Vista Cardigan in Berroco Medina - 394-1 - Downloadable PDF

Vista Cardigan in Berroco Medina – Pattern Summary (Donna Yacino, Berroco 394-1)

The Vista Cardigan is a beautifully textured, open-front women's cardigan designed by Donna Yacino and published by Berroco. Knitted in the lightweight and elegant Berroco Medina yarn, this garment is a showcase of delicate lace patterning combined with classic construction techniques. It is rated Intermediate in difficulty, making it an ideal next step for knitters who are comfortable with basic shaping and are ready to explore more intricate stitch patterns.

What Is Being Made

The Vista Cardigan is a seamed, open-front cardigan worked in pieces from the bottom up. The fronts of the garment are intentionally designed not to meet, giving the cardigan a relaxed, draped silhouette. It is available in seven sizes with a finished bust measurement of 36 to 60 inches, and the pattern is designed with approximately 4 to 6 inches of positive ease. Knitters should keep this generous ease in mind when selecting their size. Finished lengths range from 23 to 25½ inches depending on the size chosen.

Construction and Techniques

The Vista Cardigan uses a bottom-up, worked-flat, seamed construction. Each piece — the back, left front, and right front — is knitted separately on straight needles and then seamed together, a method that many intermediate knitters find produces clean, structured edges and a professional finish. A 36-inch or longer circular needle is also called for, likely used for picking up and working border or finishing details.

The defining technique of this pattern is its use of lace. The pattern incorporates three distinct pattern stitches, each with its own gauge, suggesting that the lace motifs vary in density and structure across different sections of the cardigan. This multi-texture approach creates visual interest and a flowing, layered aesthetic that is characteristic of Donna Yacino's design style.

Stitches Used

The pattern is built around three named pattern stitches:

• Pattern Stitch #1 – Gauges at 26 stitches and 32 rows per 4 inches, indicating a relatively open, lace-based fabric.
• Pattern Stitch #2 – Gauges at 26 stitches and 42 rows per 4 inches, a taller, more elongated stitch repeat suggesting a more vertical lace or eyelet structure.
• Pattern Stitch #3 – Gauges at 33 stitches and 48 rows per 4 inches, a denser stitch pattern that likely provides contrast or structure against the more open lace sections.

The variation in row gauge across the three stitch patterns is significant and underscores why checking gauge carefully in each pattern stitch is strongly emphasized in the instructions. Lace knitting typically involves yarn overs, knit-two-togethers (k2tog), and slip-slip-knit (ssk) decreases to create the characteristic open, decorative holes that define the fabric's texture.

Materials – Yarn and Needles

The pattern calls for Berroco Medina, a DK weight yarn sold in 100-gram skeins. The colorway featured in the sample is #4730 Marrakesh. Depending on the size, knitters will need 5 to 9 balls of yarn — smaller sizes require 5 balls, while the largest size (60-inch bust) requires 9 balls. Berroco Medina is the recommended yarn for this pattern, and the designer's instructions note that every effort has been made to ensure accuracy specifically with this yarn in mind.

The needles required are US size 6 (4.00 mm) straight needles for the main pieces, plus a US size 6 (4.00 mm) circular needle, 36 inches or longer, for finishing. As with all knitting patterns, knitters are encouraged to use whatever needle size is necessary to achieve the correct gauge in each of the three pattern stitches.

Who Is This Pattern For?

The Vista Cardigan is best suited for intermediate knitters