Needed a nice, basic, black cardi. Chose Hanna’s featherweight because 7000+ people can’t be wrong, right?
Used 3.5 needle for body & ribbing, 4 for sleeves (tend to magic loop tighter) and 3 for rolling edges.

Here’s what I did:

Body

• CO 48 st (front 2, sleeves 4, back 36)
• CO 10 st for underarm
• Waist shaping (princess seam): k18 pm, k11 pm, k50 pm, k11 pm, k18
• Dec 6 times every 8 rows (k to 2 st bef m, k 2 tog, slm, k to m sl m ssk) 2x,
• Work even for 24 rows
• Increased 2 times every 8 rows (k to m rli, slm, k to m, slm, lli)
• 1x1 rib for 12 rows, place st on holder

Sleeves

• PU 10 st from underarm (58 st)
• Work even for 20 rounds
• Dec every 12th round

Collar

• PU 288 st (126 front, 36 neckline)
• Next row (WS) k tbl to tighten
• Next row 1x1 rib, dec 4 st from neckline, pm at raglan seams (32 st apart)
• Short rows to raise back of the neck, 5 pairs, 5 st intervals outside markers
• At the same time dec 1 st inside markers every 6 rows, 4 times

I really liked Brooklineknitter’s edges, so followed her notes for finishing: finished the collar with a rolling edge (3 rows st st before BO),transfered the hem st from waste yarn to a needle, picking up st along the ribbing, 3 rows of st st before BO.

It turned out exactly as had envisioned, and I’m really happy with my little black, basic cardi. The shaping and short rows at the back of the neck and the waist shaping ensured a great fit, and I’m sure I’m gonna wear it often.