From notes, the small size will need about 1300m and XS 1200m. Gorgeous yarn for gorgeous cardigan. This will be my Nerd Wars dissertation project.

Yarn count:
Used
18/02/2013 - 1 ball
21/02/2013 - 2 balls
22/04/2013 - 3 balls
25/04/2013 - 4 balls

Mods:

• Added 4 sts to stitch count to increase the XS size a bit. I’ve situated these in the main stocking stitch section.
• Knitting body seamless
• Left out 1 lot of decreases for waist and hence 1 lot of increases for bust (I’m not that skinny!)
• Only just over 6” in length before the “Shape Shoulder” sections rather than 7”.

Notes about sizing:
I believe the reason why sizing is always on the larger side is because of the blackberry stitch. This area is quite stretchy and we never do any gauge swatches in this area. If this area is moss stitch or stocking stitch, I think the cardy sizes would be correct but because it is not, the shoulder to shoulder measurement is bigger after blocking. I also think the sleeves weigh down and stretch out the back a bit and contribute to the stretching. If you want it bigger, perhaps knit wider fronts rather than an entirely bigger size.

Jan 9th I am in between sizes….bah….and this cardigan runs big. Will have to do a swatch and see how it turns out. I’m pretty excited about this cardy so I’m swatching early (for once) before the NW tournament starts. I’m in love with the yarn as well as the pattern!

Jan 10th Gauge is a bit big. Haven’t washed and blocked but stretched out the cable as if I blocked and it’s at least 1 or 2 sts too wide and quite a bit too long. It’s 28 sts only if I don’t get it laying flat (i.e. the right and left side shrink up due to the “ribbing” of the cable. Will measure myself and double check on schematic since I think I’m between sizes, but otherwise, will use 4mm.

Jan 11th Warning - long and rambly stuff about gauge - Hard to work out gauge since only gauge for cable is given but…given cable gauge is 28sts/4”. My bust is ~33”. From my swatch, I got a cable gauge of 26sts/4” and about 20sts/4” for stockinette. I’m assuming if I go down a needle size it will evaluate to 28sts/4” and for stockinette 22sts/4”. Assuming the rest of the cardy will have the same gauge as stockinette, I worked out that the finished cardy (XS) will have a 32” bust (no negative ease). Calcs: back is 100 sts, at the bust so assuming front and back will both be 100sts (which it’s not because the buttons don’t button at the bust) it will be 200sts all round. There are 4 cables, each being 28 sts. 200-(28x4) = 88. At a gauge of 22sts/4”, this equates to 88/22 x 4” = 16” for the non-cable part. Plus the cable part = 16” + 4x4” = 32”. Hence, I definitely need to knit the smaller size with pattern gauge. It will end up being 32” with 2” negative ease which is perfect - I like negative ease. Also did similar calculations by adding up the front stitch count at the bust and got the same result at 32” no negative ease.

No ease & assuming 1” lost for buttoning:
XS @ 20sts/4” stocking and 26sts/4” cable, waist = 28.4”, bust=34.6”
XS @ 22sts/4” stocking and 28sts/4” cable, waist = 26.6”, bust=32”
S @ 22sts/4” stocking and 28sts/4” cable, waist = 30.27”, bust = 35.63”

Feb 5, 2013 Swatched the blackberry stitch too. 24sts/10cm unstretched 22sts/10cm stretched slightly.

Stitches: waist = 152 (172), bust = 184 (204)
Cable: 28x4=112 (26x4=104), blackberry 16 (20), stocking waist 24 (48), stocking bust 56 (80)

S @ 22sts/4” stocking, 28sts/4” cable and 24sts/4” blackberry = 31.87” bust and 28.6” waist - allows for 2” lost from buttoning.

S @ 30.06 waist, 35.88 bust
XS = 25.03 waist, 30.85 bust

stretched:
S @ 18sts stocking, 26 sts cable, 22 sts blackberry = 32.3 waist, 39.4” bust
XS = 26.24” waist, 31.35” bust

Can add maybe 1cm for collar stretch forgot to add that, and maybe another inch from button positioning to get 27” in the waist.

Nov 12, 2015 Maybe it’s time to take this one out of hibernation?? Using OzLorna’s blog post on sleeve construction and armscythes.
Rows = 36
Sts = 38 (total = 38x2 = 76)

BO 5 both ends
Every other row dec 1 st either end 4 times
1st row dec 1
Dec every other row x12
Dec every row x11

Jan 9, 2017 Can’t believe this project is so old. I took it out of hibernation and FINISHED the knitting and seaming! Woohoo! Can’t remember if I ended up changing the sleeve cap or not or if I only proposed it. Made the buttonband maybe 2 inches thicker because it’s a tight fit on me now. Just need to sew in a few ends and find some buttons to sew on.

Project weighs 625.5g

July 9,2019 This is a bit tight. I never wear it. I think this yarn needs to be repurposed.