Larue Top in Berroco Pima 100 - 385-3 - Downloadable PDF

Larue Top in Berroco Pima 100 – A Knitted Cardigan Pattern by Amy Christoffers

The Larue Top is an elegant knitted cardigan designed by Amy Christoffers and published by Berroco as part of Booklet #385. Available as a downloadable PDF, this intermediate-level pattern offers knitters a sophisticated, wearable layering piece with clean lines and a flattering silhouette. The design is worked in Berroco Pima 100, a luxurious yarn that lends the finished garment a polished, breathable drape ideal for a top or light cardigan.

What Is Being Made

The Larue Top is a button-front cardigan featuring a closed bust measurement ranging from 32 to 60 inches across eight sizes, with a finished length ranging from 21 to 23½ inches depending on the size chosen. The garment was designed with approximately 2–4 inches of ease, making it a relaxed but not oversized fit. The sample shown in the pattern is knitted in size 36". Buttons — between 5 and 6 one-inch buttons depending on size — provide the front closure, adding a classic, refined finishing detail.

Techniques Used

The Larue Top combines two construction approaches that knitters at the intermediate level will find both educational and rewarding:

• Seamless knitting: Portions of the garment are worked in the round, eliminating the need for seaming and creating a smooth, continuous fabric. This technique is particularly popular for yokes, bodies, and sleeves worked without interruption.
• Worked flat: Other sections are knitted back and forth in rows, which is common for front bands, button plackets, and shaped sections that benefit from a flat construction. The combination of seamless and flat techniques is a hallmark of modern, thoughtfully engineered knitwear design.

Stitch markers are used throughout to delineate sections and aid in pattern tracking, and a stitch holder is required to hold live stitches during shaping. The pattern also calls for double-pointed needles (dpns) in addition to circular needles, suggesting small circumference knitting for details such as sleeves or edgings.

Stitches Used

The Larue Top is worked in two primary stitch patterns, each with its own gauge specification:

• Stockinette Stitch (St st): The foundational stitch of the garment, worked at a gauge of 20 stitches and 27 rows to 4 inches on the larger needle. Stockinette creates a smooth, classic knit fabric on the right side with purl bumps on the wrong side, and is widely used in garment construction for its clean appearance and drape.
• Pattern Stitch (Pat St): A textured or decorative stitch pattern unique to this design, worked at a gauge of 27 stitches and 27 rows to 4 inches on the larger needle. The denser stitch count relative to Stockinette suggests a more intricate or compressed texture, adding visual interest to the fabric.

Because the two stitch patterns have different gauges, knitters are strongly encouraged to swatch for both before beginning. As the pattern notes: "To save time, take time to check gauge."

Materials: Yarn, Needles, and Notions

The recommended yarn is Berroco Pima 100, a 4-ply weight yarn sold in 100-gram hanks. The colorway shown in the pattern is #8452 Lavender. Depending on the size being knitted, the pattern requires between 4 and 7 hanks. Berroco Pima 100 is a premium yarn known for its smooth, lustrous finish and lightweight feel, making it an excellent choice for a top or cardigan intended for warmer seasons or layering.

The notions and tools required include:

• 36-inch (or longer) circular needles in size 4 (3.50 mm) and size 7 (4.50 mm), or the size needed to