Berroco Nera Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Berroco Nera Cardigan: Knitted Seamed Cardigan Pattern

What Is Being Made

The Berroco Nera is an easy-level knitted cardigan designed by Amy Christoffers, featured in Berroco Booklet #406. This garment is available in seven sizes ranging from 36" to 60" bust (closed), with finished lengths between 15½" and 17" including lower ribbing. The cardigan showcases a gradient color effect created through strategic yarn management, transitioning from dark to lighter tones across the body and sleeves.

Construction Technique

The Nera cardigan employs a distinctive seamed, worked-flat construction method. Rather than knitting the entire garment in separate pieces, the sides—including both sleeves and yoke—are worked in one continuous piece from sleeve cuff to center back. This integrated approach reduces the number of seams required and creates a more unified garment structure. Once the main body section is complete, the two sides are joined at the center back using a 3-needle bind off technique, which creates a strong, neat seam. The lower ribbing is then picked up from the cast-on edge and worked downward to finish the hem.

Stitches and Stitch Techniques

The primary stitch pattern used throughout the Nera cardigan is stockinette stitch (St st), which creates a smooth, classic fabric with a flat appearance on the right side. Ribbing is incorporated at the cuffs, lower edge, and neckband to provide structure and elasticity at these finishing areas. The pattern includes a set-up rib row at the beginning of each sleeve, establishing the ribbed texture before transitioning into the main stockinette body. The 3-needle bind off joining technique is used to seam the center back, creating a professional finish where two sets of live stitches are bound off together.

Yarn and Materials

The Nera cardigan is designed to be worked with Berroco Estiva yarn, a fiber choice that supports the garment's gradient color effect. Pattern requirements call for 3 cakes (150 grs each) for sizes 36" through 52", and 4 cakes for the larger sizes 56" and 60". The sample shown is knitted in #2634 Tradewind, a colorway that naturally transitions from darker to lighter shades within each cake, enabling the gradient effect without color changes.

Needles required include 29" circular needles in sizes 9 (5.50 mm) and 10 (6.00 mm). The smaller needles are used for ribbed sections to maintain elasticity, while the larger needles accommodate the stockinette stitch body. A spare size 10 needle is needed for the 3-needle bind off joining technique. Waste yarn should be on hand to hold stitches during construction.

Gauge and Sizing

The pattern is worked to a gauge of 16 stitches and 20 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch on the larger (size 10) needle. Accurate gauge checking is essential before beginning to ensure the finished measurements align with the intended sizes. The sample cardigan shown is size 40" with approximately 5" of ease, providing a comfortable, relaxed fit.

Yarn Management for Gradient Effect

To achieve the gradient pattern similar to the sample, the pattern includes specific yarn management instructions. For sizes 36" through 52", knitters should start at the beginning (dark-colored) part of a new cake for each sleeve, reserving the remaining yarn for the lower body section and neckband. For the two largest sizes (56" and 60"), two cakes are used throughout the entire garment. When working with multiple cakes, yarn not in use is carried up the side of the work, alternating cakes every other row to create the seamless color transition.