I usually start off designing with an idea for the silhouette or garment features, like neck or sleeve style. But in this case, I started with the color. I love the burgundy color of the yarn and wanted to create a design that would leverage both the deep color and the rustic texture of the yarn. Since I am approaching the 1-year mark of working from home, I wanted something that would be comfy but professional to wear around the house. I decided on an open-front cardigan, which is easy to take on and off. For the stitch pattern, I chose a Japanese lace pattern whose main feature is the undulating waves created by decreases that change direction and not the holes created by the eyelets. This pattern is well suited for the dark-colored yarn. I kept the sleeves wide at the wrists and allowed the waves of the stitch pattern to form their hems. The body is edged in a wide ribbing to help the sweater retain its shape. This is a comfy cardigan that does well in dark colors but would be great in lighter colors or neutrals also.