Intense is the way I feel about the colour of this wool. It is fantastic. I wanted a relatively simple cardi to show it off to best effect. Gnarled Oak fits the bill perfectly.

No issues with the knitting of it. Pattern was comprehensive and easy to follow. Something very soothing about all that stocking stitch, which made it a marvellously portable project up until the fun of the yoke. Great chart made the lace/cable design a cinch. I really enjoy knitting lace like this with such a defined pattern.

I noticed a lot of people who’ve knitted this seem to swim in their FOs so deliberately sized down. Thought I was being terribly clever with my maths but then forgot to reckon in any degree of positive ease whatsoever, so it’s snug rather than slouchy. I still love it though, so that’s all good.

Knitted as written other than button bands, which I changed to garter (picked up 130 st on each front). I also did simple yarnover buttonholes cos I have some cute wee copper buttons I wanted to use - but when it came to stitching them on I decided they might be fractionally too small for a DK garment. Have fixed on a single button at the neck for now - to be honest, probably the only closure I’d use anyway.

10cm square in blocked cardi = 19x30