Bressummer Pullover in Berroco Merino 401 - Downloadable PDF

Bressummer Pullover in Berroco Merino 401 – Knitting Pattern Summary

The Bressummer Pullover is a top-down raglan pullover designed by Åsa Buchta and published by Berroco. Worked seamlessly in the round, this intermediate-level knitting pattern produces a relaxed, cozy sweater with a striking two-color yoke detail. The pattern is available as a downloadable PDF and is sized to fit a wide range of bodies, making it a versatile addition to any knitter's project queue.

What Is Being Made

The finished garment is a classic pullover sweater with raglan yoke shaping, worked from the neck down in one continuous piece. It is designed with generous positive ease of approximately 4–8 inches / 10–20 cm, lending it a comfortable, relaxed silhouette. Finished bust measurements range from 37½ inches up to 71¼ inches (95.5–181 cm) across nine sizes, and the body length ranges from 20 to 24 inches (51–61 cm), measured from the back neck below the ribbing. The sample shown in the pattern photography is knit in size 46" / 117 cm.

Construction Method

The Bressummer is constructed entirely in the round, beginning at the neckline and working downward. The yoke is shaped using raglan increases, a beloved top-down construction technique that creates four diagonal increase lines radiating outward from the neck — one at each raglan seam joining the front, back, and two sleeves. This method allows the knitter to try on the sweater as they go and eliminates the need for seaming at the shoulders.

The neck is shaped using short rows, a technique that adds extra rows to a specific section of knitting without working across the full round. Short rows at the back neck create a gentle curve that raises the back of the neckline for a more comfortable, professional fit. Stitch markers — including one distinct beginning-of-round (BOR) marker — are used throughout to track raglan positions and the start of each round.

After the yoke is complete, stitches for the sleeves are placed on waste yarn to be held while the body is worked in the round to the hem. Sleeves are then picked up and worked in the round from the held stitches, typically on double-pointed needles or a preferred method for small circumferences.

Techniques Used

• Top-down, in-the-round construction — the entire pullover is knit seamlessly from neck to hem
• Raglan yoke shaping — increases worked at four raglan points to shape the upper body and sleeves simultaneously
• Short row neck shaping — adds depth to the back neck for a better fit
• Make 1 Right (M1R) and Make 1 Left (M1L) increases, including purl variants (M1pR and M1pL) used during short row shaping
• Two-color knitting — the pattern uses a main color (MC) and a contrast color (CC) to create yoke patterning
• Ribbing — used at the neck, cuffs, and hem for structure and elasticity
• Holding stitches on waste yarn — a practical technique for separating sleeve stitches from body stitches

Stitches Used

• Stockinette stitch (St st) — the primary stitch pattern used throughout the body and sleeves, worked in the round as all knit stitches
• Ribbing — worked at the neckline, cuffs, and lower body hem for finished edges
• Purl stitches — used during short row shaping rows worked on the wrong side
• Make 1 increases — both knit and purl directional increases (M1R, M1L, M1pR, M1pL) used for raglan and neck shaping

Materials – Yarn, Needles, and Notions

The pattern calls for Berroco Merino