Carden in Berroco Zinnia - Downloadable PDF

Carden Cardigan in Berroco Zinnia — Pattern Summary

The Carden is a thoughtfully designed women's cardigan created by the Berroco Design Team. Worked in the lightweight and versatile Berroco Zinnia DK-weight yarn, this intermediate-level knitting pattern produces a wearable, flattering top with a slightly shorter front hem — a subtle design detail that adds a modern, relaxed silhouette. The pattern is available as a downloadable PDF, making it immediately accessible for knitters ready to cast on.

What Is Being Made

The Carden is a pullover-style knitted top sized across a wide range of bust measurements, spanning from 33½ inches up to 70 inches of finished bust circumference. The pattern offers ten sizes in total, grouped across three brackets, making it genuinely inclusive in its sizing range. The back length ranges from approximately 22½ to 25½ inches depending on size, while the front is intentionally cut 1 inch shorter than the back, creating a clean, contemporary hi-lo effect. The pattern recommends 2 to 4 inches of positive ease, giving the finished garment a comfortable, relaxed fit. The sample shown in the pattern photography is knitted in size 38 inches.

Yarn and Materials

The specified yarn is Berroco Zinnia, a DK-weight yarn sold in 50-gram balls. The colorway used in the pattern is #7131 Bay, a rich, tonal shade that showcases the drape and stitch definition of the yarn beautifully. Depending on the size being knitted, the pattern calls for between 5 and 11 balls of Berroco Zinnia, making it a relatively efficient project in the smaller sizes while still being a satisfying, substantial knit in the larger ones.

• Yarn: Berroco Zinnia, DK weight, 50 g per ball, color #7131 Bay
• Circular Needle: 32-inch / 80 cm circular needle, size 6 / 4 mm, or size needed to obtain gauge
• Crochet Hook: size 3 mm (D) — used for finishing or edging details
• Notions: 2 stitch markers in different colors, waste yarn to hold stitches

Gauge

Achieving accurate gauge is essential for a well-fitting finished garment. The pattern specifies a gauge of 21 stitches and 30 rows over 4 inches / 10 cm in Stockinette stitch. Knitters are strongly encouraged to swatch and block before beginning, as even small gauge variations can significantly affect the finished measurements across such a wide size range.

Techniques Used

The Carden is rated as an intermediate knitting project, meaning it is well-suited for knitters who have moved beyond basic scarves and simple rectangles and are comfortable with shaping, reading multi-size patterns, and working with stitch markers. The use of a 32-inch circular needle suggests the body may be worked flat or in the round, with the circular needle accommodating the full width of the fabric comfortably. The inclusion of waste yarn to hold stitches indicates the use of a technique such as placing live stitches on hold — commonly used at underarms or necklines when constructing seamless or partially seamless garments.

The crochet hook called for in the notions list points to a crochet finishing technique, such as a slip-stitch edging, single-crochet border, or crochet seaming method. This is a common approach in knitting patterns to create clean, stable edges along button bands, necklines, or hems without the bulk of a knitted border. Knitters who are not experienced with basic crochet may wish to practice a simple slip stitch or single crochet before beginning the finishing stages of this project.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette Stitch (St st): The primary stitch pattern used throughout the body of the Carden, creating a smooth, classic knitted fabric with excellent drape — particularly well-suited to the DK-weight