Peach Blossom Cardigan in Berroco Vintage DK and Aerial Degrade - Downloadable PDF

Peach Blossom Cardigan in Berroco Vintage DK and Berroco Aerial Dégradé

The Peach Blossom Cardigan is a beautifully crafted crochet cardigan designed by Mel Kennelly and published by Berroco as a downloadable PDF pattern. This elegant, relaxed-fit cardigan is worked flat in one seamless piece from cuff to cuff, then seamed, making it a satisfying and approachable project for intermediate crocheters. The design is notable for its use of two yarns held together throughout, creating a subtle, luminous texture thanks to the pairing of a solid DK weight yarn with a delicate lace-weight gradient yarn.

What Is Being Made

The Peach Blossom is an open-front cardigan designed to be worn open, as shown in the sample. Its construction spans from cuff to cuff in a single flat piece, giving it a graceful, draped silhouette. After the main body is seamed, the collar and cuffs are picked up and worked separately, adding refined finishing details. Optional modifications for the collar are also included in the pattern, allowing for some creative personalization.

The cardigan is available in six sizes — labeled (1, 2, 3) [4, 5, 6] — designed to fit bust sizes ranging from 28–34" up to 60–64" (approximately 71–162.5 cm). Finished bust measurements (worn open, measured back width x 2 from cuff to cuff) range from 52" to 109" (132–277 cm), and finished lengths range from approximately 25¾" to 29¼" (65.5–74.5 cm). The sample shown was made in Size 1 at 52" / 132 cm.

Techniques Used

• Flat crochet construction: The entire body of the cardigan is worked flat in rows, from cuff to cuff, before assembly.
• Seaming: After the flat piece is complete, the cardigan is seamed to shape the garment.
• Pick-up and work: The collar and cuffs are picked up after assembly and worked directly onto the finished body, ensuring clean, integrated finishing.
• Holding two yarns together: Both the Berroco Vintage DK and the Berroco Aerial Dégradé are held together as a single strand throughout the entire pattern. This technique creates a fabric with added depth, a subtle halo, and the visual interest of the gradient colorway blending with the solid base.
• Chained foundation: The bottom section begins with a long foundation chain, into which the first row of double crochet is worked.
• Blocking: Gauge is measured after blocking, making wet or steam blocking an essential step for achieving accurate finished measurements.
• Optional collar modifications: The pattern includes alternative collar options, offering intermediate crocheters a chance to customize the neckline finish.

Stitches Used

• Double crochet (dc): The primary stitch used throughout the body of the cardigan. The gauge is set at 14 dc and 9 rows = 4" / 10 cm with both yarns held together.
• Chain stitch (ch): Used for the foundation chain and as part of standard turning chain construction throughout the rows.

The reliance on double crochet as the main stitch makes the fabric relatively quick to work up while still producing a fabric with excellent drape — ideal for an open-front cardigan. Double crochet is a fundamental stitch in crochet, taller than single crochet and half double crochet, which contributes to the fluid, airy quality of the finished fabric.

Materials

Yarn

• Berroco Vintage DK (100 g hanks) in colorway #2116 Dove: Required in quantities of (4, 5, 5) [6, 7, 8] hanks depending on size. This yarn is a DK weight yarn, known for its soft, slightly rustic feel with excellent stitch definition.
• Berroco Aerial D