Berroco Beachrock Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Berroco Beachrock Cardigan

What Is Being Made

The Beachrock Cardigan is an intermediate-level knitted cardigan designed by Donna Yacino, featured in Portfolio Vol. 5. This garment is available in seven sizes with finished bust measurements ranging from 36" to 60" (closed), and lengths from 25" to 27". The cardigan is designed with approximately 4–6" of ease for a comfortable, relaxed fit.

Construction Technique

This cardigan employs a strategic construction method that maximizes efficiency and garment quality. The body is worked flat in one piece from the bottom up to the underarms, creating a seamless foundation. At the underarms, the piece is divided into separate sections for the back and fronts, allowing for customized shaping. Shoulders are shaped using short rows, a technique that creates a more tailored fit by gradually increasing or decreasing stitch counts. Once shoulder shaping is complete, the front and back pieces are joined using the three-needle bind off method, which creates a strong, finished seam. Sleeves are picked up from the armholes and worked downward in the round, providing a smooth, tubular construction.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch pattern throughout the Beachrock Cardigan is Broken Rib, which is worked in two variations depending on the section being knitted:

• Broken Rib in Rows (for flat sections): This pattern alternates between knit rows and purl-knit-purl rows, creating a textured, broken ribbed appearance when worked flat. Row 1 is worked entirely in knit stitches on the right side, while Row 2 alternates purl and knit stitches across the row.
• Broken Rib in Rounds (for circular sections): When working in the round, such as on the sleeves, the pattern uses an even number of stitches and alternates knit and purl stitches around each round, creating a consistent ribbed texture in a circular direction.

This broken rib stitch pattern provides subtle texture and gentle elasticity, making it ideal for a cardigan that needs to maintain its shape while offering comfort and visual interest.

Materials and Tools

Yarn: The Beachrock Cardigan is designed to be knitted with Berroco Remix yarn in the colorway Brown Sugar (#3913). Berroco Remix is a worsted-weight yarn sold in 100-gram balls. The pattern requires 6 to 9 balls of yarn depending on the finished size selected, with smaller sizes (36"–40" bust) requiring 6 balls and larger sizes (52"–60" bust) requiring 9 balls.

Needles and Notions: Knitters will need a 29" circular needle in size 7 (4.50 mm) for working the body flat and in the round. Additionally, one set of four double-pointed needles (dpns) in the same size 7 (4.50 mm) is required for working the sleeves in the round. A stitch marker is used to denote the beginning of rounds, and waste yarn is used to temporarily hold stitches during the division at the underarms. The cardigan is finished with five 1" buttons for closure.

Gauge

The pattern specifies a gauge of 20 stitches and 31 rows per 4 inches when working the Broken Rib stitch pattern. Achieving the correct gauge is essential for obtaining the intended finished measurements, and the pattern instructions emphasize checking gauge before beginning the project to ensure accurate sizing.