Marquita Sweater in Berroco Pima 100 - 385-5 - Downloadable PDF

Marquita Sweater in Berroco Pima 100 – Pattern Summary (Design 385-5 by Amy Christoffers)

The Marquita Sweater is a women's pullover designed by Amy Christoffers and published by Berroco as part of Booklet #385. This intermediate-level knitting pattern is available as a downloadable PDF and produces a beautifully striped, seamed sweater worked flat from the bottom up. With its clean silhouette and sophisticated color-block stripe detailing, the Marquita is an excellent project for knitters who are comfortable with basic shaping and are ready to explore multi-color construction.

What Is Being Made

The finished garment is a seamed pullover sweater designed for women, shown in a size 40" finished bust. The pattern offers a generous size range to suit a wide variety of figures:

• Finished Bust Measurements: 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, and 60 inches
• Finished Length: 22 to 24 inches, varying by size
• Ease: Approximately 2–4 inches of positive ease, giving the sweater a relaxed, comfortable fit

The Marquita features a classic, wearable shape enhanced by stripe detailing worked in three coordinating colors. The result is a polished, everyday sweater that balances structure with ease.

Techniques Used

This pattern employs several key construction techniques that make it well-suited to intermediate knitters looking to build their skills:

• Bottom-up construction: The sweater is worked from the lower edge upward, a traditional approach that allows knitters to try on the garment as they go and make length adjustments before reaching the armhole shaping.
• Worked flat: All pieces are knitted flat on straight needles, meaning the knitter works back and forth in rows rather than in the round. This is ideal for those who prefer traditional knitting methods.
• Seamed finishing: The individual pieces — typically a front, back, and sleeves — are joined using seaming techniques after knitting is complete. Seaming adds structure and durability to the finished garment.
• Stripe colorwork: The design incorporates stripes using three distinct yarn colors, requiring the knitter to manage color changes cleanly. Carrying yarn up the side or cutting and rejoining at each stripe are both common approaches for this type of work.

Stitches Used

The Marquita Sweater is primarily worked in fundamental knitting stitches, making it approachable for intermediate knitters while still producing a refined result:

• Stockinette stitch (St st): The main fabric of the sweater is worked in stockinette stitch — knit on the right side, purl on the wrong side — creating a smooth, classic surface that showcases the stripe pattern beautifully.
• Ribbing: Ribbed edging is commonly used on Berroco sweater patterns of this type for cuffs, hems, and neckbands to provide elasticity and a neat, professional finish.

Gauge

Achieving the correct gauge is essential for this pattern. The specified gauge is 20 stitches and 27 rows = 4 inches in Stockinette stitch on the larger (size 7 / 4.50 mm) needles. Knitters are strongly encouraged to swatch and adjust needle size as needed before casting on.

Materials – Yarn

The pattern calls for Berroco Pima 100™, a 100-gram hank yarn worked at a 4-ply (fingering/sport) weight. Three colors are used:

• #8470 Goats Beard (MC – Main Color): 3–4 hanks depending on size
• #8406 Stone Crop (CC1 – Contrast Color 1): 3–4 hanks depending on size
• #8419 Dianthus (CC2 – Contrast Color 2): 1–2 hanks depending on size

Berroco Pima 100