Skylark Cardigan in Berroco Corsica - Downloadable PDF

Skylark Cardigan in Berroco Corsica — Pattern Summary

About This Design

The Skylark Cardigan is an intermediate-level knitting pattern designed by Emily Nora O'Neil and published by Berroco. It is a button-front cardigan worked primarily in one piece from the bottom up, featuring a structured silhouette with a fitted ribbed hem, charted stitch patterning, and set-in or shaped sleeves worked flat. The pattern is available as a downloadable PDF and is part of Berroco Booklet #370.

The Skylark Cardigan is shown in a 36" finished bust measurement and is offered across a wide range of sizes, with a finished closed bust spanning 33, 36, 39, 42, 45, 48, 51, and 54 inches. The design is intended to be worn with approximately 2 to 4 inches of positive ease, so knitters are encouraged to select their size with that in mind rather than matching their exact body measurement. Finished lengths range from 19½ to 23 inches depending on size, making this a classic, hip-grazing cardigan length well suited to everyday wear.

Construction Method

The body of the Skylark Cardigan is constructed in one piece on a circular needle, which minimizes seaming and helps maintain consistent stitch patterning across the front and back panels. The work is then divided at the armholes for the back and two front sections, which are each completed separately. This approach is a hallmark of efficient, modern knitting construction and is ideal for intermediate knitters looking to build their skills with seamless-style techniques while still working some flat sections.

The sleeves are worked flat, meaning they are knitted back and forth in rows rather than in the round, and are seamed into the armhole openings. Stitches are held on waste yarn at various stages of construction, a technique that keeps live stitches safely aside while other sections are completed. Neck shaping is achieved through bind-offs and decreases worked at the upper fronts, creating a clean, tailored neckline.

Stitches and Techniques Used

• Stockinette stitch (St st) — the primary fabric of the cardigan body and sleeves, creating a smooth, classic knit surface
• Seed stitch or k1, p1 ribbing — used for the lower hem band, worked over approximately 2 inches to create a neat, slightly elasticized edge that lies flat
• Charted stitch patterns — the pattern references Chart 1 and Chart 2, which are worked across designated stitch counts and introduce textural or decorative detail to the fabric; the charts are sized differently depending on the size being knitted
• Increases and decreases — used throughout for shaping the body, armholes, sleeves, and neckline
• Neck shaping via bind-offs — structured bind-offs on the wrong side create the shaped front neckline
• Stitch markers — used to delineate pattern sections and aid in tracking chart repeats and shaping points
• Buttonhole construction — the pattern accommodates six 1-inch buttons, requiring worked buttonholes along one of the front bands

Yarn and Materials

The Skylark Cardigan is knitted in Berroco Corsica, a DK weight yarn sold in 50-gram balls. The sample shown uses colorway #3647 Fargo. Depending on the size, the pattern calls for 7 to 13 balls of Berroco Corsica, with larger sizes naturally requiring more yardage. Berroco Corsica is a smooth, polished yarn well suited to showcasing both the clean lines of stockinette fabric and the detail of charted stitch patterns.

The pattern calls for 29-inch circular knitting needles in two sizes: US 4 (3.50 mm) and US 5 (3.75 mm). The smaller needle is used for the ribbed hem and any border sections, while the larger needle is used for the main body fabric. Knitters are strongly advised to swatch and adjust needle size as needed to achieve the specified gauge. Additional materials include two stitch markers, waste yarn