Leisl Pullover in Berroco Modern Cotton - 3-13 - Downloadable PDF

Leisl Pullover in Berroco Modern Cotton – Knitting Pattern Summary

What You Are Making

The Leisl Pullover is a classic women's knitted pullover sweater designed by Véronik Avery and published by Berroco as part of their Portfolio Vol. 3 collection. This seamed, bottom-up sweater features a structured silhouette with cable detailing, making it a timeless wardrobe staple. The pattern is available as a downloadable PDF and is rated Intermediate in difficulty, making it well-suited for knitters who are comfortable with basic shaping and ready to tackle cable work.

The finished bust measurement ranges from 35 to 54 inches across seven sizes (35", 38", 41½", 44½", 48", 51", and 54"), and the garment is designed with approximately 2–4 inches of positive ease for a comfortable, relaxed fit. Finished lengths range from 22 to 24 inches depending on the size chosen.

Construction Techniques

The Leisl Pullover is constructed using a bottom-up, seamed, worked-flat method. This means each major piece — the back, front, and sleeves — is knitted separately on straight needles from the cast-on edge upward, then assembled by seaming. This traditional construction approach gives knitters precise control over fit and finishing, and the seams themselves add structural stability to the garment. Working flat is ideal for knitters who prefer to see their work laid out in rows rather than in the round.

Cables and Stitch Techniques

A key design feature of the Leisl Pullover is its cable panel, which runs as a charted motif across portions of the fabric. The gauge over the cable chart is 21 stitches over 2¾ inches on the larger needles, which is notably denser than the stockinette gauge, reflecting the inherent draw-in of cable fabric. A cable needle (cn) is required to work the cable crossings.

The pattern also introduces two specialized decrease stitches defined in the stitch glossary:

• LDD (Left Double Decrease): A two-stitch decrease that leans to the left, worked by slipping two stitches onto a cable needle held to the front, then knitting them together with corresponding stitches from the left-hand needle.
• RDD (Right Double Decrease): A two-stitch decrease that leans to the right, worked similarly but with the cable needle held to the back, creating a mirrored effect to the LDD.

These directional double decreases are used for shaping and add a polished, intentional lean to the fabric's construction. The main body fabric is worked in stockinette stitch (St st), which forms the backdrop for the cable panel detailing.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette stitch – the primary body fabric
• Cable stitches – worked from a chart, requiring a cable needle
• LDD (Left Double Decrease) – directional two-stitch decrease leaning left
• RDD (Right Double Decrease) – directional two-stitch decrease leaning right
• Ribbing – implied by the use of a smaller circular needle for finishing edges such as the neckband

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The pattern calls for Berroco Modern Cotton, a worsted weight yarn sold in 100-gram hanks. The colorway shown in the sample is #1656 Napatree. Depending on the size being knitted, you will need between 5 and 10 hanks — specifically 5 hanks for the smallest size up to 10 hanks for the largest. Berroco Modern Cotton is a contemporary yarn known for its smooth stitch definition, making it an excellent choice for showcasing cable textures.

Two needle sizes are required:

• Straight needles, size 8 (5.00 mm) – or the size needed to achieve gauge – used for the main body and sleeves
• 24-inch circular needle, size 6 (4