Montserrat Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Montserrat Cardigan in Berroco Liana

What Is Being Made

The Montserrat Cardigan is a classic knitted cardigan sweater designed by Amy Christoffers, featured in Berroco Book #416. This intermediate-level project creates a sophisticated, wearable garment available in nine sizes ranging from 36" to 68" bust circumference, with finished lengths between 25" and 28" depending on size selection. The cardigan is shown in size 44" and features a modern construction method that maximizes efficiency and minimizes seaming.

Knitting Techniques Used

The Montserrat Cardigan employs several intermediate knitting techniques that add visual interest and structural integrity to the finished garment:

• One-piece body construction: The body is knitted as a single piece from the cast-on edge up to the underarms, which reduces the number of seams and creates a more seamless finished product compared to traditional piece-by-piece assembly.
• Short-row shaping: Shoulders are shaped using short rows, a technique that creates gradual increases or decreases in width without adding bulk, resulting in a more fitted and professional-looking shoulder line.
• Garter stitch edging: Four stitches at each end of the body are maintained in Garter stitch throughout, creating a neat, non-curling border that frames the main fabric.
• Reverse stockinette stitch: The primary fabric pattern uses Reverse stockinette stitch, which creates a subtle textured surface and is the main visual feature of the cardigan.
• Wrap pickup technique: The pattern includes wrap pickup during short-row shaping, a method used to eliminate holes and create invisible decreases in the fabric.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The Montserrat Cardigan uses a straightforward but elegant combination of fundamental knitting stitches:

• Garter stitch: Created by knitting every row, this stitch forms the 4-stitch borders on each side of the body and creates a textured, reversible fabric that naturally lies flat without curling.
• Reverse stockinette stitch: The dominant stitch pattern, created by purling on the right side and knitting on the wrong side, produces a subtle bumpy texture that gives the cardigan visual depth and sophistication.
• Stockinette stitch variations: The pattern involves working stitches in specific sequences to create the shaping and structure needed for a fitted cardigan.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The Montserrat Cardigan is designed to be worked with specific materials that ensure proper drape, durability, and finished measurements:

• Yarn: Berroco Liana, a yarn that comes in 50-gram hanks. The pattern calls for 6 to 13 hanks depending on size, with the sample shown in size 44" requiring 8 hanks. The cardigan is pictured in colorway #8274 Honeysuckle, a warm, inviting shade. Berroco recommends using the exact yarn specified in the pattern to ensure accurate gauge and finished measurements.
• Needles: The project requires 36" circular needles in two sizes: size 3 (3.25 mm) for the initial cast-on and ribbing, and size 5 (3.75 mm) for the main body. Circular needles are used for their ability to accommodate large stitch counts and allow for seamless one-piece construction. Knitters should select needles that produce the correct gauge with their chosen yarn.
• Additional notions: A spare needle of any type is needed for the three-needle bind-off technique used to finish the shoulders. A tapestry needle facilitates seaming and weaving in ends, while waste yarn is used to temporarily hold stitches during construction.

Gauge and Sizing

Achieving the correct gauge is essential for this intermediate project. The pattern specifies a gauge of 24 stitches and 30 rows over 4 inches when working Reverse stockinette stitch with the larger needles. Knitters are strongly encouraged to knit a gauge swatch and measure carefully before beginning, as variance in gauge will directly affect the finished bust measurement and length of the cardigan. The pattern offers nine size options with recommended positive ease of 4 to 8 inches, allowing for comfortable, relaxed fit.

Construction Notes

The Montserrat Cardigan uses an efficient construction method that minimizes finishing work. The body is worked