Berroco Lantana Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Berroco Lantana Cardigan

What is Being Made

The Berroco Lantana is a women's cardigan designed by Emily Nora O'Neil. This intermediate-level knitting project features a classic cardigan silhouette with raglan armholes and is available in eight sizes, ranging from 41" to 59" finished bust measurements (closed). The cardigan offers approximately 6 to 8 inches of ease for a comfortable, relaxed fit. Length options range from 24" to 26½" depending on size selection.

Techniques Used

This cardigan is constructed using several key knitting techniques that create both structure and visual interest:

• Bottom-up construction: The cardigan is worked from the bottom edge upward, allowing knitters to try on the garment as it progresses and adjust length as needed.
• Worked flat: All pieces are knitted flat on straight needles rather than in the round, making this an accessible project for knitters who prefer traditional flat knitting methods.
• Lace patterning: Charted lace patterns are integrated into the design, adding elegance and visual texture to the finished garment.
• Seamed construction: Individual pieces (back, fronts, and sleeves) are knitted separately and then seamed together, providing clean finishing and precise shaping.
• Raglan armhole shaping: The cardigan features raglan-style armholes that are shaped through strategic bind-offs and decreases worked on both right-side and wrong-side rows.

Stitches Used

The Lantana cardigan employs a combination of fundamental and decorative stitches:

• Reverse Stockinette Stitch: The primary stitch used for the main body sections, creating a smooth, refined fabric base. Reverse Stockinette (purl side facing outward) is worked even across the back and front pieces until the armhole shaping begins.
• Charted lace patterns: Lace motifs are incorporated through charted stitch patterns, adding delicate openwork details to specific sections of the cardigan. These patterns are worked over 19 stitches as indicated in the charts referenced in the pattern instructions.
• Garter stitch: Used selectively in the pattern, particularly in edge treatments and transition areas between pattern sections.

Materials and Gauge

The Lantana cardigan is designed to be knitted with Berroco Fiora yarn, a premium fiber option from Berroco, Inc. The pattern calls for 5 to 7 hanks (depending on size), with each hank weighing 100 grams. The colorway shown in the pattern is #3870 Belmont.

Knitting is worked on size 5 (3.75 mm) straight needles, or the size needed to obtain proper gauge. Achieving correct gauge is essential for proper fit and is emphasized in the pattern instructions.

Gauge specifications: 22 stitches and 30 rows equal 4 inches when working in Reverse Stockinette Stitch. For the charted lace patterns, the gauge is 19 stitches and 30 rows over 3½ inches. Pattern instructions emphasize checking gauge before beginning the project to ensure accurate finished measurements.

Additional notions required include 3 stitch markers, 2 stitch holders, and a tapestry needle for seaming and weaving in ends.