Titi Cardigan in Red

I had a vintage St Michael cardigan, the old M&S label. Green, a bit worn, and I wore it with everything. Dresses, skirts, jeans. Most days, if I'm honest.

One day I thought, every woman who wears Kemi Telford should have a cardigan like this.

My old one was polyester, so we sampled ours in cotton first. It felt lovely, but I didn't trust it. I could see it falling apart after a few wears. It needed something more to keep it strong. So we kept the cotton and added viscose and nylon. It's still soft, but it's much stronger.

Then I fussed over the details. Open-work and cable stitches down the front. Tiny buttons right up to the neck. A ribbed hem that pulls in at the hips, so it doesn't just hang there. We changed the hem, the length and the buttonholes before I was happy.

We started with red because it's a strong colour that goes with most things. It brightens up a wardrobe straight away, especially in winter, when everything else turns grey. Button it up and wear it as a top, or throw it open over a shirt. I hope it becomes the one you reach for every day, like mine was.

Before You Order

What size should I go for?

Choose your usual size. The Titi runs true to size, with a slightly relaxed fit, and the knit has some stretch, so there's no need to size up. The chest goes from 38" in S to 46" in XXL. Clara has a 34½" bust and wears M (40").

Where does it finish?

On the hip. It's about 24" from the shoulder in M. The ribbed hem is a little narrower than the chest, so it draws in softly.

Can I wear it on its own?

Yes. Button it all the way up and wear it as a top, tucked into a skirt or left out.

Will the open-work show my skin?

No. The stitches make a pattern, but they don't show through.

Can I wear it over a shirt?

Yes. Leave the collar and cuffs out, and add a belt if you want a waist.

Fit

• Runs true to size: choose your usual size
• Slightly relaxed fit, and the knit has some stretch, so there's no need to size up
• Finishes at the hip, and the ribbed hem draws in softly

Measurements

• S: 38" chest, 23½" long
• M: 40" chest, 24" long
• L: 42" chest, 24½" long
• XL: 44" chest, 25" long
• XXL: 46" chest, 25" long

Finished garment, measured all the way round. Length is from the shoulder to the hem.

On our model

• Clara is 5'10" tall, with a 34½" chest and a 28" waist. She wears M.

• Open-work and cable stitch panels down the front
• Round neck, with small buttons all the way down
• Raglan sleeves for a soft, rounded shoulder
• Deep ribbed cuffs, and a ribbed hem that draws in at the hips
• Spare button sewn onto the care label

Composition

54% cotton, 36% viscose and 10% nylon.

Care

• Hand wash cold
• Wash inside out with similar colours
• Reshape while damp
• Dry flat
• Cool iron on reverse
• Do not tumble dry
• Do not bleach
• Do not dry clean