Berroco Sorrel Jumper Knitting Pattern

Berroco Sorrel Children's Sweater

What is Being Made

The Berroco Sorrel is a children's pullover sweater designed by Amy Christoffers, available in four sizes ranging from children's size 2 through size 10. The finished measurements span chest widths from 25 inches to 33 inches and lengths from 14½ inches to 22 inches. This garment is constructed with approximately 2 to 4 inches of ease built into the design, allowing for comfortable wearing room appropriate for children's clothing.

Construction Techniques

This sweater is worked using a bottom-up construction method, meaning the garment is knitted starting from the lower edges and progressing upward toward the neckline. The pieces are worked flat on straight needles rather than in the round, creating individual pattern pieces that are later seamed together. This traditional flat-knitting approach allows for precise shaping and detailed stitch work throughout the garment.

The design incorporates lace techniques as a decorative element, adding visual interest and texture to the finished piece. The pattern includes a charted lace motif that is strategically placed within the sweater's design, requiring knitters to follow a stitch chart in addition to written instructions.

Stitches and Stitch Techniques

The sweater is primarily worked in stockinette stitch (abbreviated as St st), which creates the smooth, classic knit fabric that forms the base of the garment. The pattern includes specialized decrease stitches for the lace sections:

• K4tog – knit 4 stitches together, a four-stitch centered decrease
• Ssssk – slip 4 stitches knitwise individually, then insert the left needle through the fronts of these stitches and knit them together as one, creating a left-leaning four-stitch decrease

An edging technique is used at the cast-on edge, involving strategic bind-offs that create a decorative openwork border before transitioning to the main body of the sweater.

Materials and Tools

The Berroco Sorrel is designed to be worked in Berroco Weekend DK yarn, a lightweight double-knit weight yarn. The project requires 2 to 3 hanks depending on the child's size, with the sample shown in colorway #2978 Orangesicle. Each hank weighs 100 grams.

The pattern calls for two sizes of straight knitting needles: size 6 (4.00 mm) for the edging and ribbed sections, and size 7 (5.00 mm) for the main body fabric. Additionally, one set of four double-pointed knitting needles (dpns) in size 6 (4.00 mm) is required for working the neckline. The pattern also requires 4 stitch markers to track pattern repeats and shaping points, and 1 stitch holder for temporarily securing stitches.

Gauge and Skill Level

The pattern is rated at an intermediate skill level, appropriate for knitters with experience in reading charts, managing multiple techniques, and executing precise shaping. The required gauge is 19 stitches and 24 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch on the larger needles. The pattern emphasizes the importance of checking gauge before beginning to ensure proper fit across all four size options.