Berroco Esmeray Jumper Knitting Pattern

Berroco Esmeray Seamless Top-Down Stranded Knit Sweater

What is Being Made

The Esmeray is a seamless knit sweater designed by Alison Green, offered in multiple sizes ranging from 35¾" to 75" bust circumference. This intermediate-level garment features a sophisticated colorwork design and is worked entirely in one piece from the top down, eliminating the need for seaming. The finished length ranges from 21" to 24" depending on size, making it suitable for various body proportions and style preferences.

Techniques Used

This sweater showcases several advanced knitting techniques that create both structural integrity and visual interest:

• Top-Down Construction: The garment is worked from the neckline downward in a single piece, allowing for easy fit adjustments and eliminating seaming work.
• Worked in the Round: Using circular needles, the body is knit circularly for seamless construction and consistent fabric quality throughout.
• Yoke Shaping with Short Rows: The yoke features short-row shaping to create a fitted shoulder area. Short rows are worked with wrap-and-turn techniques, where wraps are picked up and purled together with their stitches for a polished finish.
• Stranded Colorwork: The design incorporates a colorwork chart worked in the stranded technique, carrying yarn colors across the back of the work to create the pattern.

Stitches Used

The Esmeray is primarily constructed using stockinette stitch (St st), the foundational stitch for most modern sweater knitting. The plain stockinette creates a smooth, classic fabric base, while the colorwork sections are worked using the stranded method, where two colors are carried simultaneously across rows to form the patterned design.

Materials: Yarn, Needles, and Notions

Yarn: Berroco Vento is the specified yarn for this pattern. Vento is a worsted-weight yarn sold in 100-gram balls. The pattern calls for 6 to 11 balls of the main color (MC) #5661 Trade and 1 to 2 balls of the contrast color (CC) #5604 Bise, depending on the size being knit. The yardage requirements scale with garment size to accommodate the range of finished measurements.

Needles: The pattern requires both 16" and 32" circular needles in sizes 5 (3.75 mm) and 7 (4.5 mm), as well as one set of double-pointed needles in the same sizes. The smaller needles are used for ribbed sections and initial cast-on, while the larger needles are used for the main body fabric. Gauge is measured at 22 stitches and 28 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch using the larger needles, and 22 stitches and 25 rows over 4 inches in colorwork using the larger needles. Gauge is checked after blocking to ensure accurate finished measurements.

Notions: One stitch marker is needed to mark the beginning of rounds, and waste yarn is required to hold sleeve stitches while working the body, allowing them to be picked up later for seamless sleeve construction.

Recommended Ease and Fit

The Esmeray is designed with approximately 2 to 4 inches of positive ease, meaning the finished bust measurement is slightly larger than the intended wearer's actual bust measurement. This ease allows for comfortable movement and layering while maintaining a fitted silhouette through the yoke and shoulders.