This women’s cardigan features a braided Celtic knot at the center back, flanked by twisted rope cables. The front cardigan edges are also trimmed with these rope cables. The remainder of the cardigan is worked in stockinette, with waist shaping. It is worked in one piece, back and forth, up to the armholes, where the fronts and back are then divided and shaped separately. The long sleeves are knit in the round up to the underarms. The sleeve caps are then worked back and forth, and then the sleeves are sewn into the armholes. Ribbing at the front bands and neckline completes the cardigan.

Finished Sizes: 32 ¼ (34, 36 ¼, 39 ¼, 44, 49 ¼, 54 ½”)/82 (86.5, 92, 99.5, 112, 125, 138.5 cm) finished bust circumference, after blocking, buttoned. Sample is knit in size 32 ¼” and is shown with about ½ ” (1.5 cm) of negative ease.

Yarn: Wooly Wonka Fibers Freya DK, 100% blue-faced Leicester wool, 300 yards/115 g skeins. Sample is knit in colorway Woad. 3 (4, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8) skeins . Note that this yarn works up as a very light DK weight. If substituting yarns, you may find sportweight yarns work up well too.

Skills required: Chart-reading skills, familiarity with working with cables is helpful, increases/decreases, basic knitting stitches, picking up stitches.

Inspiration: Queen of the Iceni tribe, Boudicca is a legendary Celtic figure, who led her people into battle against the Roman army. Although defeated by the Romans, Boudicca was later revered as a symbol of British nationalism during the Victorian era, a model of a strong and powerful queen of the people.

This sweater is part of an 8-piece series and may also be found in the Legendary Knits, volume 3 collection.