Let Them Knit Cake is a pattern collection inspired by Marie Antoinette, but made for the modern woman.

Louise Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun painted multiple portraits of Marie, but here I drew inspiration from her works that show Marie in more casual dresses. The relaxed lines of those garments and the late 18th century fashion of the robe à la polonaise resulted in the Polonaise Cardigan. Effortless and breezy, yet elegant enough for a queen.

Note: The bow motif can be worked using a combination of intarsia and stranded knitting techniques (working with both bow colors while knitting the cardigan), or it can be worked in one color using intarsia alone and the secondary shadow details added upon finishing using duplicate stitch.

Sizes 31 (36, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60)” finished bust measurement, shown in size 36” modeled with no ease.

However, the closures for this piece sit high on the chest so the garment is open across the full bust. I suggest choosing a measurement close to or slightly smaller than your full bust measurement to avoid too much ease in the body.

Yarn Malabrigo Silky Merino (50% Silk/50%
Merino; 50g=150yds)
Color A: Spring Water
Color B: Tatami
Color C: Topaz

Gauge 20sts and 29 rows=4”/10cm in stockinette

Photography: Kate Broderick
Tech Editing: Cait Livingston