Berroco Braith Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Berroco Braith Cardigan

What is Being Made

The Berroco Braith is an intermediate-level knitted cardigan designed by Emily Nora O'Neil. This garment features a classic button-front closure and is available in seven size options, ranging from 32" to 56" finished bust measurements. The cardigan has a finished length between 18½" and 21" depending on size, and is designed with approximately 2–4" of ease for comfortable wear.

Construction Techniques

The Braith cardigan employs a seamless, bottom-up construction method that minimizes finishing work. The garment is strategically constructed in multiple stages for efficiency and precision:

• The body is worked in one piece from the cast-on edge up to the underarms, eliminating side seams
• The sleeves are worked in the round to the underarms using double-pointed needles, creating seamless sleeve tubes
• Body and sleeves are then joined together and the yoke is completed in one continuous piece
• The garment features a striped pattern that runs throughout, created by alternating yarn colors in a consistent sequence

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The primary stitch used in this cardigan is Reverse Stockinette Stitch, which creates a textured, bumpy fabric surface that showcases the yarn's characteristics beautifully. The ribbing at the cuffs and hem uses 1x1 ribbing (alternating knit and purl stitches), which provides stretch and a finished edge.

The Stripe Sequence is worked consistently throughout the garment: 2 rows in the contrasting color (CC) followed by 2 rows in the main color (MC), with this 4-row pattern repeated continuously. This creates balanced, evenly-spaced horizontal stripes across the entire cardigan.

Materials and Gauge

The Braith cardigan is designed to be knitted with Berroco Andean Mist yarn. The main color (MC) requires 4 to 7 balls depending on size, while the contrasting color (CC) requires 2 to 4 balls. Each ball weighs 25 grams.

The pattern calls for circular knitting needles in sizes 4 (3.50 mm) and 6 (4.00 mm), with the smaller needles used for ribbed sections and the larger needles for the main fabric. Additionally, one set of four double-pointed needles in both sizes 4 and 6 are needed for working the sleeves in the round.

The recommended gauge is 22 stitches and 28 rows over 4 inches in Reverse Stockinette Stitch using the larger needles and following the Stripe Sequence. Checking gauge before beginning is essential for achieving the correct finished measurements.

Additional notions include 4 stitch markers, 4 stitch holders, waste yarn for holding stitches, and 6 to 7 one-inch buttons for the front closure, depending on size.