The ancient Greeks knew Illyria as a region on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea, a mythical place, a borderland between the known and unknown worlds, a place where fact and fiction blend.

A light weight cardigan knit with fingering weight yarn on larger-than-normal needles, Illyria is worked from hem up in one piece to the armholes. After shoulders are seamed stitches are picked up for the ¾-length sleeves, and worked in short rows to the underarm, then in the round to the cuff. A single column of simple lace panels decorates cardigan fronts and sleeves. A double column of lace spirits its way up the center of the back.

Finished sizes: 35, 38, 40.5, 43.75 (47, 50, 52.5, 55.75) in; 88.9, 96.5, 102.9, 111.1 (119.4, 127, 133.4, 141.6) cm.

Yarn: fingering weight; 1300, 1400, 1500, 1650 1800, 1950, 2100, 2300 yards

To fit bust sizes: 2 inches smaller.

Skills: k2tog, k3tog, ssk, s1-k2tog-psso, s2-k1-p2sso, YO, double YO, m1l, m1r, short rows, knitting in the round, wrapped stitches.

Buttons: Eight 1/2 in (1.3 cm).

Other supplies: At least 8 stitch markers (4 each from 2 different sets, or that are somehow easily distinguishable from each other), 2 stitch holders.

Stitch patterns: Charted and written.