Berroco Nightingale Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Berroco Nightingale Cardigan

Garment Overview

The Berroco Nightingale Cardigan is an intermediate-level knitted cardigan designed by Noriko Ho, featured in Portfolio Vol. 4. This top-down construction cardigan offers a refined, wearable design with finished bust measurements ranging from 29" to 49" across six size options, and lengths from 23½" to 27½". The cardigan features a classic button-front closure and is designed with carefully considered ease, offering approximately 2" of negative ease to 2" of positive ease, allowing knitters to customize the fit based on their preferred wearing style.

Construction Techniques

The Nightingale Cardigan employs a top-down construction method, meaning the garment is worked from the neck downward to the hem. This approach offers several advantages, including the ability to try on the cardigan as you knit and easily adjust length to personal preference. The cardigan is worked flat on circular needles, using the circular needles as straight needles rather than working in the round. Shoulders and sleeve caps are shaped using short-row shaping, a technique that creates smooth, contoured curves at these critical fit points without the need for complex decreases or increases. This method produces a professional, tailored appearance.

Stitches and Stitch Techniques

The primary fabric is created using Pattern Stitch, a stitch pattern that maintains continuity throughout the garment. The pattern incorporates several key knitting techniques:

• Slip stitch edge treatment: The first stitch of every row is slipped with yarn in front, creating a neat, finished edge
• Garter stitch edge: The last stitch of every row is knit, contributing to edge definition
• Increases worked in pattern: The pattern uses M1p (make one purl) increases when the next stitch should be a purl, and M1 (make one knit) increases when the next stitch should be a knit, maintaining pattern continuity
• Decreases worked in pattern: Decreases are worked to match the stitch pattern, using k2tog when a purl stitch should follow, or p2tog when a knit stitch should follow, ensuring seamless pattern flow

Materials and Tools

The Nightingale Cardigan is knitted using Berroco Ultra Wool, a durable and elastic yarn that provides excellent stitch definition and recovery. Yardage requirements range from 500 grams (5 balls) for the smallest size to 900 grams (9 balls) for the largest size, with each ball weighing 100 grams. The yarn is worked in the color #33145 Sour Cherry, a rich, deep red tone.

The pattern requires two sizes of needles: size 6 (4.00 mm) circular needles measuring 29" in length for ribbing and edge work, and size 8 (5.00 mm) circular needles of the same length for the main fabric. Additionally, one set of size 6 and one set of size 8 double-pointed needles (dpns) are needed for sleeve shaping and finishing. A tapestry needle is required for weaving in ends and seaming. The cardigan features 6 or 7 half-inch buttons depending on size, along with 2 stitch markers and 1 removable stitch marker for tracking pattern repeats and shaping points.

Gauge and Sizing

The recommended gauge is 20 stitches and 29 rows over 4 inches in Pattern Stitch on the larger (size 8) needles. Achieving proper gauge is essential for obtaining the correct finished measurements and fit, and knitters are encouraged to swatch and check gauge before beginning the project. The pattern provides six size options with graduated measurements to accommodate a range of body sizes and fit preferences.