Changes to the Size and Gauge

Thanks to the clever knitters of Ravelry I read the thread about the gauge and sizing for this pattern before I began and the invaluable comments of other knitters joyh1 whitecotton lemonsandwich cowponcho tonesy

I usually fit a UK size 8 (Euro 38; US 4) but after reading the notes for this project on Ravelry and using an existing cardigan as a model I went up to size 3.25mm and 3.75mm needles for the rib and Fair Isle respectively and knitted a size medium rather than a small. After upping the needle size and using the medium pattern the back measured 46cm which is closest to the 44.5cm of size small than the 49cm of the size medium and the size I needed.

Changes to the cuffs/arms

I began the sleeves as if for a size large and then finishing at the shoulder end as for the size medium (so the cuffs are not too tight but the sleeves fit correctly into the medium armholes).

Changes to the length

The length turned out far too small on my first attempt so I frogged it and increased the 32 cm (to the beginning of the armhole shaping) to 37cm.

Despite the complicated adjustments this project is as lovely and enjoyable a knit as it looks. The three colour sections are the only down side. To quote the great Elizabeth Zimmerman, who of course rarely adhered to rules:

’I followed the two Great Rules of Fair Isle knitting: never carry more than 2 colors in a given round, and, avoid a carry greater than 5 stitches long

If the pattern had the decreases marked on the charts like a Japanese pattern, this would have been a relatively simple knit. It would have been great if the pattern had been in the round with steeking. That would have saved a lot of wool and time sewing ends in.

Other changes

I didn’t cast off the shoulder stitches, instead I left them on a holder and then grafted the shoulders at the end using kitchener stitch.

The cardigan is lovely, soft and cosy and I finished it just in time for the snow fall. I particularly like the difference in colour choice between the arms and body. ‘Mineral’ (the soft yellow used only on the arms) provides a bright and interesting juxtaposition.

The buttons are the ones suggested in the pattern, from ’Bedecked’