Rivea Cardigan in Berroco Fiora - Downloadable PDF

Rivea Cardigan by Emily Nora O'Neil – Knitting Pattern in Berroco Fiora (Downloadable PDF)

About This Pattern

The Rivea Cardigan is an intermediate-level knitting pattern designed by Emily Nora O'Neil and published by Berroco as part of Booklet #372. This downloadable PDF delivers a classic, wearable cardigan with clean lines and a relaxed, comfortable silhouette. The design is worked in Berroco Fiora, a DK-weight yarn, and is sized generously, with approximately 5 to 7 inches of positive ease built into the construction — making it an ideal layering piece with a relaxed, modern fit.

What Is Being Made

The finished garment is a women's knitted cardigan worked in separate pieces and seamed together. It features a structured body with shaped armholes and shoulders, giving it a polished, tailored appearance despite its ease-forward design. The cardigan is shown in size 42 inches with a closed bust measurement, and the pattern offers seven sizes ranging from 39 to 57 inches in finished bust circumference. Finished lengths range from 27½ to 30½ inches depending on size, making it a longer cardigan that provides excellent coverage.

Construction and Techniques

The Rivea Cardigan is constructed using traditional flat knitting techniques, with the back, fronts, and sleeves worked separately before being seamed. Key construction techniques include:

• Armhole shaping achieved through initial bind-offs followed by paired decrease rows on right-side rows
• Shoulder shaping using stepped bind-offs across multiple rows for a smooth, angled shoulder line
• Neck decreases worked in conjunction with shoulder shaping for a clean neckline finish
• Garter stitch border worked at the cast-on edge for approximately 1 inch, providing a neat, non-rolling hem
• Transitioning from a smaller needle border to a larger needle body for proper drape and gauge

Stitches Used

The pattern relies on a small, accessible set of stitches, making it approachable for intermediate knitters who are comfortable with shaping. Stitches and techniques used include:

• Stockinette stitch (St st) — the primary stitch pattern used throughout the body of the cardigan, creating a smooth, classic fabric on the right side
• Garter stitch — used at the lower hem border for approximately 1 inch to provide stability and a tidy edge
• K2tog (knit two together) — a right-leaning decrease used in armhole shaping, shoulder shaping, and neck shaping
• SSK (slip, slip, knit) — a left-leaning decrease paired with k2tog to create symmetrical, mirrored shaping at armholes
• Stitch markers — two markers are used to assist with tracking shaping or pattern placement

Materials Required

The pattern calls for Berroco Fiora, a DK-weight yarn sold in 100-gram hanks. The specific colorway shown is #3805 Georgia. Yardage requirements vary by size:

• 5 hanks for the smallest size (39-inch bust)
• Up to 8 hanks for the largest sizes (54- and 57-inch bust)

Two sizes of straight knitting needles are required:

• Size 4 (3.50 mm) needles for the garter stitch border sections
• Size 5 (3.75 mm) needles for the main body, or the size needed to achieve gauge

The recommended gauge is 22 stitches and 30 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch on the larger needles. Two stitch