Berroco Arga Jumper Knitting Pattern

Berroco Arga Knit Sweater

What Is Being Made

The Berroco Arga is a knitted pullover sweater designed by Donna Yacino, featured in Booklet #404. This intermediate-level garment offers a range of seven size options, from 32" to 60" bust measurements, with finished lengths ranging from 23" to 25½" depending on size. The sweater is shown in a 37" size with approximately 2" of ease. A distinctive feature of this design is the significant stretch inherent to the pattern stitch, making the sizing notably forgiving for a comfortable fit across different body types.

Techniques Used

The Arga sweater is constructed using several key knitting techniques that define its construction method and visual appeal:

• Bottom-Up Construction: The sweater is worked from the lower edge upward, beginning with the back piece and progressing toward the neckline and shoulders.
• Worked Flat: The main body pieces are knitted flat on straight needles or longer circular needles, rather than in the round, allowing for seamed assembly.
• Seamed Assembly: Individual pieces are sewn together using seaming techniques, creating clean, finished edges where the back, front, and sleeves meet.
• Lace Patterning: The design incorporates lace elements through yarn overs and decreases that create an open, textured fabric with visual interest and inherent stretch.

Stitches Used

The Arga pattern features a two-row repeating pattern stitch that forms the foundation of the entire garment. The pattern stitch combines fundamental knitting techniques to create its characteristic lace texture:

• Yarn Overs (yo): Used to create the open, lacy quality of the fabric and contribute to the pattern's natural stretch.
• Knit Stitches (k): Form the solid portions of the pattern and provide structural integrity.
• Purl Stitches (p): Create texture and definition, particularly on the wrong-side rows.
• Purl Two Together (p2tog): A decrease stitch that balances the yarn overs and maintains stitch count across the pattern repeat.

The pattern stitch is notable for its variable stitch count from row to row due to the yarn overs and decreases, which is characteristic of lace knitting. Row 1 (right side) works as: purl 2, yarn over, knit 1, repeated across with a knit 2 finish. Row 2 (wrong side) works as: purl 1, then purl 2 together and knit 2 repeated across. This two-row repeat is worked continuously throughout the body and sleeves until shaping begins.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

Yarn: The Arga sweater is designed specifically for Berroco Mantra yarn in color #4440 Moss. Berroco Mantra is a 50-gram ball weight yarn, and the pattern requires 4 to 8 balls depending on the finished size selected. For the smallest size (32" bust), 4 balls are needed, while the largest size (60" bust) requires 8 balls. The yarn choice is integral to achieving the correct gauge and the pattern's intended drape and stretch characteristics.

Needles and Notions: The pattern calls for size 6 (4.00 mm) knitting needles, with the option to use either straight needles or longer circular needles for working the flat pieces. A 16" circular needle in size 6 (4.00 mm) is also required, likely for finishing the neckline. Additional notions include 2 stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and shaping points, and 1 stitch holder for temporarily securing stitches during construction. Achieving the correct gauge of 24 stitches and 32 rows over 4 inches in the pattern stitch (measured unstretched) is essential for accurate finished measurements.

Construction Details

The sweater construction begins with casting on stitches for the back piece and working the pattern stitch until the piece reaches 5" from the beginning, at which point side slit markers are placed. The body continues in pattern until it measures 15" from the cast-on edge. Armhole shaping is then introduced by binding off stitches at the beginning of successive rows, with the number of bind-off stitches varying by size. This structured approach ensures proper fit and professional finishing throughout the garment.