Berroco Aliisa Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Aliisa Cardigan by Amy Christoffers

What Is Being Made

The Aliisa is an intermediate-level cardigan designed for a close, tailored fit with minimal ease. This top-down knit cardigan features a fitted yoke with raglan shaping that transitions into a body worked in one piece and sleeves worked in the round. The finished garment is available in seven sizes ranging from 34" to 53" bust measurement, with a length between 27¼" and 29¼" depending on size selection.

Construction Technique

This cardigan is worked from the top down, a construction method that allows for easy fitting adjustments and eliminates the need for seaming. The yoke begins with a small cast-on and uses raglan shaping to create the characteristic diagonal lines from the neckline to the underarm. After the yoke is complete, the stitches are divided to work the body and sleeves separately. The body is knit in one continuous piece from the top down, while the sleeves are worked in the round using double-pointed needles. Once the body and sleeves are finished, the front band is picked up from the finished edges and worked afterward, completing the cardigan.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The primary stitch used throughout the Aliisa is Stockinette Stitch (St st), which creates a smooth, classic fabric with a flat knit surface on the right side and purl bumps on the wrong side. The pattern uses increases to shape the raglan yoke, including Right Lifted Increase (RLI) and Left Lifted Increase (LLI) techniques, which are worked into the raglan lines to create gradual shaping. Stitch markers are used throughout to denote pattern sections and help track increases at the raglan lines.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The Aliisa is designed to be knit with Berroco Pima 100, a 100% cotton yarn that provides a lightweight, breathable fabric ideal for a fitted cardigan. Yardage requirements range from 7 to 10 hanks depending on size, with the pattern shown in Wisteria (#8403). The yarn is worked at a gauge of 20 stitches and 28 rows over 4 inches in Stockinette Stitch on the larger needle.

Two sizes of circular needles are required: size 6 (4.00 mm) and size 7 (4.50 mm) in 36" length for working the yoke and body. Additionally, double-pointed needles (dpns) in sizes 6 (4.00 mm) and 7 (4.50 mm) are needed for working the sleeves in the round. The pattern calls for 4 stitch markers, 2 removable stitch markers for tracking, and waste yarn to temporarily hold sleeve stitches during construction.

Sizing and Fit

The Aliisa is designed with approximately 0–4" of ease, meaning the finished bust measurement will be very close to your actual bust measurement or up to 4 inches larger. This minimal ease creates a fitted, tailored silhouette. Seven size options are provided to accommodate a wide range of body measurements.