Marca Ruana in Berroco Modern Cotton DK - 3-4 - Downloadable PDF

Marca Ruana in Berroco Modern Cotton DK – Knitting Pattern by Amy Palmer

The Marca Ruana is a generously sized, wearable wrap designed by Amy Palmer and published by Berroco as part of Portfolio Vol. 3. Rated intermediate in difficulty, this knitting pattern produces a finished piece measuring approximately 60 inches long by 50 inches wide, making it a dramatic, enveloping garment that drapes beautifully over the shoulders. A ruana is a poncho-like cape with an open front, offering both warmth and style, and this design achieves its visual interest through a combination of colorwork and a textured pattern stitch worked across a large number of stitches.

What Is Being Made

The Marca Ruana is a one-size cape or poncho-style wrap constructed in panels worked flat. The finished dimensions of approximately 60 by 50 inches make it a substantial, cozy garment suitable for layering over everyday outfits. The open-front ruana silhouette is a classic design rooted in South American textile traditions, and this modern interpretation uses a repeating textured stitch pattern combined with color changes to create visual depth and movement across the fabric.

Construction and Techniques

The pattern is worked flat, meaning stitches are worked back and forth in rows rather than in the round. However, because the stitch count is very large — the Left Panel alone begins with a cast-on of 270 stitches — a circular needle is used to accommodate the high number of stitches, even though the knitting itself proceeds flat. This is a common and practical technique for large flat pieces such as shawls, ruanas, and blankets.

The construction is panel-based, with distinct sections worked separately and then finished. Color changes are introduced at specific row intervals, creating horizontal bands of contrasting color that add structure and visual rhythm to the overall design.

Pattern Stitch and Stitches Used

The primary stitch pattern is a six-row repeat Pattern Stitch worked over a multiple of 3 stitches. The stitch sequence is as follows:

• Rows 1 and 3 (RS): Knit across.
• Rows 2 and 4: Purl across.
• Row 5: A textured row using a distinctive technique — K3tog without dropping the stitches off the left-hand needle, yarn over, then knit the same 3 stitches together again, repeated across the row. This creates a gathered, bobble-like texture with a lace-adjacent quality.
• Row 6: Purl across.

The key stitches involved include knit, purl, k3tog (knit three together), and yarn over (yo). The k3tog-yo combination in Row 5 is the defining feature of the pattern, producing a subtle three-dimensional texture across the fabric surface. This technique is approachable for intermediate knitters who are comfortable with basic decrease and yarn-over maneuvers.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern calls for Berroco Modern Cotton DK, a yarn sold in 100-gram hanks. The colorway breakdown is as follows:

• 6 hanks of #6645 Point Judith — the main color (MC)
• 3 hanks of #6611 Rocky Point — the first contrast color (CC1)
• 1 hank of #6603 Piper — the second contrast color (CC2)

Berroco Modern Cotton DK is a DK weight yarn, which sits between sport and worsted weight, offering a fabric that is lightweight yet substantial — ideal for a large wrap that needs to drape well without being overly heavy. The cotton content gives the finished ruana a breathable, relaxed hand, making it suitable for transitional seasons.

Needles and Gauge

The pattern requires both a 48-inch circular needle and a 29-inch circular needle, both in size 8 (5.00 mm), or the size