Gazette Shawl in Berroco Aerial and Aerial Degrade - Downloadable PDF

Gazette Shawl in Berroco Aerial and Aerial Dégradé – Knitting Pattern Summary

The Gazette Shawl is a beautifully constructed knitted shawl designed by Alison Green and published by Berroco. Available as a downloadable PDF, this pattern is rated Advanced Beginner, making it an excellent next step for knitters who are comfortable with basic techniques and ready to explore simple shaping and decorative stitch details. The finished piece is a graceful, crescent-style shawl worked in the round from the neck edge outward, expanding through a series of evenly spaced increase rounds to create a sweeping lower edge.

Sizes and Finished Measurements

The Gazette Shawl is offered in three sizes. All sizes share the same neck circumference of 21½" / 54.5 cm, while the lower edge ranges from 50½" to 64¾" (128.5–164.5 cm) and the length from 14" to 15" (35.5–38 cm). The sample shown in the pattern photography is knitted in size 1 with a lower edge of 50½" / 128.5 cm, giving a clear visual reference for the finished drape and scale of the shawl.

Yarn and Materials

One of the most distinctive features of this pattern is its use of two Berroco yarns held together throughout, which creates a layered, dimensional fabric with subtle color movement. The yarns specified are:

• Berroco Aerial Dégradé (50 g ball) – 1 ball in colorway #34206 Blue Edge, a gradient yarn that introduces gentle color shifts across the shawl
• Berroco Aerial (25 g ball) – 2 balls in colorway #3468 Fog, a solid tone that grounds and softens the dégradé effect

Both Berroco Aerial and Berroco Aerial Dégradé are lace weight yarns, prized for their exceptional lightness and halo. Holding two strands of lace weight together is a classic technique that builds a fabric with more body and stitch definition than a single strand alone, while still retaining the airy, delicate quality associated with fine-weight knitting. Berroco recommends using the specified yarns to ensure accurate gauge and finished measurements.

Needles and Notions

The pattern calls for circular needles in two lengths and two sizes:

• 16" / 40 cm circular needles in sizes 4 / 3.5 mm and 5 / 3.75 mm
• 32" / 80 cm circular needles in the same two sizes

The shorter needle is used for the initial cast-on and neck band, while the longer needle accommodates the growing stitch count as the shawl expands outward through the increase rounds. Additional notions include a stitch marker and a tapestry needle for finishing.

Gauge

Gauge is measured after blocking and is set at 20 stitches and 32 rounds = 4" / 10 cm in Stockinette stitch using the larger needle with both yarns held together. Because lace weight yarns and open fabrics can shift significantly during blocking, checking gauge on a blocked swatch is strongly recommended to ensure the finished shawl matches the intended dimensions.

Construction Method

The Gazette Shawl is worked in the round on circular needles, beginning at the neck edge with a cast-on of 108 stitches. This top-down, circular construction means the knitter works outward from the neckline, which is a practical and intuitive approach — the neck band is completed first, and the shawl grows progressively wider with each increase round. The piece is never turned, so all right-side knitting is done facing outward, which many knitters find easier to manage than flat knitting.

Techniques and Stitches Used

Despite its Advanced Beginner rating, the Gazette