Grande Ronde Shawl in Berroco Millefiori Light - Downloadable PDF

Grande Ronde Shawl by Brenda York – Knitting Pattern Summary

The Grande Ronde Shawl is a beautifully constructed, large-format knitted shawl designed by Brenda York and published by Berroco. Worked in Berroco Millefiori Light yarn, this generous wrap measures approximately 80 inches across the top and 23 inches down the center, making it an elegant and substantial accessory suitable for year-round wear. The pattern is rated Easy in the PDF itself, making it an approachable project for knitters who are comfortable with basic techniques and simple shaping, and it is listed as Intermediate in the product attributes — a fair reflection of the construction method, which involves working in multiple sections and picking up stitches.

Design Overview and Construction

What makes the Grande Ronde particularly interesting from a construction standpoint is its three-section build. Rather than being worked in a single piece from a central spine or cast-on edge, the shawl is assembled in a deliberate sequence:

• Center Section: Worked first as a rectangular panel, establishing the backbone of the shawl.
• Right Side Section: Stitches are picked up along the right edge of the center panel and worked outward with gradual decreasing to create a tapered wing.
• Left Side Section: Stitches are similarly picked up along the left edge of the center panel and worked outward to mirror the right side.

This construction technique produces a classic asymmetrical or crescent-adjacent shawl silhouette with a wide top edge and a gently pointed or tapered lower body. Picking up stitches along a selvedge edge is a foundational knitting skill that gives the finished piece a seamless, polished look without any seaming required.

Stitches and Techniques Used

The primary stitch throughout the entire shawl is Garter Stitch, one of the most classic and beloved textures in knitting. Garter Stitch is created by knitting every row when working flat, producing a fabric with horizontal ridges on both sides that lies naturally flat — an ideal quality for a shawl or wrap that needs to drape without curling at the edges.

The specific Garter Pattern used in this design includes a slipped selvedge stitch at the beginning of every row, which creates a neat, even edge along all sides of each section. On right-side rows, the first stitch is slipped with yarn in back (sl 1 wyib), and on wrong-side rows, the first stitch is slipped with yarn in front (sl 1 wyif), with the final stitch of wrong-side rows purled. This small detail elevates the finish of the shawl considerably, making the edges tidy and making stitch pickup along the selvedge much easier and more even.

Key Techniques Include:

• Garter Stitch — the foundational stitch pattern used throughout all three sections
• Slipped selvedge stitches — for clean, professional edges on every section
• Picking up and knitting stitches — used to begin both the Right Side and Left Side sections along the edges of the Center Section
• Decreasing — specifically k2tog (knit two together) worked at the beginning of right-side rows to shape the tapered wings of the shawl
• Holding yarn double — yarn is held with two strands together throughout the entire pattern, which affects both gauge and the visual texture of the finished fabric
• Knitwise bind-off — used at the end of each section for a clean, consistent finish

The shaping in the side sections is worked in two stages: decreases are first repeated every 4th row for a gradual taper, then shifted to every right-side row for a steeper angle toward the tip, resulting in a graceful, tapered wing that gives the shawl its distinctive silhouette.

Color Design and Yarn Held Double

One of the most visually striking elements of the Grande Ronde is its use of two colors from the Berr