Cast on: 3.25 needle, then continue on 3.00 needle.

Mod1
Purl one row then start increases as per pattern.
I will get back and pick up stitches to finish the neckline instead of knitting all in one go. I’m planning on a folded button band as I find the single layer edgings to weak in fingering.

Knit as per pattern for size L.
After ca 20cm/8” separating the sleeve stitches.

Mod2
Added 16st under each sleeve.
(Add 15st provisional cast on first round. When knitting these stitches for the first time there typically are a long strand left. I now use this strand to create another provisional loop for the last stitch.)
Stitch count: 258 instead of 250

I hope I have enough yarn. I’m adding my second MC ball after completing the first intarsia butterfly. I’ll use alternate the new and the old ball to even out any color differences. I’m not too sure it will work out since the HBDs I plan to add will carry yarn from just one of the balls, but I’ll just have to try.

HBDs
My favourite guide to HBDs for top down sweaters are the one from Mary Annarellas Elphaba Pullover.
I’m using yarn-over short rows - my favourite.

In order to calculate the HBDs I’ll need to know

• gauge (24-26 x 32)
• the ease I want (will be about zero over the bust)
• how the wide the space between the apexes of “my bosom” are. (20cm)
• how much added length I need in front (4-5cm = 12-16 rows - less in loose garments, more in close fitting)

The HBD area is between

• 2-3cm from each side seam (= about 8 stitches in gauge - where I already have a marker from adding the sleeve stitches)
• 2-3cm on the outside of the apex of each breast.

I’ll calculate the number of stitches in this area. Middle area is 20+4cm. 24cm in gauge = 58-60stitches.

The front in total (w/o sleeve stitches) = 122st.
122-60 = 62, 62/2 = 31.
122-58 = 64, 64/2 = 32.
So I’ll have about 30-32 stitches between side and breast to place the HBDs.

12-16 rows yields 6-8 pairs of HBDs/short rows.
4*8=32, 4*7=28, 5*6=30
I’ll go for just 6 pairs of short rows given this is a cardigan and not as close fitting as First: Hazel Elphaba or Third: Valine

And this leads to colorwork done back and forth. Well. This certainly becomes an apprentice piece.

Sleeves:
75 on thread. Pickup 19. Decrease 1 at each end of pickup incorporating one old sleeve stitch (ssk and tog). 19 between markers.

Conclusions
A note on yarn. Superwash is not the yarn to choose for this project. If using superwash then you must use a machine steek, not a crochet one since the superwash is not “grippy”/“clingy”.
The superwash won’t fluff like untreated wool either - so a thicker yarn than light fingering is recommended. Or a blend/brand with some halo.
This yarn is more slippery than I’d like and I should probably have knit it on a tighter gauge. It’s ok in the two-colored parts, but flimsy in the main color only parts.
But superwash was what I had.

Re HBDs - at least a couple too much. This yarn is slippery - did I mention that this yarn is SLIPPERY? And it grows quite a bit, so a couple fever had been better.

I’m planning a folded button band:
http://strikkepiken.blogg.no/1350570241_montering_av_rund...

Intarsia in the round - a very good video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdmmA51lLjk

Machine steeking
3 seams on each side. Small stitches and very little pressure.
Cut and wide zigzag over edges without touching the straight running stitches.

Folded 2x2 button bands
Pickup for folded button band in 2x2:
Using 2.75mm - starting left side, the one with the buttons.
15 stitches - one each row on the neck rib.
Then 2 of 3 while adding a marker each 10th pickup to the bottom = 128
Total: 143
35*kkpp=140 + kk->142….

Knit 11 rows orange in k2p2
Turning row - k, from the purl side
10 rows of p2/k2 (to be able to fold the band nicely)
Cast of the neckband stiches (14)
Swap to green
k2/p2 4 rows
Cast off using Jenny’s

Buttonhole side
I plan to use 9 buttons, each buttonhole 2st wide.
First buttonhole start 6st in and then spaced 14 stitches apart.
I’ll do the afterthought/waste yarn buttonhole:
http://strikkepiken.blogg.no/1417196181_perfekte_knapphul...
http://techknitting.blogspot.no/2013/11/
http://www.whistlinggirlknits.com/tutorials/

Brainfart
Forgot that I knit the collar to fold … But even if the k2p2 changes to p2k2 in the middle I like it at full height. And now I’ve picked up the button bands to full height, folded in and sewn down, so it won’t change.

Conclusion?
I love the pattern and the intarsia. I’m not too fond of this yolke on my bodytype, but the finished cardi look way better on me than I expected.

The yarn was wrong for the project - it would be a lot nicer in untreated wool as time would felt the threads in the intarsia together with the background. Now I know better.

And at last I’d like to thank the designer for being patient answering my numerous questions.