Berroco Serafina Jumper Knitting Pattern

Berroco Serafina Knit Sweater

What Is Being Made

The Berroco Serafina is an intermediate-level knit sweater designed by Alison Green. This garment is constructed as a classic pullover with finished bust measurements ranging from 33" to 54" across eight sizes, and length measurements from 26" to 29½". The sweater is designed with approximately 2–4" of ease for a comfortable, relaxed fit.

Knitting Techniques

The Serafina employs several key knitting techniques to create its finished structure:

• Bottom-up construction: The sweater is knit from the bottom edge upward, beginning with the back piece and progressing toward the shoulders and neckline.
• Worked flat: The body is worked flat on straight needles rather than in the round, requiring seaming to join pieces together.
• Seamed assembly: Individual pieces (back, front, and sleeves) are knit separately and then seamed together to form the complete garment.
• Cable patterns: The design incorporates cable stitches as a central design element, worked using a cable needle to create textured, twisted columns of stitches.

Stitches and Stitch Details

The Serafina utilizes fundamental knitting stitches combined with more advanced cable work:

• Ribbing: The lower edge begins with a 2" section of k2, p2 ribbing (knit 2, purl 2 in alternating columns), which creates elasticity and helps the garment maintain its shape.
• Stockinette stitch (St st): The primary fabric throughout the sweater, created by alternating knit rows on the right side with purl rows on the wrong side, producing a smooth, classic knit appearance.
• Welt detail: A decorative textured band created through strategic alternation of knit and purl rows, producing horizontal ridges that add visual interest between the ribbing and the main cable pattern sections.
• Cable stitches: The pattern incorporates charted cable designs (referenced as Chart 1 and Chart 2) that require moving stitches onto a cable needle, skipping stitches on the main needle, then working the cable needle stitches to create twisted, rope-like textures.

Materials and Tools

The Serafina pattern calls for specific materials to achieve the intended gauge and drape:

• Yarn: 11 to 17 balls of Berroco Elba (depending on size), each ball weighing 50 grams, in colorway #7735 Picarel. Berroco Elba is the recommended yarn for this design.
• Needles: Straight knitting needles in size 6 (4.00 mm) for working the flat pieces, and a 16" length circular knitting needle in size 6 (4.00 mm) for working smaller circumferences such as necklines or cuffs.
• Additional tools: A cable needle (cn) for manipulating stitches during cable work, 4 stitch markers to denote pattern sections, and 1 stitch holder for securing stitches temporarily.
• Gauge: 21 stitches and 30 rows measured over 4" in stockinette stitch, worked with the specified needles and yarn. Achieving correct gauge is essential to ensure the finished garment matches the intended measurements.

Pattern Structure and Design Elements

The Serafina's construction follows a logical progression beginning with the back piece. Stitches are cast on and worked through ribbing and welt detail sections before establishing the main cable chart patterns. Stitch markers divide the work into distinct sections, with cable charts worked over specific stitch counts while stockinette stitch fills the areas between cable panels. This structured approach allows knitters to follow the charted designs while maintaining consistent shaping throughout the garment.