Berroco Feldspar PDF - Norah Gaughan Men

Berroco Feldspar Men's Sweater by Norah Gaughan – Knitting Pattern Summary

The Berroco Feldspar is a men's pullover sweater designed by Norah Gaughan and published by Berroco. Available as a downloadable PDF, this pattern is rated Easy in skill level, making it an excellent choice for knitters who are comfortable with basic techniques but looking for a satisfying, wearable project with a polished, classic result. The sweater is shown in size Medium and is sized to fit a wide range of men's measurements.

Sizing and Finished Measurements

The Feldspar sweater is offered in a generous range of sizes to suit many body types:

• Sizes: X-Small, Small, Medium, Large, 1X, and 2X
• Chest circumference: 36(40-44-48-52-56) inches
• Length: 25½(26-26½-26½-27-27) inches

Directions are written for size X-Small, with changes for all larger sizes given in parentheses throughout the pattern. This format is standard in knitting patterns and makes it straightforward to follow along once your size is identified and marked.

Construction and Techniques

The Feldspar sweater is constructed using a bottom-up, worked flat method, meaning the pieces are knitted from the lower hem upward on straight needles and then seamed together to form the finished garment. This traditional construction approach produces clean, structured edges and allows for easy blocking of individual pieces before assembly.

• Bottom-up construction: Work begins at the lower edge of each piece and progresses toward the shoulders, a classic approach that gives knitters natural checkpoints for length adjustments.
• Worked flat: The body and sleeves are knitted back and forth in rows on straight needles rather than in the round, which is well suited to a seamed garment.
• Seamed finishing: Pieces are joined using seaming techniques after knitting is complete, contributing to the garment's structure and durability — particularly important in men's knitwear.
• Stripes: The design incorporates a stripe pattern using two contrasting colors, which is one of the defining visual features of the Feldspar sweater. Stripes are among the most accessible colorwork techniques in knitting, requiring no complex color management such as stranding or intarsia.

Stitch Pattern and Gauge

The sweater is worked in a pattern stitch (referred to in the pattern as Pat St) on the larger needle size. The gauge is:

• 20 stitches = 4 inches
• 32 rows = 4 inches
• Measured in pattern stitch on the larger needles

Achieving the correct gauge is essential in any fitted garment, and the pattern emphasizes this with the standard reminder to take time to check gauge before beginning. A row gauge of 32 rows to 4 inches is relatively dense for a worsted-weight yarn, which may reflect a textured or structured stitch pattern that adds visual interest beyond plain stockinette.

Materials – Yarn

The pattern calls for Berroco Ultra Alpaca, a worsted-weight yarn sold in 100-gram hanks. Two colors are used to create the stripe design:

• Main Color (MC): Berroco Ultra Alpaca #6223 Gneiss — 4(5-5-6-6-7) hanks required depending on size
• Contrast Color (CC): Berroco Ultra Alpaca #6291 Yucca Mix — 4(4-4-5-6-6) hanks required depending on size

Berroco Ultra Alpaca is a beloved yarn in the Berroco lineup, known for its soft hand, subtle sheen, and excellent stitch definition. It is a blend of alpaca and wool, making it warm, breathable, and comfortable against the skin — qualities especially valued in men's sweaters intended for everyday