I love my Serkinet cardigan so much, I’m making another, this time in burgundy. Actually, the colour might be better described as deep plumb. Either way, it’s gorgeous!
I’ve made a small gauge piece (using a dark red shade in the same yarn) on 4mm needles.
Before washing and blocking on 4mm needles -
21 sts x 32 rows = 10cm / 4 “
After washing and gently patting flat -
22 sts x 33 rows = 10cm / 4 “
So the stitches relaxed just a little, so the stitch count at least is the same as the ball band and the pattern.
It’s a different gauge from my grey Serkinet, so I might need a bit of sampling and calculating to be absolutely certain of size, before I bite the bullet and cast on around 260 stitches!
01-02-2025
2nd sample, worked in main motif plus cables.
Motif 29 sts = 4.5”
Cables 20 sts = 3”
I also want to add extra inches at the hip to allow for my pear shape figure. I think 8sts each side, front and back, total 32 sts extra. Haven’t decided what cable to work yet that will look good with the decreases.
Anyway, I’ll cast on size 4, plus 32 sts.
I’m also making each main motif 9 sts wider each side. I don’t want a million cables, I’d sooner have more of that gorgeous main motif.
Wish me luck!
09-02-2025
Still thinking and planning…
Really want to cast on though!
Can’t decide whether to increase the gorgeous diamond pattern by just half a repeat, or carry it right across with just one cable each side of the side seam. That would look amazing!
More calculations I think!
10-02-2025
Finally, I might have made my mind up! 
I only want a little positive ease, not loads, so I’m aiming between sizes 3 and 4.
I’m going for an allover diamond pattern that wraps around completely, plus hip shaping. That may look a little odd but it will fit better and all those cables were just fillers really.
I’m charting it out in stitch fiddle to be absolutely sure of the stitch count - and especially the stitch placement at the hip shaping - then I’ll cast on.
Maybe 
26-02-2025
Well, I think I’ve got the pattern well and truly memorised now and it’s growing very nicely!
Just over 2 full pattern repeats done and I’ve nearly finished with the hip shaping with 3 sts left to decrease each side.
Haven’t actually dared spread the sts between 2 circular needles though so I can get a proper idea of size….
02-03-2025
Well, I’m flying through the rows this time!
Only 4 or 5 rows more and I’ll need to stop and work out the shaping for the armhole and neck.
12-03-2025
Just divided for the armhole and 4 rows later realised I cast off the wrong number of sts….
17-03-2025
Hmmmm….. a month in and I’ve worked both fronts and am half way up the upper back… I’m worried it’s a size too big!
I think it’s going to be at least 44” chest plus the buttonhole bands. And that’s if it doesn’t relax when washed.
As I’m so close to finishing the back, I will continue, then tack the shoulders and try it on.
Still, if I do unpick and start over, there will be fewer sts so a quicker knit…
05-04-2025
Well, I put off finishing the back for over a fortnight…
But it’s done and I’ve just joined the shoulders and tried it on, and I think it might be ok…
Phew!
21-11-2025
Not touched it since early April… one heatwave after another, and finally, in mid November, we get our first frost and even a flurry of snow!
I have worn my grey Serkinet for a couple of days and now I’m thinking it’s time to cast on a pair of burgundy sleeves and knit them in tandem.
30-11-2025
I cast on and knitted both cuffs but then continued individually.
The first one was knitting up very tight and I was worried it was going to be too narrow. I considered unpicking and working the increases every 6 rows instead of 8 but decided to do the second sleeve first , with adjusted increases. Couldn’t find my other short circular needle, so had to use a longer one (I much prefer circulars to straight now). It was an old one I’ve had for years- a proper steel needle, not aluminum. And guess what? It must be a fraction thicker, as the tension is looser. Result!
Although I still need to unpick the first sleeve…
Note to self, start the pattern repeat from row 15, to get the diamonds centralised. Finish that repeat, then work 4 complete repeats, and start armhole shaping on row 9 of next repeat.
05-12-2025
First sleeve done and tacked into armhole. I think the upper part of the sleeve head is a bit wide - maybe i did too many increases? Stop at 79 sts not 85?
06-12-2025
Unpicked back to start of armhole and reshaped the sleeve head so it doesn’t look baggy. Tacked in again and seems better.
Now to unpick the first sleeve and reknit.
09-12-2025
Really neat buttonholes
http://www.knittingonthenet.com/learn/bh5.htm
by Barbara Breiter
See photo for instructions, or follow the link.
12-12-2025
Sleeve two completed. Neckband next.
14-12-2025
Nearly finished!
Just the buttonhole band to do now, other than weaving in all the ends and stitching in the sleeves.
I’ve practised the buttonhole and decided a 3 st ‘cast off’ s/b right.
Not looking forward to blocking it in case it grows…
Of the 750g purchased nearly a year ago, I have used 600g.
28-12-2025
Stitching the sleeves in today. I decided to simply pin them out and sprayed with water, to gently block and did the same with the body.
I was worried it might grow a bit if i washed and blocked. It currently fits perfectly through the bust and shoulders, but the bottom half is ample. If anything, I could have left out the extra stitches for the hip shaping.
I could only get plain, boring buttons but will keep an eye out for something more interesting.
This wool is already starting to fluff and pill, just with handling during making unfortunately…
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