Berroco Mera Cape Knitting Pattern

Berroco Mera Knit Cape and Poncho

What Is Being Made

The Berroco Mera is a seamless knit cape and poncho designed by the Berroco Design Team. This intermediate-level project creates a versatile layering piece available in four sizes with finished bust measurements of 48, 54, 61, and 68 inches and lengths ranging from 25 to 28 inches. The garment is shown in the 54-inch size with approximately 22 inches of ease, making it a comfortable, relaxed-fitting accessory suitable for various body types.

Knitting Techniques

The Berroco Mera employs several key knitting techniques to create its structure and shaping:

• Bottom-up construction: The piece is knit from the bottom edge upward, allowing knitters to try on the garment as it progresses and adjust length as needed.
• Seamless and worked flat: The garment is worked flat on straight needles rather than in the round, eliminating the need for seaming while maintaining a clean, professional finish.
• Short-row shaping: Shoulders are shaped using short rows, a technique that creates three-dimensional shaping without increasing or decreasing stitches dramatically. This method involves working partial rows and wrapping stitches to prevent holes.
• Three-needle bind-off: Shaped shoulders are joined using the three-needle bind-off technique, which creates a secure, flexible seam ideal for shoulder construction.
• Garter stitch edging: The first 6 stitches on each side are worked in garter stitch to create decorative, stable edges that frame the stockinette stitch body.

Stitches Used

This pattern utilizes fundamental knitting stitches that create both texture and structure:

• Stockinette stitch (St st): The primary stitch throughout most of the garment, stockinette stitch creates a smooth, classic fabric with a V-pattern on the right side and bumpy texture on the wrong side. This stitch is worked by alternating knit rows on the right side with purl rows on the wrong side.
• Garter stitch: Used for the initial 2-inch cuff at the bottom and for the 6-stitch borders on each side, garter stitch is created by knitting every row. This creates a textured, reversible fabric that lies flat and provides structure to edges.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The Berroco Mera pattern calls for specific materials to achieve the intended gauge and drape:

• Yarn: Berroco Aero in color #8017 Cirrus. The pattern requires 4, 5, 6, or 7 cakes depending on size, with each cake weighing 50 grams. Berroco Aero is designed to create a lightweight, breathable fabric ideal for layering pieces like capes and ponchos.
• Knitting needles: Two sizes are required—size 11 (8.00 mm) needles for the initial ribbed cuff and a 16-inch circular needle, and size 13 (9.00 mm) needles for the main body. The larger needle is used to obtain the specified gauge of 12 stitches and 16 rows equaling 4 inches in stockinette stitch.
• Notions: The pattern requires 1 stitch marker to denote pattern sections and 2 stitch holders or waste yarn to hold stitches during construction, particularly during shoulder shaping.

Pattern Overview and Construction Notes

The Berroco Mera begins with casting on 72, 82, 92, or 102 stitches depending on desired size. The back piece is worked first, starting with 2 inches of garter stitch to create a stable, textured cuff. Once the cuff is complete, knitters transition to the larger needle and work stockinette stitch with garter stitch edges maintained throughout. The pattern emphasizes the importance of checking gauge before beginning to ensure accurate finished measurements. Shoulder shaping using short rows begins at 17 inches from the cast-on edge, with wraps picked up and worked together with their stitches to create smooth, invisible shaping. The Berroco Design Team notes that this pattern has been updated since its 2018 copyright, and knitters are encouraged to download the most recent version to ensure they have any corrections.