This is my favorite Ziggurat yet!! A deceptively simple design, rife with elegant details that bring it to a whole new level. The slipped stitch trim is delightfully chunky and architectural in heavier yarn, and the way it turns the corner around the end of the collar is--as we’ve learned to expect from Åsa--wickedly clever. The double-knit pockets are beyond wickedly clever, and pretty much the coolest knitted detail ever.

Wollmeise Blend held double is sinfully luxurious. I spent more time fondling the fabric than I did making more of it.

I loved the fabric I was getting on US6 needles (see swatch notes below), so I went up a size to compensate for my smaller gauge. I knitted the whole Ziggurat part, then realized that it was tiny, despite my washed and blocked swatches and careful stitch math. (I’m pretty sure I knitted the actual sweater more tightly than my swatch…which I seem to be in the habit of doing.) So I frogged and started over on US7 needles. I’m happy with it now.

This is much more fitted and a little bit shorter than I usually make my sweaters, but….I really like it. The crappy modeled cell phone photos really don’t show how flattering it is. I just love it! The second photo is only included because Maude photobombed, and I find her irresistible :)

Mods: Added length, a little bit above the pockets and a little bit below. Also added fullness at the bottom front to accommodate my roundness, with extra increases on the front only.

Gauge with Blend held double:
Pattern Gauge: 17sts x 24 rows/4 inches

US 5 needles:
unblocked: 21 sts x 29 rows/4 inches
blocked: 20 sts x 30 rows/ 4 inches

US 6 needles:
unblocked: 20sts x 28 rows/4 inches
blocked 19 sts x 28.5 rows/ 4 inches

Thoughts about yarn quantity:
Pattern calls for 960 yds MC and 390 yds CC for size 50, or 930/380 yds for size 48. I am doubling the yarn, so I need 1920/780 yds for size 50, 1860/760 for size 48. I have 2184 yds MC and 1092 yds CC, so I should be okay…but I’ve ordered an extra skein of Schwarz because I usually like to lengthen my cardigans, and I hate worrying about running out! And I really was okay! I had plenty of leftovers of both colors, without the extra skein of Schwarz!