Berroco El Verger Jumper Knitting Pattern

Berroco El Verger Knit Sweater by Norah Gaughan

What Is Being Made

The Berroco El Verger is a knit sweater designed by renowned knitwear designer Norah Gaughan for Berroco. This garment is classified as an intermediate-level knitting project suitable for knitters with foundational skills. The sweater is available in seven sizes to fit bust measurements of 30, 34, 38, 42, 46, 50, and 54 inches, with finished bust measurements ranging from 32 to 56 inches. The garment features a finished length between 21½ and 24½ inches depending on size, and was designed with approximately 2 inches of ease for comfortable wearing.

Techniques Used

This sweater employs several key knitting techniques to create its finished structure:

• Bottom-up construction: The sweater is knit from the bottom edge upward, allowing knitters to try on the garment as they progress and adjust length as needed
• Worked flat: Pieces are knit flat on straight needles rather than in the round, requiring seaming to join components together
• Seamed construction: Individual flat pieces are sewn together to create the finished garment
• Lace detailing: The design incorporates lace elements that add visual interest and texture to the sweater

Stitches Used

The El Verger utilizes fundamental and decorative stitches to achieve its design:

• Stockinette stitch (st st): The primary stitch throughout most of the garment, created by knitting all stitches on the right side rows and purling all stitches on the wrong side rows to produce a smooth, classic fabric
• K2, P2 rib: A knit-purl ribbing pattern worked over a multiple of 4 stitches plus 2, used for fitted edgings that provide elasticity and structure
• Drop 2 and work back up: A specialized lace technique where 2 stitches are deliberately dropped down to their starting point and held with 4 floats beneath them, creating open, decorative lace effects within the fabric

Materials and Tools

The El Verger is designed to be knit with Berroco Fuji yarn in color #9223. Yardage requirements range from 5 hanks for the smallest size (30 inches) to 8 hanks for the largest sizes (50 and 54 inches). The pattern calls for two sizes of knitting needles: size 5 (3.75mm) needles and size 7 (4.5mm) needles, or whatever needle size is required to achieve the specified gauge. Additional tools include stitch markers to track pattern repeats and a large crochet hook, which is likely used for finishing techniques such as seaming or edge work. The recommended gauge is 20 stitches and 28 rows per 4 inches when working stockinette stitch on the larger needles.