Berroco Narrows Jumper Knitting Pattern

Berroco Narrows Knit Sweater

What is Being Made

The Narrows is a women's knit sweater designed by Amy Palmer from the Berroco Modern Cotton and Modern Cotton DK Spring 2018 Collection. This garment is available in seven sizes with finished bust measurements ranging from 32 inches to 58½ inches, making it suitable for a wide range of body types. The sweater features a fitted silhouette with approximately 0–4 inches of positive ease, allowing for a close but comfortable fit. The back length measures 1 inch longer than the front, creating a subtle high-low hem design. This intermediate-level knitting project produces a refined, wearable garment perfect for warm-weather layering.

Techniques Used

The Narrows employs several key knitting techniques that define its construction and aesthetic appeal:

• Bottom-Up Construction: The sweater is knitted from the bottom edge upward, beginning with cast-on stitches at the lower edge and progressing toward the neckline. This method allows knitters to try on the garment as it develops and easily adjust length before binding off.
• Worked Flat: The pattern is worked on straight needles rather than in the round, meaning each piece (back, front, and sleeves) is knitted as a flat rectangle with right-side and wrong-side rows.
• Seamed Construction: Individual pieces are knitted separately and then sewn together using seaming techniques, creating structured seams along the sides and shoulders.
• Lace Detailing: The sweater incorporates lace elements through eyelet rows and charted lace patterns, adding visual interest and breathability to the design.

Stitches Used

The Narrows utilizes a combination of fundamental and decorative stitches to create its finished appearance:

• Stockinette Stitch (St st): The primary stitch throughout most of the sweater, created by knitting on right-side rows and purling on wrong-side rows. This creates a smooth, flat fabric with a characteristic V-pattern appearance on the front.
• Yarn Over (yo): Used extensively in the eyelet rows and lace chart patterns to create deliberate holes that add openness and visual texture to the fabric.
• Knit Two Together (k2tog): A right-leaning decrease stitch used in the eyelet pattern and shaping sequences.
• Slip, Slip, Knit (SSK): A left-leaning decrease stitch that pairs with k2tog decreases to create balanced lace motifs.
• Central Double Decrease (CDD): A centered decrease that removes two stitches while maintaining a vertical line, used as a design element in the eyelet rows.
• Garter Stitch Edge: Created by purling the first row after casting on, providing a finished edge.
• Charted Lace Pattern (Chart A): A multi-row repeating pattern that combines knit stitches, yarn overs, and decreases to create an intricate lace design worked throughout the body of the sweater.

Materials

The Narrows is designed to be knitted with specific materials that contribute to the garment's drape, breathability, and finished appearance:

• Yarn: Berroco Modern Cotton DK in colorway #6651 Narragansett. The yardage required varies by size, ranging from 2 hanks (approximately 200 yards) for the smallest size to 4 hanks (approximately 400 yards) for the largest size. Modern Cotton DK is a lightweight, breathable yarn ideal for warm-weather garments, offering excellent stitch definition for lace patterns.
• Needles: Straight needles in U.S. size 6 (4.00 mm) or the size required to achieve proper gauge. Straight needles are essential for this flat-worked construction method.
• Notions: The pattern requires 2 stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and construction points, and 1 stitch holder for temporarily securing stitches during neckline shaping.
• Gauge: 20 stitches and 30 rows equal 4 inches in stockinette stitch; 22 stitches and 34 rows equal 4 inches in Chart A lace pattern. Achieving proper gauge is essential for obtaining the correct finished measurements.

Design Notes