Berroco Liva Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Berroco Liva Cardigan

What is Being Made

The Berroco Liva is an intermediate-level knitted cardigan designed by Amy Christoffers. This garment features a sophisticated construction method that begins with mitered square blocks and progresses into a seamless body and sleeve design. The cardigan is available in nine sizes, ranging from 34 inches to 70 inches in bust measurement, with a consistent finished length of 27 inches across all sizes. The design is shown in a size 34 inch bust and incorporates approximately 2 to 4 inches of positive ease for comfortable wearing.

Construction Techniques

The Liva cardigan employs a distinctive seamed construction method that sets it apart from typical seamless garment patterns. The garment begins with the creation of three mitered cross square blocks that are sewn together to form the back panel. Each completed block measures 9 inches square, creating a structured foundation for the piece.

After the back panel is established, the front pieces are cast on independently. Stitches are then picked up along either side of the back panel to create the side panels, seamlessly integrating the front and back sections. The shoulder shaping is achieved through decreases worked down the top of the shoulder area, which echo the miter shaping established in the initial blocks.

The body sides are joined using a three-needle bind off technique worked on the wrong side, creating a secure and neat seam. The sleeves are subsequently worked down in the round, with shaping that continues the design established on the shoulders for visual continuity. A hem is picked up from the body and worked before binding off. The collar is picked up last and worked for 6 inches in length.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch used throughout the Berroco Liva is Garter Stitch, which creates a textured, reversible fabric with a classic appearance. The mitered square blocks utilize this fundamental stitch to create the geometric foundation of the cardigan. Garter stitch is worked by knitting every row, producing horizontal ridges that are visible on both sides of the fabric. This stitch choice contributes to the cardigan's structured appearance and provides excellent stitch definition.

Materials and Yarn

The Berroco Liva cardigan is designed to be knitted using Berroco Topaz yarn in the colorway #1218 Landscape. Berroco Topaz is a worsted-weight yarn supplied in 100-gram balls. The yardage requirements vary by size, with smaller sizes requiring 6 balls and larger sizes requiring up to 10 balls of yarn.

Needles and Notions

The pattern calls for the following needle sizes and notions:

• Circular needles in sizes 6 (4 mm) and 8 (5 mm), measuring 32 inches in length
• A spare size 8 (5 mm) circular needle
• One set of double-pointed needles in both size 6 (4 mm) and size 8 (5 mm) for sleeve construction
• Two stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and shaping
• Waste yarn for holding stitches during construction

Gauge and Finishing

The pattern specifies a gauge of 16 stitches and 32 rows equaling 4 inches in Garter Stitch when worked on the larger size 8 (5 mm) needle. This gauge is measured after blocking, making it essential to block your gauge swatch before beginning the project to ensure accurate finished measurements. Checking gauge before starting is emphasized as a critical step to save time and achieve the intended garment dimensions.