Berroco Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Berroco Melle Cardigan

What is Being Made

The Melle is a classic cardigan designed by Åsa Buchta, offering a versatile layering piece suitable for intermediate knitters. This cardigan features a traditional button-front closure with five buttons and is available in twelve different sizes, ranging from 36½ inches to 69½ inches in bust measurement. The finished length varies slightly across sizes, spanning from 22¾ inches to 25¼ inches, making it an adaptable design for various body types and style preferences.

Construction Techniques

The Melle cardigan is constructed using a classic flat-piece method. The back, fronts, and sleeves are each worked separately in flat pieces before being seamed together. Once the main garment pieces are assembled, stitches are picked up along the front edges to create the buttonband. This construction approach provides excellent control over fit and allows for precise shaping throughout the garment. The pattern includes detailed shaping instructions for the armholes and neckline, with staggered decreases worked at strategic intervals to create a well-proportioned silhouette.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The primary stitch pattern used in the Melle cardigan is referred to as Pattern St, which is worked on the larger needles and measured at a gauge of 24 stitches and 36 rows over 4 inches. The pattern employs ribbed stitching for the buttonband, which is picked up and worked after the main garment pieces are seamed. Stitch markers are used throughout construction to help track pattern repeats and shaping points, with both regular stitch markers and removable stitch markers recommended for managing multiple sections of the design.

Yarn and Materials

The Melle cardigan is designed to be worked with Berroco Tillie, a hand-dyed yarn that requires 3 to 6 hanks depending on the size being knitted. The yarn specified is color #10933 Tula. Because Berroco Tillie is hand-dyed, the pattern instructions recommend alternating skeins every two rows to ensure even color distribution and minimize visible dye lot variations across the finished garment.

Needles and Notions

Construction of the Melle requires two sets of knitting needles: size 5 (3.75 mm) needles for working the main pattern stitch and size 3 (3.25 mm) needles for the buttonband. A 32-inch circular needle in size 3 is used for picking up stitches along the front edges. Additional notions include 2 stitch markers, removable stitch markers for tracking pattern sections, and 5 buttons for the front closure. Knitters should select needles that allow them to achieve the specified gauge of 24 stitches and 36 rows over 4 inches when measured after blocking.

Gauge and Fit

Achieving the correct gauge is essential for the Melle cardigan to fit as designed. The pattern specifies 24 stitches and 36 rows equal 4 inches in Pattern St on the larger needles, with gauge measured after blocking. The pattern recommends 2 to 4 inches of positive ease for a comfortable fit. Taking time to knit and block a gauge swatch before beginning the project ensures accurate finished measurements and proper garment proportions.