Cavetto Popover in Berroco Merino 401 - Downloadable PDF

Cavetto Popover Vest Knitting Pattern in Berroco Merino 401

The Cavetto is a pullover vest designed by Mel Kennelly and published by Berroco. Worked in the brand's Berroco Merino 401 yarn, this intermediate-level knitting pattern produces a relaxed, wearable vest with a polished finish. The pattern is available as a downloadable PDF, making it instantly accessible for knitters ready to cast on.

What Is Being Made

The Cavetto is a sleeveless pullover vest — sometimes called a popover — designed with a comfortable, relaxed silhouette. It is constructed in two separate pieces worked bottom up, meaning knitters begin at the hem and work upward toward the shoulders. The recommended ease is approximately 2–6 inches / 5–15 cm of positive ease, giving the finished garment a relaxed, slightly oversized drape over the body.

The pattern offers an impressive range of ten sizes, with finished body circumferences spanning from 34¼ inches / 87 cm up to 76½ inches / 194.5 cm, making it accessible to a wide range of body types. Finished lengths range from 22 to 24 inches / 56–61 cm depending on size. The sample shown in the pattern is knitted in size 42¾ inches / 108.5 cm.

Construction Techniques

The Cavetto uses several thoughtful construction methods that place it firmly in the intermediate skill level category. Key techniques include:

• Bottom-up construction: Both the front and back pieces are worked separately from the cast-on edge upward, a classic approach that gives knitters clear structural control over shaping.
• Short row shoulder shaping: Shoulders are shaped using short rows, a technique that creates smooth, angled shoulder seams without the stair-step appearance of traditional bind-off shaping. Short rows require the knitter to turn mid-row and work back, gradually building up fabric in specific areas.
• Three-needle bind off: Once both pieces are complete, the shoulders are joined using a three-needle bind off, a technique that simultaneously seams and binds off two sets of live stitches, creating a neat and sturdy shoulder join without a separate seaming step.
• Seam panel construction: The side seams are attached by a panel, adding a distinctive structural and potentially decorative element to the vest's silhouette.
• Stitch marker usage: The pattern calls for both removable stitch markers and fixed stitch markers — four of each — indicating careful tracking of shaping sections, pattern repeats, or construction points throughout the knitting process.
• Blocking: Gauge is measured after blocking, meaning wet or steam blocking is an essential finishing step to achieve accurate dimensions. This is especially important with a merino yarn, which blooms and evens out beautifully when washed and laid flat to dry.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch used throughout the body of the Cavetto is Stockinette stitch (St st), the classic knit-on-the-right-side, purl-on-the-wrong-side fabric that produces a smooth, flat surface ideal for showcasing the natural sheen and drape of a merino yarn. The gauge is set at 20 stitches and 25 rows to 4 inches / 10 cm in Stockinette stitch using the larger needle size.

Additional stitch textures or ribbing are implied by the use of two different needle sizes and references to working "in pattern as established," suggesting that ribbing or a textured border stitch is used at the hems or neckline, as is typical for a polished vest construction. The combination of smooth Stockinette with structured edging details gives the Cavetto a clean, contemporary look.

Materials: Yarn

The pattern calls for Berroco Merino 401, a worsted weight yarn sold in 50-gram balls. The colorway shown in the sample is #11267 Gingerbread, a warm, earthy tone that suits the relaxed, everyday nature of the vest. Depending on size, the pattern requires between 7