Berroco Melora PDF

Berroco Melora Cardigan – Knitting Pattern by Alison Green

The Berroco Melora is a beautifully detailed women's cardigan designed by Alison Green and published by Berroco. Available as a downloadable PDF, this intermediate-level knitting pattern produces an open-front cardigan with elegant lace and textural stitch patterning. The design is offered in a generous size range, with finished bust measurements spanning (36, 40, 44) [48, 52, 56, 60] {64, 68, 72} inches, and a recommended positive ease of approximately 4–6 inches, making it a relaxed, flattering fit across a wide range of body types. The sample shown was knitted in the 40-inch size.

Construction and Techniques

Melora uses a thoughtful combination of construction methods that keep the knitting engaging from cast-on to finishing. The cardigan is worked bottom-up, beginning at the lower edge and building upward toward the shoulders. The body is knitted in one piece to the underarm, worked flat on circular needles, which minimizes seaming and creates a cohesive fabric. At the underarm, the work is divided, and the left front, right front, and back are each completed separately up to the shoulders.

The sleeves are a standout construction detail: rather than being knitted separately and seamed in, they are picked up from the armhole and worked downward in the round on double-pointed needles, resulting in a fully seamless sleeve. This combination of working flat for the body and in the round for the sleeves is a hallmark of modern garment construction, offering both structural integrity and a polished finish.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The pattern incorporates a rich variety of stitches that give Melora its distinctive textural character. Key techniques include:

• Lace patterning – decorative openwork stitches that create an airy, feminine quality in the fabric
• Twisted rib stitches – including k1tbl (knit one through the back loop), which adds definition and elasticity
• Traveling stitches – specifically T2R (twist 2 right) and T2L (twist 2 left), worked with a cable needle, creating subtle diagonal movement and texture without full cable crossings
• Purl stitches used as background fabric to set off the textural and lace elements
• Stitch markers – six markers are used throughout to track pattern repeats and construction points

The combination of traveling stitches and lace within a single pattern gives Melora a sophisticated, heirloom-quality appearance while remaining accessible to an intermediate knitter willing to work from a multi-row repeat.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern calls for Berroco Meraki, a DK weight yarn sold in 50-gram balls. The featured colorway is #6013 Cherish. Depending on size, the pattern requires between 6 and 13 balls, making it a manageable yardage commitment for most sizes. Gauge is set at 21 stitches and 32 rows over 4 inches in pattern stitch on the larger needles, measured after blocking — an important note, as blocking is essential to fully open the lace and even out the traveling stitch sections.

The required needles include 32-inch US size 5 (3.75 mm) and US size 6 (4 mm) circular needles, as well as one set each of double-pointed needles in the same two sizes for the sleeves. Additional notions include a cable needle, six stitch markers, and waste yarn for holding stitches at the underarms during construction.

Finished Dimensions

• Bust: 36–72 inches / 91.5–183 cm (includes front opening)
• Length: 16½–20 inches /