Berroco Nacre PDF

Berroco Nacre Crochet Sweater Pattern by Amy Christoffers

The Berroco Nacre is a beautifully crafted crochet sweater designed by Amy Christoffers and published by Berroco. This intermediate-level pattern produces a stunning pullover sweater built entirely from individual crocheted lace squares joined together into a seamed garment. The result is an airy, textured top with an elegant, motif-driven aesthetic that showcases the luminous quality of the recommended yarn. The pattern is available as a downloadable PDF and is suitable for crocheters who are comfortable working in the round, joining motifs, and reading crochet diagrams.

What Is Being Made

Nacre is a seamed crochet sweater constructed from a series of individual granny-style lace squares that are joined as you go to form the body of the garment. The finished sweater has a relaxed, oversized silhouette thanks to a recommended positive ease of 4–8 inches (10–20 cm). It is offered in five sizes with finished bust measurements of 38, 47½, 56½, 66, and 75½ inches (96.5, 120.5, 143.5, 167.5, and 192 cm). The sample shown in the pattern photography is worked in the 47½ inch (120.5 cm) size. Finished lengths range from 18 to 22¾ inches (45.5 to 58 cm) depending on the size chosen, making this a flattering, wearable length for a wide range of body types.

Techniques Used

• Motif construction: Each square begins with a sliding loop (adjustable ring) and is worked in the round to create a small, structured lace square measuring 2¼ x 2¼ inches (5.5 x 5.5 cm) after blocking.
• Join-as-you-go (JAYG): Subsequent squares are joined to previously completed squares during the final round using slip stitches into the corner chain spaces, eliminating the need for extensive seaming of individual motifs. A diagram is provided to guide which sides to join on each square.
• Lace crochet: The squares feature open chain spaces and double crochet clusters that create a delicate, lace-like fabric with excellent drape, especially when worked in a finer-weight yarn and blocked to finished measurements.
• Seamed construction: The overall garment is worked flat in the sense that the individual panels or sections are assembled and seamed together to form the complete sweater structure.
• Blocking: Blocking is an essential finishing step in this pattern. The stated gauge of one square equaling 2¼ x 2¼ inches is measured after blocking, making wet or steam blocking critical to achieving accurate finished measurements.

Stitches Used

• Chain stitch (ch): Used extensively to form the corner spaces (ch-5 and ch-2 spaces) that define the lace structure of each square and provide the joining points between motifs.
• Double crochet (dc): The primary structural stitch of the pattern, worked in groups of three to form the sides of each square. The beginning chain-3 counts as a double crochet throughout.
• Slip stitch (sl st): Used both to join rounds within each square and to connect squares to one another during the join-as-you-go process, specifically by slip stitching into the ch-5 corner spaces of adjacent completed squares.
• Sliding loop / adjustable ring: Each Square 1 begins with a yarn wrapped twice around the finger to create a sliding loop, which allows the center of the motif to be closed tightly after the first round is complete.

Materials: Yarn, Hook, and Notions

The pattern calls for Berroco Isola, a yarn sold in 100-gram balls, in colorway #8932 Ponza. Berroco Isola is a DK weight yarn, which pairs beautifully with the fine hook size required and contributes to the lightweight, drapey character of the finished fabric. Depending on the size being made, the pattern requires between 4 and 10 balls of Berroco