Cabrera in Berroco - Downloadable PDF

Cabrera Knitting Pattern by the Berroco Design Team – A Detailed Summary

The Cabrera pattern, designed by the Berroco Design Team, is an intermediate-level knitting pattern for a women's pullover top. Offered as a downloadable PDF, this design is worked in DK-weight yarn and delivers a polished, wearable result suited to knitters who are comfortable moving beyond the basics. The garment is a versatile knitted top with a thoughtfully constructed silhouette, sized across a wide range of bust measurements to ensure an inclusive and flattering fit.

Garment Overview and Sizing

Cabrera is a knitted top designed with positive ease for a relaxed, comfortable drape. The recommended ease is approximately 2–6 inches (5–15 cm), making it ideal for a gently oversized or eased fit rather than a close-to-body silhouette. The pattern is shown in size 38¼" / 97 cm bust, and the full size range spans nine sizes:

• Bust: 38¼, 41¾, 46, 50, 54¼, 57¾, 62, 66, and 70¼ inches (97–178.5 cm)
• Length: 22 to 25 inches (56–63.5 cm), varying by size

This generous size range makes Cabrera an accessible and inclusive pattern for a wide variety of body types, and the incremental length adjustments across sizes reflect careful attention to proportional fit.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern calls for Berroco Lumi, a DK-weight yarn sold in 50-gram balls. The sample shown is knitted in colorway #8125 Plum Island, a rich, moody tone that highlights the yarn's character beautifully. Depending on size, the pattern requires between 7 and 13 balls of Berroco Lumi, making yardage planning straightforward.

Berroco Lumi is a distinctive yarn choice — its name suggests a luminous quality, which can add subtle visual interest and a refined finish to a knitted fabric. Working with a DK-weight yarn at this gauge produces a fabric that is substantial yet drapey, making it well-suited to a wearable top intended for year-round use.

Needles and Notions

The construction of Cabrera requires a small collection of needle types and notions, reflecting the pattern's intermediate complexity and its use of multiple knitting techniques:

• Primary knitting needles: Size 5 / 3.75 mm (or size needed to obtain gauge)
• 16-inch circular needle: Size 4 / 3.5 mm, used for finishing or collar/neckline details
• Double-pointed needles (DPNs): Size 4 / 3.5 mm, 2 needles required
• 2 stitch markers
• 1 stitch holder
• Waste yarn for a provisional cast-on

The inclusion of a provisional cast-on is a notable construction detail. This technique involves casting on stitches temporarily using waste yarn so that the live stitches can be picked up later — often used when two sections of knitting need to be joined seamlessly, or when a hem or edge is worked in the opposite direction. This elevates the pattern beyond beginner level and is one of the reasons it carries an intermediate skill rating.

Techniques and Stitches

While the pattern is grounded in the foundational knitting stitch of Stockinette stitch (St st), the construction details suggest a more nuanced and technique-rich project overall. Key techniques referenced in the pattern include:

• Stockinette stitch — the primary fabric stitch, creating a smooth, classic knitted surface
• Provisional cast-on — a temporary cast-on using waste yarn, allowing live stitches to be retrieved later for seamless construction or directional knitting
• Circular knitting — the use of a 16-inch circular needle indicates that at least one section, likely the neckline