Camilla

Camilla Cardigan by Kristen TenDyke

What is Being Made

The Camilla is an all-over lace cardigan sweater designed for intermediate knitters. This garment features a sophisticated lace pattern worked throughout the body and sleeves, creating a beautiful openwork design suitable for layering or wearing as a statement piece. The cardigan is available in six sizes ranging from Woman's XS to 2X, with finished bust measurements from 33.25 inches to 61 inches and lengths from 22 to 24.5 inches.

Construction Techniques

The Camilla employs a strategic construction method that simplifies the lace-working process. The body is knitted in the round, which allows for continuous circular knitting without the need to purl return rows. The upper body and sleeves transition to working in rows, creating a seamless integration of the lace pattern throughout. A key design feature is the 18-stitch repeat of the lace pattern, which is maintained consistently when casting on stitches for the sleeves. This thoughtful pattern design eliminates the need for complex chart-stitch counting or mathematical calculations to determine where to begin sleeve stitches, making the project more accessible despite its intermediate difficulty level.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The primary stitch pattern used in this cardigan is the Diamond Rib Pattern, which features an 18-stitch repeat. This lace pattern is worked in the round for the body sections and in rows for the upper body and sleeve sections. The Diamond Rib Pattern creates an elegant all-over lace effect that maintains visual consistency throughout the garment.

Materials and Tools

The Camilla cardigan is designed to be knitted with O-Wool O-WASH SPORT, a machine-washable certified organic merino yarn in the sport weight category. Yardage requirements range from 1,216 yards (4 skeins) for the smallest size to 2,432 yards (8 skeins) for the largest size, with each skein containing 304 yards and weighing 3.5 ounces. The recommended needle size is US 3 (3.25mm) circular needles, including a 32-inch needle for the body and a 16-inch needle for smaller circumferences, along with double-pointed needles for any sections requiring them. Additional tools include stitch markers, stitch holders or waste yarn for managing stitches, and a tapestry needle for finishing. The pattern specifies a gauge of 26 stitches and 42 rounds over 4 inches when working the Diamond Rib Pattern in the round.