Week Four: Olympia, the Big Fancy Cardigan!
I’ve saved the best for last! This week, I’ll conclude my celebration of Hudson + West with my favorite H+W project of all time, Olympia.
A couple of years ago, I started a journey with a truly innovative new yarn company Hudson+West. “Designer-driven and knitter-focused” is their mantra and they’ve true to these words. In the nearly three years that followed, I’ve stretched and grown, challenged my skill set and produced some of my very best work. I did not do this alone! During the month of April, I’ll be celebrating Hudson+West, the exciting creative road we’ve been on and the rewarding work we’ve done together since that first email back in August of 2019. Every Friday of this month, I’ll be featuring one special collaboration and celebrating with a 30% discount. You’ll find the Ravelry link and coupon code in the side bar.
FORGE
Let’s talk about Forge, the worsted weight gem from Hudson+West. Since the brand began, I’ve been obsessed with this yarn. Sourced, spun and dyed in the US, Forge is made from a heathered blend of 70% U.S. Merino (sourced in Colorado and New Mexico), and 30% U.S. Corriedale (sourced in New York) wool. Forge is a round, well-balanced three-ply yarn. Forge is truly the perfect balance in a between softness and durability and is available in gorgeous, carefully curated shades. I feel a little quiver every time new colors are announced, and I’m always beyond happy to be working with their sophisticated shades, especially for this big fancy cardigan. You can view the Color Guide Book HERE.
OLYMPIA
Everyone who’s worn Olympia by Cheryl Toy hasn’t wanted to take it off. Covered in modern, twisting cables featuring a grand double-breasted shawl collar this cardigan is love at first sight and wear. Constructed in pieces from the bottom up, the cables flow seamlessly from the 2×2 ribbing and the lush collar is picked up horizontally and worked back and forth after seaming. Find the perfect buttons for this handsome cardigan and guard your sweater bin or else it’s sure to be “borrowed” regularly.
Inspiration
Inspired by the magnificent Pacific Coast Ranges, the Olympia Cardigan is thickly etched in cables evoking the rugged terrain and rocky texture of these majestic mountains. For greater warmth and a retro, ski-lodge vibe, I added a deeply ribbed fold-over shawl collar with an integrated I-cord edge and broad double-breasted bands. The effect is a little bit “mountain man” and a little bit “retro chic”.
Construction
I’d originally designed this big fancy cardigan to be seamlessly worked from the top down. Due to the weight, Meghan at Hudson+West suggested working the cardigan in pieces. It was the best advice ever! With seamed construction, I was able to control the depth of the armhole and the diameter of the sleeve with much greater accuracy. Working in smaller pieces meant I didn’t have a huge wooly sweater in my lap the whole time and made the piece much easier to block. The seams add structure and provide a great opportunity to study seaming and finishing techniques.
Once the seams are set, it’s time to work the grand ribbed collar and bands. These are worked from stitches picked up at the front and neck edges, then shaped using short rows. I experimented with a number of short row techniques before settling on the slip and turn method. This is a really simple, no-fuss way to work short rows. The collar is finished using a narrow I-cord bind off. Really, Olympia was a joy to knit! I’d definitely do it again, maybe in Barn Red or Midnight Blue next time 😉
