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Introducing our charming Barberry Sweater—the latest gem in our floral round yoke collection. This top-down, DK weight wonder is a tribute to the resilient beauty of the barberry plant, with its hardiness mirrored in the deep and rich colourwork that extends beyond the arms, offering both warmth and style.

Crafted for versatility, the Barberry pattern brings you two styles in one: choose between an elegant pullover or a chic cardigan. Each option is an adventure in knitting, featuring eye-catching aesthetics and innovative techniques. Embrace the challenge of managing long floats with the clever ladderback jacquard method, adding a layered dimension to your knitting skills.

Check out the pattern deep-dive video on YouTube.

And for those with a flair for the intricate, explore the art of twined knitting to impart your creation with an exquisite, sophisticated touch. Choosing the cardigan? We’ve got you covered with thorough guidance on seamless seeking, ensuring you’re supported every stitch of the way.

And if you’d like to join a group of knitters who have already made this sweater, feel free to join our Slack community, then find and join the barberrysweater channel.

Difficulty: Intermediate

Sizes: 1 (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)

Finished bust circumference - Pullover:

• 91 (102, 112.5, 120, 132.5, 142, 152.5, 162, 171) cm
• 36¼ (40¾, 45, 48, 53, 56¾, 61, 64¾, 68¼)“

Finished bust circumference - Cardigan:

• 96 (107, 117.5, 125, 137.5, 147, 157.5, 167, 176) cm
• 38¼ (42¾, 47, 50, 55, 58¾, 63, 66¾, 70¼)“

Designed to be worn with 15-20 cm / 6 - 8” positive ease around the chest.
To choose the most appropriate size, measure the wearer’s chest and add the preferred ease. Or measure the circumference of an already-owned sweater/cardigan that fits well. Then find the closest finished chest circumference.

Yarn: DK weight, depending on the option chosen and the length of the garment, allow approximately:

Main colour (MC):

• 880 (960, 1050, 1125, 1220, 1290, 1390, 1440, 1520) m
• 960 (1050, 1150, 1230, 1335, 1415, 1520, 1570, 1660) yds

Contrast colour (CC):

• 245 (260, 275, 295, 305, 340, 355, 390, 405) m
• 265 (285, 300, 325, 335, 375, 390, 430, 445) yds

Yardage is based on the cardigan option and includes a 7-10% allowance for swatching (for both colours).

The yarns used in the sample (cardigan in size 2) is Wool Decanted Vintage 23 DK (100% wool; 112 m 122 yds / 50 g): 9 skeins in Natural Grey as the main colour and 3 skeins in Claret as the contrast colour.

Gauge: 22 sts & 28 rows = 10 cm / 4” in Stockinette stitch and colourwork in the round, blocked.

Suggested needles: 3.25 mm (US 3) circulars 60 - 100 cm / 24 - 40” long and/or DPNs for small circumference knitting or the size needed to obtain gauge.

Notions: Stitch markers, locking stitch markers, row counter, stitch holder, tapestry needle. If making the cardigan, 5-8 buttons of 25 mm / 1” in diameter, a crochet hook, one size smaller than needles, and yarn for steeking.

Techniques used: Trapping floats, short rows, Backwards loop cast-on, steeking, one-row buttonholes.

Notes: The sweater is worked seamlessly in the round from the top down. For the cardigan version, steek stitches are added in the centre of the front. After the body and sleeves are finished, collar stitches are picked up around the neckline and worked in 1x1 rib to double height, folded and attached to the base. For the cardigan version, the steek is reinforced and then cut. 1x1 rib button bands with one-row buttonholes are added last.