Berroco Joni Jumper Knitting Pattern

Berroco Joni Lace Sweater

What Is Being Made

The Berroco Joni is an intermediate-level knitted sweater designed by Donna Yacino. This garment is a versatile pullover available in nine sizes, ranging from 32 inches to 68 inches in bust circumference, with finished lengths between 23 and 26 inches. The sweater is shown in size 36 inches with 2–4 inches of positive ease recommended for comfortable wear. The design features a sophisticated lace pattern on the back while the front is worked in a smooth reverse stockinette stitch, creating visual interest and textural contrast.

Techniques Used

The Joni sweater is constructed using several key knitting techniques that define its construction and aesthetic:

• Bottom-Up Construction: The sweater is knitted from the bottom edge upward, allowing for easy adjustments and try-ons during the knitting process.
• Worked Flat: The body and sleeves are knitted flat on straight needles rather than in the round, requiring seaming to join pieces together.
• Seamed Assembly: Individual pieces are sewn together using mattress stitch or similar seaming techniques to create the finished garment.
• Lace Patterning: The back features an elegant lace pattern that incorporates yarn overs and decreases to create openwork details, while the front remains solid for balance.

Stitches Used

The Joni pattern employs a variety of fundamental and decorative stitches:

• Reverse Stockinette Stitch: Used for the entire front of the sweater and as a base stitch throughout, creating a smooth, refined surface. The gauge for reverse stockinette is 21 stitches and 32 rows over 4 inches.
• Lace Pattern Stitch: A six-stitch repeat plus one worked only on the back of the sweater. This stitch combines knit, purl, slip stitches, yarn overs (yo), and decreases including p2tog (purl two together) and SSP (slip, slip, purl) to create an openwork design. The lace pattern gauge is 25 stitches and 32 rows over 4 inches.
• Slip Stitches: Worked with yarn in back (wyib) to create textural elements within the lace pattern.
• Yarn Overs and Decreases: These paired techniques form the foundation of the lace stitch, creating the characteristic holes and shaping of the pattern.

Materials and Specifications

The Joni sweater is designed to be knitted with Berroco Liana yarn, a premium fiber choice that contributes to the garment's drape and appearance. Depending on the size selected, the project requires between 4 and 10 hanks of yarn in the colorway #8272 Orchid, with each hank weighing 50 grams. The recommended needle size is US 6 / 4 mm, available in both straight needles for the main body and a 16-inch circular needle for neckline finishing. Additional notions include two stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and shaping, and one stitch holder for securing stitches during construction. Achieving the correct gauge—21 stitches and 32 rows in reverse stockinette or 25 stitches and 32 rows in the lace pattern stitch—is essential for obtaining accurate finished measurements and proper garment fit.