Joining the Laine, Nordic Life enthusiasts! What a beautiful collection of knits and wonderfully atmospheric imagery - it really is a lovely coffee table book, in addition to be a superb collection of patterns for us knitters.

What love: I absolutely adore the shoulder and neck shaping and the associated set-in cap sleeves - knitting geek that I am. In addition, the faux side seam and the collar are lovely design features - it appears a very simple cardigan, but it’s full of little details that make it really very special. Great overall fit too

What I think you’ll love: The collar. It wraps snuggly around the neck - providing warmth and comfort.

yarn: Drops Puna, 100% alpaca and it is heavenly - so, so soft with a lovey halo. The shade is ‘taupe’ a warm and flattering, heathery brown - very au natural ad rustic. The alpaca holds the shape of the collar and body well and it is both warm and significant in weight, but also airy and super snuggly - the perfect cardigan for welcoming Autumn.

Gauge: I’ve had to go up to a 4.5mm to attain gauge. Pattern suggests 4mm. For the Ribbing, I’ve worked with a 4mm as opposed to the suggested 3.5mm.

Collar: I’ve picked up the following stitches: 100 per left/right front. 60 per left and right neck and 38 for the for the back neck.

Button band: Because I’ve picked up more stitches, I’ve had to add an additional 3 button holes, to the suggested 5. I’ve added a button hole every 8 stitches - which roughly takes you up to the beginning of the neck shaping, as per schematic.

Mods to sleeves: I’ve picked up 55 Sts as per pattern. I’ve commenced sleeve decreases from 3” and decreased by 2 Sts every 10 rows until 40 Sts remain.

Buttons: from Textile Garden - discovered at Edinburgh Yarn festival and I think a grabbed a bundle from Yarndale, a few years back. I’ve opted two - a gold splatter button and wooden/gold circular. I didn’t quite have enough of each for 8 button holes and so I’ve alternated between my two favs in stash.

Photos: I’ve had this cardigan sitting idle for a while. I don’t personally rush to post my FO pics on Rav and await for a time when a) I want to naturally wear the garment and b) when the lighting and backdrop appeals. I’m heading to John O’ Groats and so this cardigan is being packed and hopefully, photographed. We’re staying in a nordic-design toft - the red one!, right on the coast and looking onto the Orkney Isles - this cardigan will suit perfectly, I think.

photos to come very soon…

4/09/17: photos a combo of Sinclair Castle, near Wick, Scotland + South Ronaldsay, Orkney + inside our ‘toft’, John o’ Groats. Also an example of pre wind-bashing versus, day out in the wind - we had the most glorious sunshine during our trip, but blimey, it’s a windy part of the world. I gave up with the bouffant maintenance and opted for a hat/headband to keep hair from whirling about my face/head.