Kelo-cardigan
Kelo is Finnish and it means a dead pine tree. These trees are dry, grey, and coiled and they usually stand in windy places in wilderness. In Finnish language they stand as a symbol for ancient forests. They are like the single ply yarn I chose for this cardigan project. The natural colors of alpaca fibers are shading from light grey to dark brown. Undyed and chemical free, this yarn is like a gift from Nature.

This yarn is special to me for a good reason: I have made it myself! Well, half of the truth… This yarn is made by a small spinnery in Southern-Finland, Ruukinkehräämö. They make yarn of the wool of their own alpacas and blend it with wild silk collected from Kalahari Desert. I was there in the spinnery when this yarn was made, and I had a chance to learn the whole process. How awesome is that!?

Kelo is a classic cardigan pattern. It is worked flat in stockinette stitch and it has knit 1, purl 1 ribbing on edges. This easy pattern is perfect for beginners. If you can knit and purl, you can do this. You only need to learn few basic techniques like increasing, decreasing, and picking up stitches. See tutorials for these on my blog www.piiamariaknit.com.

The pattern has loose fit and saddle sleeves. These sleeves add a nice visual detail on shoulders. Gradient yarn makes this basic cardigan special, but single color will also work just fine.

Wish you happy knitting,
Piia Maria

Yarn: Ruukinkehräämö 1 ply Alpaca + Wild Silk (100 g/ 112 m, 3,53 oz/ 122 yd).
You need: 6-7-8-9-10 skeins.

Or bulky/chunky weight yarn, preferably alpaca blends or wool (for example Ístex Álafosslopi).
Yardage: ca. 670-800-900-1000-1100 m /
733-875-985-1095-1200 yd.

Needles: 6,5 mm (UK3) (US 10½) and
for ribbing 6 mm (UK 4) (US 10) needles.
4 mm (UK 8) US(G/6) crochet hook and tapestry needle.

Gauge: 13,5 sts and 20 rows = 10 x 10 cm
(4 x 4”) in stockinette st, on larger needles, after blocking.

Sizes: S-M-L-XL-XXL.
Finished bust circumference:
108-114-120-126-132 cm (42½-45-47½-49½-52”).
Total body length: 57-59-61-63-65 cm
(22½-23¼-24-24¾-25½”).
Sleeve length: 44-45-45-46-46 cm
(17¼-17¾-17¾-18¼“).

Note: Sizes listed are finished cardigan measurements. Choose the cardigan size that is 5-12 cm (2-5”) larger than your actual bust circumference. Shown in size S with 12 cm (5”) positive ease.