Berroco Bishop Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Berroco Bishop Cardigan

What is Being Made

The Berroco Bishop Cardigan is an experienced-level knitted cardigan featuring an overlapping front closure and a sophisticated cable pattern throughout. This garment is designed with seven size options ranging from 40¾" to 71" bust measurement, with finished lengths between 24" and 34¼" depending on the selected size. The cardigan is shown in size 40¾" with approximately 5" of ease, making it a relaxed-fitting layering piece suitable for various body types and styling preferences.

Techniques Used

This cardigan employs a combination of advanced knitting techniques to create its structured, elegant silhouette. The garment is worked using a bottom-up construction method, beginning at the lower edge and progressing upward. The body is worked flat in rows to the underarms, while the sleeves are worked in the round from the cuff to the underarms using circular needles. Once the body and sleeves reach the appropriate length, they are joined together seamlessly to work the yoke in one continuous piece. This seamless construction approach eliminates the need for seaming and creates a more polished, professional finish.

Stitches and Cable Work

The Bishop Cardigan features prominent cable stitches that form a distinctive textured pattern throughout the design. The pattern includes specialized cable abbreviations: LC (Left Cable), which involves slipping 2 stitches to a cable needle and holding them in front, then knitting 2 stitches followed by knitting the 2 stitches from the cable needle; and RC (Right Cable), which reverses this process by holding stitches in back. An advanced variation, RC-dec (Right Cable with decrease), incorporates decreasing within the cable work by using two cable needles simultaneously to create a more complex textured element. The base fabric is worked in stockinette stitch (St st), which provides a smooth canvas for the cable pattern to stand out prominently.

Materials and Gauge

This pattern calls for Berroco Ultra Wool yarn in the colorway #3330 Lentil. The yardage requirements range from 7 to 15 balls of 100-gram weight depending on the finished size selected, providing flexibility for different garment dimensions. Knitters will need a 32" circular needle in size 8 (5.00 mm) or the size required to obtain proper gauge, along with one set of four double-pointed needles in size 8 (5.00 mm) for working the sleeves in the round. Additional notions include two cable needles for managing cable stitches, stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and shaping, a tapestry needle for finishing, waste yarn for holding sleeve stitches, and two stitch holders for securing stitches during construction.

Achieving accurate gauge is essential for this project's success. The pattern specifies 19 stitches and 27 rows equal 4 inches in stockinette stitch after blocking, while the cable pattern requires 30 stitches and 27 rows to equal 4 inches after blocking. These different gauges reflect the density difference between the smooth stockinette base and the textured cable sections, making gauge checking particularly important before beginning this experienced-level project.