Like the town of Berkeley itself, the Berkeley shawl features larger-than-life color. It showcases highly variegated yarn at its finest. The increasing stitch count prevents pooling, and keeps the (very simple) knitting interesting. It’s easy to wear and looks great either scrunched up around the neck, or draped loosely around the shoulders.

The Berkeley shawl combines three elementary lace techniques: a pi shawl beginning (meaning every time the radius of the knitting doubles, the stitch count doubles), followed by chevrons, and ending in feather and fan lace. This pattern is suitable for an advanced beginner. It includes both complete written directions, and an extensive chart.

The shawl is semi-circular, with a 21’’/53cm radius (so, a 42’’/107cm diameter). It uses 400-425 yards (365-388 meters) of fingering-weight yarn in the main color and 150-160 yards (137-146 meters) of fingering-weigh yarn in the contrast color.

The yarns pictured in the samples are: Cephalopod Yarn Skinny Bugga in flamboyant cuttlefish (for the rainbow-and-white shawl), and Another Crafty Girl Strong Sock in gamut (for the rainbow-and-black shawl).

This pattern has been test-knit and professionally tech-edited.