Bena Top in Berroco Indigo - Downloadable PDF

Bena Top in Berroco Indigo — Knitting Pattern Summary

About This Pattern

The Bena Top is a women's pullover top designed by Emily Nora O'Neil and published by Berroco as part of Booklet #371. It is available as a downloadable PDF and is rated Intermediate in skill level. The design features a relaxed, comfortable silhouette with approximately 4 to 6 inches of positive ease, making it a flattering and breathable warm-weather knit. The pattern is shown in size 40 inches finished bust measurement.

Sizing and Finished Measurements

The Bena Top is offered in six sizes with the following finished measurements:

• Bust: 34½, 40, 45½, 51, 56, or 60¾ inches
• Length: 21½, 22, 22½, 23, 23½, or 24 inches

Knitters are encouraged to take the generous ease into account when selecting their size, as this garment is intentionally designed to be worn with extra room through the body.

What Is Being Made

The Bena Top is a lightweight, relaxed pullover top constructed in separate back and front pieces and seamed. It features structured stitch patterning worked in panels using multiple charted sections, creating visual texture and interest across the body of the garment. The armholes are shaped by marking rows rather than binding off stitches at the sides, giving the top a clean, minimalist silhouette. Shoulder shaping is worked at the upper edge, and the neckline is finished with a circular needle for a neat, polished result.

Techniques Used

• Flat knitting worked back and forth on straight needles for the main body pieces
• Chart reading — three separate stitch charts (Chart 1, Chart 2, and Chart 3) are used in sequence to create the textured patterning across the body
• Stitch increases and decreases worked evenly across rows when transitioning between chart sections, ensuring proper stitch counts for each pattern repeat
• Armhole shaping using row markers rather than traditional bind-off shaping at the sides
• Shoulder shaping via bind-off rows at the upper back and front
• Neckline finishing worked in the round on a circular needle for a smooth, even edge
• Blocking — explicitly required to achieve the stated gauge, making wet or steam blocking an essential finishing step for this pattern

Stitches Used

• Charted stitch patterns — three distinct charts provide the primary surface texture of the garment; the exact stitch composition of each chart is detailed within the PDF
• Knit stitch — several rows of plain knitting are worked between chart sections as transitional bands
• Increases and decreases used to adjust stitch counts between pattern sections
• Bind-off for shoulder and neckline shaping

Materials Required

This pattern is designed specifically for Berroco Indigo, a worsted weight yarn sold in 100-gram hanks. The recommended colorway shown in the pattern is #6431 Cargo. The quantity required varies by size:

• 4 hanks — smallest size
• 5 hanks — second size
• 6 hanks — third and fourth sizes
• 7 hanks — fifth size
• 8 hanks — largest size

Needles and Notions

• Straight knitting needles, size US 7 (4.50 mm) — primary needles for the body; adjust as needed to achieve gauge
• 16-inch circular knitting needle, size US 6 (4.00 mm) — used for neckline finishing
• 1 st