Aunt Dag is a family legend. Dagna Alvilda Marie Olsen was my Great Grandpa Olsen’s sister who immigrated alone to Utah from Norway in 1898 at the age of 12 (her family would come later). Dag was born in Ullensaker, Norway, in 1886.
Her mother was an early European member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The family decided to immigrate to America, but financially, it took years to accomplish. They had to send their children one at a time to stay with family in Minnesota. Imagine the courage, to get
on a boat with acquaintances at age 12 and leave your home, country and family behind. That’s what Dagna did. By 1902 the entire family would be reunited in Minnesota and eventually Cache Valley, Utah.
Most of what I know of Dagna comes from tales I heard from my grandma and my Aunt Flossie, and one unforgettable photo I saw of Aunt Dag in early 20th century ski gear. How I wish I had that photo. Dag had the look of a consummate Scandinavian tomboy. These were the pre-ski-lift days of lace-up boots, free heels, and bamboo poles, when everyone had to “earn their turns” by hiking up a hill to ski down. Aunt Dag skied to school in Norway and she could out-ski the boys in Utah. I designed this sweater for Aunt Dagna. It’s traditional, yet modern, just like she was.
The other family tale of Aunt Dag was her famous raisin cake. She made this cake every Sunday to share at family get-togethers. I’ve included the recipe for Aunt Dag’s cake in the pattern. You are going to love it!
This cardigan is a super quick knit. It has bottom-up construction, knit in the round with a steek and a colorwork yoke. It also has my favorite button band.
Sizes
1, 2, 3 (pictured), 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
XXS (XX, S, M, ML, L 1X, 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X, 6X)
Finished Measurements
Chest: 30 (32½, 35, 37½, 40, 41¾, 44½, 48, 50¾, 52¾, 55½, 58½ ) inches
Sleeve length: 17½ (17½, 18, 18½, 19, 19, 20, 20, 20, 21, 21, 21) inches
Body length: 14 (15, 15½, 15¾, 16, 17, 18, 18, 19, 19, 20, 20) inches
Yoke: 8 (8¼, 8½, 8½, 8½, 8¾, 9, 9¼, 9½, 10¼, 10½, 11½) inches
Yarn
Quince and Company Lark
Main color: Honey 350 (350, 400, 450, 450, 500, 550, 600, 650, 700, 750, 800)
grams.
Contrasting color: White 50 (50, 50, 50, 50, 100, 100, 100, 100, 100, 150, 150)
grams.
Needles
U.S. Size 3 (3.25 mm) and 4 (3.5 mm) 32-inch circular needles. U.S. size 3 (3.25 mm) double-pointed
needles. Size 4 (3.5) 16-inch circular needle (or size needed to obtain gauge)
Notions
Darning needle
7 3/4-inch Buttons
Gauge and Swatch
20 stitches = 4 inches or 10 cm on larger needles.
Please swatch in the round to determine needle size.
Note: Swatch in both one color and in colorwork. You may need to knit the
single-color part of the sweater with a smaller needle than the colorwork section. The gauge is the same throughout the sweater.
Skills Used
Long-tail cast on
Knitting
Purling
1x1 rib knit flat and in the round
Backward loop cast on
Joining in the round
Steek securing and cutting
Buttonholes
Colorwork in the round
DPN Skills
Backward loop increase
k2tog
ssk
Whip stitch
Mattress stitch
