Berroco Agate PDF

Berroco Agate – Knitted Lace Chevron Sweater Pattern by Alison Green

The Berroco Agate is a beautifully crafted knitted pullover sweater designed by Alison Green and published by Berroco. This intermediate-level pattern produces a feminine, textured sweater featuring an eye-catching Chevron lace pattern as its central design element. The finished garment is worked in a lightweight DK weight yarn, making it a versatile layering piece suitable for a wide range of seasons. With ten sizes available, the pattern is inclusive and accessible, offering finished bust measurements ranging from 33½ inches up to 72¾ inches (approximately 85 cm to 185 cm), with a recommended positive ease of 2–4 inches (5–10 cm) for a relaxed, comfortable fit.

What Is Being Made

Agate is a seamed pullover sweater with a structured silhouette. The sample shown in the pattern is knitted in size 37¾ inches / 96 cm. Finished lengths range from approximately 21 to 23¼ inches depending on size, making this a classic, hip-grazing sweater length. The design is distinguished by its repeating chevron lace motif, which adds visual interest and a delicate, airy quality to the fabric without overwhelming the overall structure of the garment.

Construction Techniques

• Bottom-up construction: The sweater is built from the cast-on edge upward, which allows knitters to easily adjust length before reaching the armhole shaping.
• Worked in the round: The body is cast on and joined for working in the round using a 32-inch / 80 cm circular needle, creating seamless fabric in the round for the main body sections.
• Worked flat: Certain sections of the pattern are worked flat, back and forth in rows, particularly during shaping and construction of individual pieces.
• Seamed finishing: Unlike fully seamless sweaters, Agate uses seaming to join components, giving the finished garment a more tailored, structured appearance and added stability at the seams.
• Lace patterning: The signature Chevron Pattern is a 24-round repeat worked over a multiple of 12 stitches, incorporating yarn overs, decreases, and purl rounds to create the characteristic zigzag lace texture.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The pattern makes use of several knitting stitches and techniques that intermediate knitters will find engaging and skill-building:

• Stockinette stitch (St st): Forms the base fabric of the sweater and is used as the gauge reference — 22 stitches and 30 rows = 4 inches / 10 cm after blocking.
• Yarn overs (yo): Used throughout the Chevron Pattern to create the open, lacy eyelets that define the chevron design.
• SSK (slip, slip, knit): A left-leaning decrease used within the lace repeat to shape the chevron points.
• K2tog (knit two together): A right-leaning decrease paired with SSK to create the symmetrical chevron shaping.
• CDD (central double decrease): A centered double decrease that forms the sharp, defined points at the center of each chevron motif, giving the pattern its crisp, geometric look.
• Purl rounds: Rounds 10, 12, 22, and 24 of the Chevron Pattern are worked as purl rounds, creating subtle ridges that add textural contrast and help delineate the two distinct phases of the 24-round repeat.
• Knit rounds: Plain knit rounds alternate with the decorative rounds throughout the pattern, allowing the lace motifs to stand out clearly against a smooth background.

Chevron Pattern Detail

The Chevron Pattern is a 24-round repeat worked over multiples of 12 stitches. It is divided into two distinct phases. The first phase (Rounds 1–12) features yarn overs flanking a central CDD with