Seli Cardigan Mulgi Style
Seli is a stunning pattern that is unique with its use of Roosimine, corrugated ribbing and Kihnu vits (braid). With your individual yarn choice and color you can make it uniquely you. This Seli is a modified version of the Seli cardigan pattern with a Mulgi twist to blend elements from multiple places in Estonia. Mulgi is short for Mulgimaa, a cultural region in southern Estonia known for its striking black wool folk long coats with red cord detailing. So with Mulgi inspiration this Seli draws on the classic red and black combo with added i-cord detailing.
MULGI INSPIRATION
In Muligmaa, the men have traditional folk costumes consisting of a long coat called a pikk-kuub made of wool in a black or dark brown colour that is then embellished with red cord or braid called kaaruspael. The red cord is used to create various loop patterns to highlight areas of the coat such as the neckline, cuffs and areas along the back and hem. It is believed that the more loops the more wealthy the wearer was. The red cord and loop patterns were also believed to bring the wearer auspicious protection. The long coat above is from one of the many parishes that make up Mulgimaa called Helme.
MULGI SELI CARDIGAN MODIFICATIONS
YARN & COLOUR
This Seli uses just two colours with only one colour for the Roosimine as the yarn used has a subtle marl and gradient with many shades of red within it.
MC (main colour): Dyed by Delz British 4ply in Moira’s Black Rose
CC (contrast colour): Spincycle Yarns Dream State in Devilish Grin - this yarn is classified as a worsted weight (it’s on the lighter/ thinner side). When working the Roosimine in this pattern, you can use this as just a single strand but it was held double (two strands) for this cardigan for density in the Roosimine pattern. For the Kihnu vits, corrugated ribbing and i-cord it was not held double.
RIBBING ALONG THE NECK AND CARDIGAN OPENING BANDS
The ribbing along the neck and cardigan opening (each side of the steek) have been simplified from the original pattern to a 1x1 rib using only MC. This was to allow the red i-cord detailing have more focus. No buttons are on this cardigan so the button holes have been omitted. It has been left as an open cardigan or jacket style.
I CORD DETAILING
Using CC, a 2 stitch i-cord was made to be attached to the cardigan as a continuous piece from the hem along the ribbing each side of the cardigan opening and around the neck to the other side. A looping pattern was created along the fronts of the cardigan with the i-cord reminiscent of the Mulgi pikk-kuub long coats. Two sets of a three loop motif are created on each front. Make sure to knit a long enough i-cord to accommodate the length you need. The i-cord is then sewn onto the cardigan with needle and thread (use a fine sewing thread to match your i-cord).
MAKE YOUR OWN SELI CARDIGAN - CLASSIC OR MULGI STYLE