Berroco Marzen Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Berroco Marzen Cardigan

What is Being Made

The Berroco Marzen Cardigan is an intermediate-level knitted cardigan designed by Thea Colman. This garment is a button-front cardigan available in eight sizes, ranging from 38¾ inches to 57½ inches in bust measurement (worn open), with corresponding lengths from 24½ inches to 31½ inches. The cardigan is designed to be worn with approximately 4 inches of positive ease for a comfortable, relaxed fit.

Construction Method

The Marzen Cardigan employs a bottom-up construction approach, combining both flat knitting and in-the-round techniques. The sweater body, including front bands and collar, is knit as one continuous piece to the armholes. At the armholes, the piece is split so the fronts and back are worked separately to the shoulders. Once the shoulders are bound off, the neck extension is continued on each side until the pieces are long enough to meet at the center back neckline. The sleeves are worked separately and then seamed to the body, with the remaining neck extension halves seamed down to the back neck.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns Used

This cardigan features multiple stitch techniques throughout its construction:

• Textured Stripe Motif — The primary stitch pattern used for the body of the cardigan, worked on the smaller needles with a gauge of 17 stitches and 20 rows over 4 inches
• Stockinette Stitch (St st) — Used in sections of the cardigan, worked on the larger needles with a gauge of 16 stitches and 20 rows over 4 inches
• 1x1 Ribbing — Used for the sleeve cuffs (on smaller needles at 18 stitches and 20 rows over 4 inches) and at the hem (on larger needles at 17 stitches and 20 rows over 4 inches), providing elasticity and a finished edge

Yarn and Materials

The Marzen Cardigan is knit using Berroco Ultra Wool DK yarn in the colorway #83104 Driftwood. The yarn is held double throughout the entire project, meaning two strands are worked together simultaneously. Yardage requirements vary by size, ranging from 7 balls to 13 balls of 100-gram skeins, depending on the finished bust measurement selected.

Needles required include 29–36 inch circular needles in sizes 9 (5.50 mm) and size 10 (6.00 mm), or the size needed to obtain the specified gauge. Additional notions include a tapestry needle for seaming, stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and shaping, and waste yarn or stitch holders for temporarily securing stitches during construction.

Gauge Considerations

Accurate gauge is essential for this project, as the pattern provides specific gauge measurements for each stitch pattern and needle size used. All gauges are given with 2 strands of yarn held together. Knitters are strongly encouraged to knit a gauge swatch and measure carefully before beginning the project to ensure the finished cardigan meets the intended measurements.