Berroco Chenin Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Berroco Chenin Cardigan: Seamless Top-Down Lace Knit

What Is Being Made

The Berroco Chenin is an intermediate-level cardigan designed by Alison Green, featuring a sophisticated seamless construction worked from the top down. This garment is available in nine sizes, ranging from 33" to 57" finished bust measurements, with a length varying from 21¾" to 24½" depending on size. The cardigan is designed with minimal ease of approximately 0–2", making it a close-fitting, elegant layering piece suitable for various occasions.

Techniques Used

The Chenin employs several advanced knitting techniques that contribute to its refined construction:

• Top-down seamless construction: The garment begins at the back shoulders and neck, eliminating the need for seaming and creating a continuous, professional finish.
• Short-row shaping: Used extensively at the shoulders and sleeve caps to create a custom fit and proper garment architecture. This technique involves turning the work mid-row and wrapping stitches to avoid holes.
• Lace patterning: Integrated throughout the design to add visual interest and texture while maintaining the garment's elegant aesthetic.
• Picked-up stitches: Fronts are picked up along the shoulders of the completed back, and sleeves are picked up around the armholes, ensuring seamless integration of all pieces.
• One-piece construction: After the back and fronts are shaped separately, they are joined and worked as a single piece down to the hem, eliminating side seams.
• Band knitting: Front bands and neck band are picked up and knit in the final stages, providing a polished edge and button placket.

Stitches Used

The pattern utilizes fundamental knitting stitches combined with lace techniques:

• Stockinette stitch (St st): The primary fabric throughout the cardigan, providing a smooth, classic base.
• Lace stitches: Incorporated into the design for texture and visual appeal, though specific lace motifs are detailed in the full pattern instructions.
• Wrap and turn (w&t): Essential for the short-row shaping that creates shoulder and sleeve cap shaping.

Materials and Tools

Yarn: The Chenin calls for Berroco Summer Silk, a luxurious blend yarn available in 50-gram balls. The yardage requirement ranges from 5 balls for smaller sizes to 8 balls for the largest sizes, with the color shown in the sample being #4063 Lake, a cool-toned shade. Berroco Summer Silk is an ideal choice for this pattern, offering drape and a refined appearance suitable for a lace cardigan.

Needles and Notions: The pattern requires multiple needle sizes and types to accommodate different sections of the garment:

• 16" circular needles in sizes 6 (4.00 mm) and 7 (4.50 mm) for working the upper body sections
• 29" circular needle in size 6 (4.00 mm) for casting on and working the back
• 36" circular needle in size 6 (4.00 mm) for working the lower body in the round
• One set of four double-pointed needles (dpns) in sizes 6 (4.00 mm) and 7 (4.50 mm) for sleeve cap shaping
• 6 stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and shaping points
• Removable stitch markers for marking specific stitches
• 2 stitch holders for temporarily securing stitches
• Six ½" buttons for the front closure

Gauge: The pattern specifies a gauge of 22 stitches and 32 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch on the larger (size 7) needle. Achieving the correct gauge is essential for obtaining the proper finished measurements and fit.

Pattern Overview

The Chenin is constructed in distinct sections that are worked and then joined together. The back is cast on at the back shoulders and neck, with short-row shaping creating custom shoulder architecture. The fronts are subsequently picked up along the shaped shoulders of the completed back. Once the back and fronts are shaped to the underarm, they are joined and worked as one continuous piece down to the hem. Sleeves are picked up