Maeve Cardigan in Berroco Paperie - Downloadable PDF

Maeve Cardigan in Berroco Paperie – Knitting Pattern Summary

The Maeve Cardigan is a beautifully relaxed, open-front cardigan designed by Åsa Buchta and published by Berroco. Available as a downloadable PDF, this intermediate-level knitting pattern offers nine sizes with a finished waist circumference ranging from 32½ inches up to 71 inches, making it an exceptionally inclusive design that suits a wide range of body types. The garment is shown in size 32½ inches, modeled with approximately 2 inches of positive ease at the waist, and the recommended ease is 0–2 inches of positive ease.

What Is Being Made

The Maeve is a dolman-sleeve cardigan — a style characterized by its wide, sweeping sleeves that are cut as one continuous piece with the body rather than set in separately. This construction creates a relaxed, draped silhouette with a generous fit through the upper body and arms, while the waist measurement remains the primary fitting reference. Because of the dolman sleeve design, the bust measurement is described as very forgiving, making size selection straightforward. The cardigan is open at the front, lending it a versatile, layerable quality suitable for a range of casual and semi-dressed occasions.

Sizes and Fit

The pattern is written in nine sizes, grouped as follows:

• Sizes 1–3: Waist circumferences of 32½, 37, and 42 inches (82.5, 94, and 106.5 cm)
• Sizes 4–6: Waist circumferences of 47, 51½, and 56½ inches (119.5, 131, and 143.5 cm)
• Sizes 7–9: Waist circumferences of 61, 66, and 71 inches (155, 167.5, and 180.5 cm)

Finished lengths range from 17½ inches to 21½ inches depending on the size selected. Knitters are advised to choose their size based on the waist circumference rather than the bust, given the forgiving nature of the dolman sleeve construction.

Yarn: Berroco Paperie

The pattern calls for Berroco Paperie, a worsted-weight yarn sold in 50-gram balls. The sample shown is knitted in colorway #9071 Jungle Vine. Depending on the size being knitted, the pattern requires between 7 and 16 balls of Berroco Paperie, with smaller sizes requiring fewer balls and larger sizes requiring more.

Berroco Paperie is a distinctive yarn known for its unique fiber composition that incorporates paper alongside other fibers, giving it a subtly textured, slightly crisp hand with excellent stitch definition. Its worsted weight makes it a practical choice for a cardigan of this style — substantial enough to provide warmth and structure while remaining light and drapey enough to suit the relaxed dolman silhouette of the Maeve design.

Needles and Tools

The pattern requires two needle sizes:

• Size 7 / 4.5 mm circular needles, 32 inches / 80 cm in length — typically used for ribbing, borders, or finishing details
• Size 9 / 5.5 mm circular needles, 32 inches / 80 cm in length — used for the main body of the cardigan to achieve the correct gauge
• A set of double-pointed needles or the knitter's preferred method for working in the round in small circumferences, such as for sleeve or cuff sections

As with all knitting patterns, knitters are encouraged to swatch and adjust needle size as needed to obtain the correct gauge before beginning the project.

Techniques and Construction

As an intermediate-level pattern, the Maeve Cardigan is well-suited to knitters who have moved beyond the basics and are comfortable with a variety of techniques. The dolman sleeve construction is a key feature — rather than requiring complex set-in sleeve shaping or separate sleeve seaming, the sleeves flow organically from the body, which can simplify certain aspects of construction while introducing its own shaping considerations.

Knitters