Midsummer dream!

Midsummer is upon us and it’s the perfect time to introduce you to my featherweight wardrobe staple: the Elma Cardigan. A cardigan that’s soft, airy and incredibly lightweight.

Elma is my take on bringing a modern, effortless feel to a classic cardigan silhouette. I wanted to design a piece that features the simple, clean lines I always gravitate towards, while letting the yarn and the refined details do all the talking. There is something truly magical about a garment that feels like a soft whisper but brings so much joy to an everyday wardrobe.

Elma is worked seamlessly from the top down. It features classic raglan shaping that creates a beautifully relaxed, easy fit right through the shoulders. It’s a construction I always seem to default to! Because this cardigan is designed with about 8 to 10 inches of positive ease, it drapes beautifully without feeling overwhelmingly large. Working it top-down also means you can try it on as you go, making sure the length of the body and sleeves falls exactly where you want it.

When working with a lighter weight yarn, like my choice of Suri Silk Cloud, a lace-weight yarn that has such a delicate halo, the edges need to be handled with care to keep the garment looking neat and professional. That’s why I chose a few key details to keep everything together.

First of all we have the double-knitted front band. It gives this cardigan a crisp finish while also adding a little bit of structure and weight to an airy garment. The fact that the front band is worked in one go, all around the front edges and around the back of the neck, makes it look smooth and holds the shape perfectly in use.

The hem and cuffs are finished with 1x1 ribbing and a tubular bind-off, matching that professional, high-quality feel of the double-knit button band. I do love the look of simple 1x1 -rib for my everyday garments, somehow it has an elevated classic look when finished neatly.

For my sample, I used Suri Silk Cloud by Life in the Long Grass in the Watermelon colourway. You all know that pink is a forever favourite of mine: it practically functions as a neutral alongside my neon corals! This delightful speckled pink brings such a gentle pop of colour to everyday life, and the blend of Baby Suri Alpaca and Mulberry Silk makes it an absolute dream on the needles.

Elma is a simple piece, but it is one that I hope will fit effortlessly into your knitted wardrobe. I already feel I need one in every single colour! I cannot wait to see your versions!