Berroco Joanna Jumper Knitting Pattern

Berroco Joanna Knit Sweater

What is Being Made

The Berroco Joanna is an intermediate-level knit sweater designed by Amy Christoffers. This pullover garment features a sophisticated leaf panel stitch pattern as its primary design element. The sweater is available in eight sizes, ranging from a finished bust measurement of 35½ inches (90 cm) to 67½ inches (171.5 cm), with corresponding length measurements from 22½ inches (57 cm) to 25½ inches (65 cm). The pattern is designed with 6–10 inches (15–25 cm) of positive ease for a comfortable, relaxed fit.

Knitting Techniques Used

This sweater employs several intermediate-level knitting techniques that create visual interest and texture. The primary technique is the Leaf Panel stitch pattern, which is worked over 15 stitches and repeats every 8 rows. This stitch pattern combines decreases and yarn overs to create an openwork leaf motif.

The construction begins with ribbed edging at the lower edge, worked in a knit-purl alternating pattern for approximately 2 inches (5 cm). This ribbing provides structure and helps the garment maintain its shape. The pattern also incorporates gauge swatching as an essential step, with a specified gauge of 21 stitches and 30 rows equaling 4 inches (10 cm) in the Leaf Panel pattern using the larger needles.

Additional techniques include working with circular needles for certain sections and managing stitch markers to track pattern repeats. The pattern uses waste yarn for holding stitches, a common intermediate technique for managing live stitches during construction.

Stitches Used

• Knit (K) – the fundamental stitch forming the base fabric
• Purl (P) – used in ribbing and as return rows in the Leaf Panel pattern
• Yarn Over (YO) – creates the openwork elements and lacy appearance characteristic of the leaf motif
• K3tog (Knit 3 Together) – a three-stitch centered decrease that shapes the edges of each leaf panel
• SSSK (Slip, Slip, Slip, Knit) – a left-leaning triple decrease that mirrors the K3tog decreases

The Leaf Panel pattern specifically alternates between right-side rows featuring the decreases and yarn overs that form the leaf shape, and wrong-side rows that are entirely purled to allow the pattern to develop properly.

Materials

The Berroco Joanna pattern calls for Berroco Chai yarn in the colorway #8629 Blue Ribbon. Yarn quantities vary by size, ranging from 7 balls (50 grams each) for the smallest size to 14 balls for the largest size, providing flexibility for different garment dimensions.

The pattern requires two sets of knitting needles: size 4 (3.5 mm) needles for the ribbed sections and a 16-inch (40 cm) circular needle in size 4 (3.5 mm), and size 6 (4 mm) needles for the main body worked in the Leaf Panel pattern. A spare size 6 (4 mm) needle is also recommended for stitch management. Additional notions include waste yarn for holding stitches and one stitch marker for tracking pattern placement.