Berroco Mahina Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Berroco Mahina Cardigan: Seamless Top-Down Lace Knit

What Is Being Made

The Berroco Mahina is an intermediate-level cardigan designed by Alison Green. This garment is constructed as a single unified piece beginning at the neckline and working downward to the hem. The cardigan features a button front closure with seven 5/8-inch buttons and is available in 12 different finished bust sizes ranging from 37 inches to 70¾ inches, accommodating a wide range of body measurements. The finished length varies slightly across sizes, ranging from 18½ inches to 21½ inches, creating a classic cardigan silhouette suitable for layering.

Construction Techniques

The Mahina employs a top-down seamless construction method, which means knitters begin at the neckline and progress downward in a single continuous piece without requiring seaming. This approach offers several advantages: it allows for easy try-ons during the knitting process, enables customization of length before binding off, and eliminates the need for finishing seams.

The yoke—the fitted upper portion of the cardigan—is shaped using short rows, a technique that creates three-dimensional shaping by working back and forth over a subset of stitches. This method produces smooth, gradual increases in width and depth, allowing the yoke to fit smoothly over the shoulders and chest. The pattern includes specific increase rows worked on the right side that use right-leaning increases (RLI) to add stitches at strategic intervals, building the garment's width progressively.

After the yoke shaping is complete, the cardigan is worked in the round using circular needles for the body sections, and double-pointed needles or preferred small-circumference needles are used for the sleeves. This seamless in-the-round construction creates smooth, continuous fabric without side seams.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The primary stitch pattern used throughout the Mahina is stockinette stitch (St st), which creates the classic smooth, V-textured fabric characteristic of many cardigans. Stockinette stitch is formed by alternating knit stitches on right-side rows with purl stitches on wrong-side rows when working flat, or by knitting every round when working in the round.

The pattern incorporates lace techniques as a design element, adding visual interest and texture to the finished garment. Lace in knitting typically involves yarn overs and decreases that create openwork patterns and decorative motifs. These lace elements are integrated into the overall design to enhance the cardigan's aesthetic appeal.

The yoke shaping utilizes right-leaning increases (RLI), a method of adding stitches that creates a nearly invisible increase line. This technique is particularly valued in fitted garment construction because it produces clean, professional-looking shaping lines that are barely visible in the finished fabric.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The Mahina is designed to be knitted with Berroco Renew yarn, a sustainable fiber choice. The pattern calls for the colorway #1348 Cardinal, a rich red shade. Yarn quantities vary by size, ranging from 6 balls (50 grams each) for the smallest size to 13 balls for the largest size, providing approximately 300 to 650 grams of total yarn depending on the finished dimensions selected.

Needles required include a 32-inch circular needle in sizes 5 (3.75 mm) and 7 (4.5 mm), allowing knitters to switch between needle sizes as the pattern progresses. The smaller needles are used for ribbed or fitted sections where tighter gauge is desired, while the larger needles are used for the main body fabric. Additionally, one set each of double-pointed needles or preferred small-circumference needles in sizes 5 and 7 are needed for working the sleeves and other small-circumference sections.

The pattern specifies a gauge of 19 stitches and 26 rows equaling 4 inches (10 cm) in stockinette stitch using the larger needles, measured after blocking. Achieving correct gauge is essential for ensuring the finished cardigan matches the intended measurements and drapes properly.

Additional Notions

Beyond yarn and needles, the pattern requires seven 5/8-inch buttons for the front closure and waste yarn to hold stitches temporarily during construction. Stitch markers are also essential for tracking pattern repeats and construction landmarks throughout the knitting process.