is rated Intermediate in skill level, making it a rewarding project for knitters who are comfortable with colorwork and working in the round.

About the Yarn: Berroco Mercado

Both the cowl and the mittens are worked in Berroco Mercado, a chunky-to-worsted weight yarn sold in 100-gram hanks. The pattern calls for two colorways used together to create the stranded colorwork design:

• C1: #4133 Azule – a rich, saturated blue tone
• C2: #4101 Crema – a warm, neutral cream tone

For the cowl, you will need 1 hank of Azule (C1) and 2 hanks of Crema (C2). For the mittens, you will need 1 hank of each color. The contrast between the deep blue and creamy white makes the charted colorwork pattern particularly striking and well-defined.

The Cowl

Design and Finished Measurements

The Asawa Cowl is a generously sized, seamless accessory measuring approximately 8¾ inches high and 34 inches in circumference as worn. Its relaxed, oversized drape makes it comfortable to wear looped around the neck for warmth and style.

Techniques and Construction

The cowl is worked seamlessly in the round from the bottom up using a circular needle. The construction is straightforward and uninterrupted, with no seaming required at any stage. The standout technique is stranded colorwork, in which both yarn colors are carried across each round, with one color forming the background and the other creating the charted pattern motif. Knitters will need to manage yarn tension carefully across the floats to ensure an even, professional result.

Needles and Notions

• 16-inch circular needle, size 10½ (6.50 mm), or size needed to obtain gauge
• A spare 16-inch circular needle, size 10½ (6.50 mm) or smaller
• 1 stitch marker
• Tapestry needle for finishing

Gauge

Gauge for the cowl is 16 stitches and 16 rounds = 4 inches in the Charted Pattern. Because stranded colorwork can significantly affect gauge compared to plain stockinette, checking gauge carefully before casting on is especially important for this project.

The Mittens

Design and Finished Measurements

The Asawa Mittens are a classic, full-coverage mitten worked to match the cowl's colorwork aesthetic. The finished measurements are approximately 8 inches in circumference and 10½ inches in length, with the pattern noting that length is adjustable to suit individual hand sizes. This flexibility makes the mittens accessible to a wider range of knitters and wearers.

Techniques and Construction

Like the cowl, the mittens are worked seamlessly in the round from the bottom up, using double-pointed needles. The same stranded colorwork technique is employed throughout, carrying both C1 Azule and C2 Crema across rounds to produce the charted motif. A thumb gusset is incorporated into the construction, with stitches held on waste yarn so the thumb can be picked up and worked separately — a classic and practical mitten-