We're excited to share Loop staffer Liesl's stunning version of the Stella Cardi by Lumi Mimosa. She chose Isager Silk Mohair in color 65, which is a bright, bold orange. The result is a showstopping, beautifully fuzzy and light cardigan.
The Stella Cardi is designed to be made with three strands of silk mohair to create a surprisingly substantial gauge while keeping all the softness, halo, and airiness that make mohair so special.
About the Yarn
Isager Silk Mohair is a lace-weight blend of 75% super kid mohair and 25% silk, with 232 yards in each 25-gram ball.
The fine mohair fibers create its characteristic soft halo, while the silk core adds strength and a subtle luster. It’s lovely held with other yarns, but the Stella Cardi shows what happens when Silk Mohair gets to be the main event.
Holding three strands together creates a fabric with much more body than a single strand while preserving the yarn’s lightness. The strands blend into one another as you knit, creating a soft, plush surface without the weight you might expect from a cardigan knit at a DK-weight gauge.
Design Details
The Stella Cardi by Lumi Mimosa is worked from the top down, mostly back and forth, with the sleeves worked in the round. The cardigan fastens near the collar with three buttons, leaving the fronts open below for an easy, relaxed shape.
It’s designed with approximately 6 inches of positive ease, giving it a loose, airy fit that works beautifully with the softness of the mohair fabric. Because it’s knit from the top down, you can also check the fit and length as you work.
The main fabric is simple stockinette, allowing the texture of the three strands of Silk Mohair to take center stage. Ribbed edges add definition and structure to the otherwise cloud-like fabric.
What You’ll Need
Pattern: Stella Cardi by Lumi Mimosa
Yarn: Isager Silk Mohair, 232 yards / 212 meters per 25g ball. The cardigan is knit with three strands held together throughout.
| Size | To Fit Bust | Silk Mohair | Approx. Total Yardage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 29½–31½" | 10 balls | 2,320 yds |
| 2 | 31½–33½" | 11 balls | 2,552 yds |
| 3 | 33½–35½" | 11 balls | 2,552 yds |
| 4 | 35½–37½" | 12 balls | 2,784 yds |
| 5 | 37½–39¼" | 13 balls | 3,016 yds |
| 6 | 39¼–43¼" | 14 balls | 3,248 yds |
| 7 | 43¼–47¼" | 15 balls | 3,480 yds |
| 8 | 47¼–51¼" | 16 balls | 3,712 yds |
| 9 | 51¼–55" | 17 balls | 3,944 yds |
| 10 | 55–59" | 18 balls | 4,176 yds |
The quantities above are the total number of 25-gram balls needed, not the number needed for each of the three strands. If you’re adding length or making other modifications, we recommend getting an extra ball to be safe.
Needles: US 8 (5mm) circular needles for the main fabric and US 4 (3.5mm) circular needles for the ribbing, or sizes needed to get gauge. DPNs can also be used for the sleeves if preferred.
Gauge: 15 stitches and 24 rows = 4 inches in stockinette on US 8 (5mm) needles.
Notions: 3 buttons approximately ½" in diameter, stitch markers, tapestry needle, sewing needle, and thread for attaching the buttons.
Why You’ll Love It
- Mohair takes center stage: Instead of using Silk Mohair as a companion yarn, three strands create the entire fabric.
- Light but substantial: You get the softness and halo of mohair in a fabric with enough body for a cardigan.
- Simple knitting, beautiful results: Stockinette lets the yarn do most of the visual work.
- Top-down construction: Check the fit and adjust the length while you knit.
- Easy to layer: The relaxed, open-front shape works over everything from a tee to a dress.
Make Your Own Stella Cardi
Liesl’s Stella Cardi is a wonderful example of how dramatically a yarn can change when you use several strands together. Three strands of Isager Silk Mohair turn an exceptionally fine yarn into a soft, dimensional fabric while keeping the finished sweater remarkably light.
Choose your favorite shade of Silk Mohair, pick up the Stella Cardi pattern, and cast on!
If you make one, we’d love to see it — tag us @loopyarn so we can see!
