Modern Daily Knitting Field Guide No. 15: Open is the perfect way to open yourself up to the possibilities of lace!

The idea for this softly structured cardigan came from a machine-knit linen sweater Jeanette bought nearly a decade ago and has been wearing ever since.

Jeanette’s eye for just-right details—a textural lace pattern, mitered ribbing, a tubular bind-off at the cuff—elevates the Mood Cardigan beyond the realm of any store-bought garment and makes it especially satisfying to knit. It’s wearable—and practical—art, extraordinary and everyday at the same time.

Materials
— Helix by La Bien Aimée [100 g hanks, each approx 710 yds (650 m), 75% Falkland merino wool, 25% Gotland wool]: 4 (4,4,5) hanks Yellow Brick Road (A)
— Size US 8 (5 mm) circular needle, 32” (80 cm) long or longer, or size needed to obtain gauge
— Size US 9 (5.5 mm) or larger needle in any style, for body panel BO
— Size US 7 (4.5 mm) circular needles, 16” (40 cm) and 32” (80 cm) long
— Crochet hook size US H-8 (5 mm)
— Removable markers
— Waste yarn
— Blocking pins

Knitted Measurements
— Back width: 36.5 (39, 41.5, 44)“ 92.5 (99, 105.5, 112) cm
— Length: 24.75 (25.5, 26.25, 27)” 63 (65, 66.5, 68.5) cm

Gauge
— 17.5 sts and 27.5 rows = 4” (10 cm) over Alternating Lace using size US 8 (5 mm) needle and 2 strands of A held together

Size
— To fit bust sizes 30–36 (38–44, 46–52, 54–60)“ [76–91.5 (96.5–112, 117–132, 137–152.5) cm]

Notes
— The cardigan is worked with 2 strands of yarn held together throughout.
— The piece is worked back and forth on a circular needle to accommodate the large number of stitches.
— This cardigan is constructed of two rectangular panels. The sleeve panel begins with a provisional cast on and is worked from end to end. After blocking, stitches are picked up for the sleeve cuffs and worked in the round. The body panel is worked from the bottom up, then bound off. After blocking, the piece is folded to create a back and two fronts. The bound-off edge of the back portion of the body is then sewn to one long edge of the sleeve panel, and the remaining bound-off edges of each front portion are sewn to the opposite edges of the sleeve panel. The front band/collar is picked up along the center front opening and worked flat in ribbing.