"BORGHILD"

A Viking Knits Cardigan by Elsebeth Lavold

Cast on 8/6/07      Finished Jan 2008!

Model Photo is a download from her website.

Here is the link: 

Didn't use Elsebeth's featured "signature yarn". 

Am using Louisa Harding "Grace" in color # 9 "Chocolate".

"Grace" is a Silk and Wool blend with a beautiful sheen.

Had "Grace" in my Stash...just waiting for the right project!

MY FIRST THREE STEPS before casting on for any garment!

Helps to make a cabled project smooth and mistake-free!

Always do your homework and preparation before starting a cabled garment!

STEP 1: Always knit a 4" x 4" gauge swatch!  Row gauge is as important as stitch gauge when

knitting cabled garments!  I always cast on two extra edge stitchs and knit two extra rows for my swatches.  This swatch is a perfect 4" x 4" after allowing for the 2 extra rows and 2 edge stitches.

STEP 2:

I re-write the directions in a notebook using my own terms for clarity.  Make sure you know what you're doing and what the designer means.  I don't try to tweak the patterns.

STEP 3:    Make a copy of all charts.  Use colored pens and highlighters to outline all of the different types

of cables. This will help identify your cables on each row with more accuracy, and it's quicker to knit, too! 

BACK TO:

< these 12 "live" stitches will be the shoulder seam...and will use the 3-needle bind-off later.

< The cabled section extends past the shoulder line to become the back neck.  This is accomplished by short rows.

9/11/07:  Left Front done!

< The red threads are row markers, and the white threads are pattern repeats markers.  The cable is a 44 row repeat.  The threads will be removed after the Right Front is done.  Using these markers helps in creating a mirror image for both sides of the Front.

Close-up of Cabling

I had enough yarn to make a cami-tank top.  I love it!  I knit the cabled bust-band first, seamed it...

then picked up stitches along one edge, and knit in-the-round from the band to the bottom. 

I finished off with about 2 inches of little 1x1 ribbing to draw the bottom in.