Dolicissima

Dolicissima is Italian for sweet little thing, which is exactly what this cardigan is. From the yarn I used, to the neutral shade that goes with everything, to the beautiful lace panel growing up the back. I love this little sweater and would easily use a dozen more!

A part of me thinks that picture says it all, but I am sure that I see more than most of you have picked up on from it. First, let's talk about that lace! So much fun to watch the diamonds grow from the single diamond at the bottom up through the whole back. Lending their shape to shape the underarms before the sleeve increases and continue up to almost the very top (I worked a few rows of plain stockinette stitch to make joining the top seams easier). My favorite is that you can show off a fun color underneath this cardigan. Imagine hot pink or neon yellow poking out from that lacy pattern.

 The fronts are knit in solid stockinette stitch with a garter stitch edging. There is a bit more fabric on each inner edge to make a small shawl collar effect (which you can only really notice when wearing it, it brings the lovely merino/bamboo blend right up to my neck). 

Speaking of merino/bamboo blends, note the lovely sheen of the finished sweater and the way the lace is neatly opened and you can follow the straight lines all the way up the lattices. The sheen comes from the bamboo, and the structure (for lack of a better word) comes from the merino. What the pictures don't convey is how snuggly warm, soft, and silky this cardigan is. 

If I could have only one cardigan for the rest of my life, it would very likely be this one. 

This pattern is available for sale through the KnitPicks IDP (that link also brings you to this very yummy yarn).