Berroco Danseuse Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Berroco Danseuse Cardigan

What is Being Made

The Danseuse is an intermediate-level cardigan pattern from Berroco Book #410, designed by Amy Christoffers. This wrap-style cardigan features overlapping fronts (approximately 1½" of overlap) and is available in eight sizes ranging from bust 39½" to 61" when closed. The finished length varies from 27¼" to 30¾" depending on size, offering versatility for different body proportions and style preferences.

Construction Techniques

The Danseuse employs a sophisticated mixed construction method that combines multiple knitting techniques for an elegant, well-fitted garment. The pattern uses a bottom-up approach where the garment is built from the lower edges upward. The construction is seamless, eliminating the need for finishing seams and creating a smooth, professional appearance.

The body is worked flat in one continuous piece to the underarms, allowing for easy shaping and a unified construction. The sleeves are worked in the round using double-pointed needles, which creates seamless, tubular sleeves with consistent stitch definition. Once the sleeves reach the underarm, they are set aside temporarily. All pieces are then joined together for the yoke and worked together to the neckline, creating a unified upper garment with coordinated shaping and decreases.

Stitches and Stitch Techniques

The Danseuse is constructed primarily in stockinette stitch (St st), which creates a smooth, classic fabric with a refined appearance suitable for a sophisticated cardigan design. The cuff features a ribbed pattern worked as K1, P2, K1 repeat, which provides elasticity and a polished finished edge that hugs the wrist comfortably.

Sleeve shaping is accomplished using make-one left (M1L) and make-one right (M1R) increases, worked symmetrically at the beginning and end of each increase round. These invisible increases maintain the visual integrity of the stockinette fabric while gradually expanding the sleeve circumference. The frequency of increase rounds varies by size, ranging from every 4th round in larger sizes to every 14th round in the smallest size, allowing the pattern to accommodate different proportions while maintaining consistent sleeve length.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The Danseuse is designed to be worked in Berroco Pirouette, a yarn that comes in 50-gram balls. The pattern calls for 7 to 11 balls depending on size, with the sample shown in size 46" worked in colorway #2360 Claret. This yardage and weight structure allows for the sophisticated drape and refined appearance characteristic of this cardigan design.

The pattern requires circular needles in size 8 (5.00 mm) in two lengths: a 32" needle (or longer) for working the body and a 16" needle for working smaller circumferences. Additionally, one set of double-pointed needles in size 8 (5.00 mm) is needed for the in-the-round sleeve construction. The pattern also calls for 6 stitch markers to track pattern repeats and shaping points, plus waste yarn for temporarily holding stitches when pieces are set aside before joining.

The recommended gauge is 15 stitches and 22 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch, which is important to achieve for accurate finished measurements. The pattern recommends 2–4" of positive ease for a comfortable, elegant fit that allows for layering and movement.