I have been dying to make a Blackwood Cardigan since I first saw it pop up on my Instagram feed and I regret it took me so long. This is the easiest, quickest, but most satisfying make probably ever.

I rushed to make up a Blackwood before a weekend away in Toronto and I am so glad I did. I will probably wear this cardigan every single day. I didn’t have the time to send the pattern out to be printed for me, so I cut and paste it on my own. Even with pattern assembly, this project only took me two days to complete.

I used a black jaquard with raised fluffy dots that photographs terribly, but I promise is awesome. It only barely had the minimum required 40 per cent stretch, so I sized up when I cut it out. This ended up being unnecessary and it looked a little too slouchy, so I took it in a quarter inch down the side and around the arm scye. This was super duper easy as the sleeve isn’t set in.

When all was said and done, I made the medium at the bust and graded to the large at the hip. The next time I make this, I might even go down a size as I still find it quite roomy. I also chopped off a solid three inches from the sleeve length. My standard is one to two inches, so these sleeves were especially long. I don’t need my sleeves to cover my hands, but if you’re a fan, these are ideal candidates for thumbhole cuffs!

I also opted to stabilize the shoulder seam with bias tape and I am so glad I did. I purposefully left about 3/16 of an inch overhand so I could see the tiny gingham on the inside. It’s all in the details.

I really love the length on this cardigan. At the XL length it comes down to almost my knee (I’m 5’2″ for reference). It’s super easy to wear and I’m pretty sure I’m going to wear this all the way through the spring and I’ve already got a nice lightweight number lined up for the summer.