Fiorella Shawl in Berroco Gianna - Downloadable PDF

Fiorella Shawl in Berroco Gianna – Knitting Pattern Summary

The Fiorella is a beginner-friendly knitted poncho-style wrap designed by Mel Kennelly and published by Berroco in 2025. Available as a downloadable PDF, this pattern is an ideal project for newer knitters looking to create a stylish, wearable garment with minimal complexity. Despite its simple construction, the finished piece is elegant and versatile, making it a rewarding first foray into garment knitting.

What Is Being Made

The Fiorella is a rectangular poncho that is knitted flat as a single long rectangle, then folded and seamed to create a neat neck opening. The result is a cozy, draped wrap that sits comfortably over the shoulders. It comes in three sizes to fit a wide range of bust measurements:

• Size 1: Fits bust 32–44" / 81–112 cm; finished measurements approximately 22" x 46" / 56 x 117 cm before sewing
• Size 2: Fits bust 44–56" / 112–142 cm; finished measurements approximately 24" x 54" / 61 x 137 cm before sewing
• Size 3: Fits bust 56–68" / 142–173 cm; finished measurements approximately 26" x 62" / 66 x 157.5 cm before sewing

The sample shown in the pattern is knitted in Size 1 in the colorway #9112 Foliage.

Construction Technique

The construction method used for the Fiorella is refreshingly straightforward and perfectly suited to beginner knitters. The entire poncho begins as one long, flat rectangle worked back and forth in rows. Once the knitting is complete, the piece is folded in half with wrong sides together, matching the cast-on edge to the bind-off edge. The right edges are then seamed together from the bottom edges toward the fold, leaving the last 12" / 30.5 cm unsewn to form the neck opening. This clever fold-and-seam approach means there is no complex shaping, no short rows, and no picking up stitches — just straightforward flat knitting followed by a single seam.

The seaming length varies by size: (11, 15, 19)" / (28, 38, 48.5) cm is sewn, with the remaining 12" / 30.5 cm left open at the top for the neck. A tapestry needle is the only finishing tool required beyond the knitting needles themselves.

Stitches Used

The Fiorella uses a minimal stitch vocabulary, making it an excellent pattern for those building their knitting skills:

• Stockinette Stitch (St st): The main body of the poncho is worked in stockinette stitch, alternating knit rows on the right side with purl rows on the wrong side. This creates the smooth, classic fabric that gives the garment its clean, polished appearance.
• Garter Stitch Border: A three-stitch garter border is maintained on each side of every row by knitting the first and last three stitches on both right-side and wrong-side rows. This prevents the edges from curling — a common characteristic of stockinette — and gives the poncho a tidy, finished look without requiring any additional edging. Additionally, three full rows of garter stitch are worked at the cast-on and bind-off edges to create a consistent, stable border all around.

The two-row repeat is simple to memorize:

• Row 1 (WS): K3, purl to last 3 sts, k3.
• Row 2 (RS): Knit all sts.

Materials – Yarn

The pattern calls for Berroco Gianna™, a worsted weight yarn sold in 100 g balls. The quantity required depends on size:

• Size 1: 3 balls
• Size 2: 4 balls