Berroco Charlotte Amalie Jumper Knitting Pattern

Berroco Charlotte Amalie Lace Knit Sweater

What is Being Made

The Berroco Charlotte Amalie is an intermediate-level knitted sweater designed by Donna Yacino. This garment features a sophisticated construction method that combines separate yoke pieces with a seamless body, creating a modern silhouette with positive ease for comfortable wear. The finished sweater is available in nine sizes, ranging from 32 inches to 64 inches in bust measurement, with finished lengths between 21¼ and 24½ inches.

Techniques Used

This pattern employs several advanced knitting techniques that contribute to its intermediate skill level:

• Top-Down Construction: The sweater is worked from the top down, beginning with the back yoke and front yokes worked separately before joining for the body.
• Worked Flat and in the Round: The yoke sections are worked flat on straight needles or circular needles used straight, while the body is worked in the round using circular needles for seamless construction.
• Lace Detailing: Lace techniques are incorporated into the design, adding visual interest and texture to the finished garment.
• Yarn Management: Larger sizes require alternating between multiple yarn cakes during construction to ensure even color distribution and yarn management throughout the garment.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The Charlotte Amalie utilizes fundamental and decorative stitches to create its structure and aesthetic:

• Stockinette Stitch (St st): Forms the primary fabric of the sweater, creating a smooth, classic knit surface.
• Garter Stitch: Used as edge stitches (2 stitches at each edge) to provide stability and a finished appearance to the yoke sections.
• Lace Stitches: Incorporated throughout the design to add openwork detailing and visual sophistication to the garment.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

Yarn: The pattern calls for Berroco Estiva, a yarn that comes in 150-gram cakes. The sample shown is worked in colorway #2638 Violet. Yardage requirements vary by size, ranging from 2 cakes for smaller sizes (32 inches through 43½ inches) to 4 cakes for the largest size (64 inches). Berroco Estiva provides the appropriate weight and drape needed for this lace-detailed sweater construction.

Needles and Notions: The pattern requires both 29-inch and 36-inch circular needles in size 11 (8.00 mm), or straight needles of the same size if preferred. Additional notions include 1 stitch marker for tracking pattern repeats and waste yarn for holding stitches during construction. Knitters should verify their needle size by checking gauge before beginning the project.

Gauge and Construction Details

The pattern specifies a gauge of 14 stitches and 18 rows over 4 inches in Stockinette Stitch. Accurate gauge checking is essential for achieving the correct finished measurements. The sweater is designed with 2 to 4 inches of positive ease, meaning the finished bust measurement will be larger than the wearer's actual bust for a comfortable, relaxed fit. The construction method—separating yoke pieces before joining for the seamless body—allows for customized fit adjustments and efficient yarn usage across the nine available sizes.