Red Letter Day

This is Red Letter Day by Fiona Ellis.  Curiously, there are only three projects up on Ravelry for this design, although it is relatively straightforward for quite a spectacular effect.

It begins like Geiger with some ribbing.  I shortened this by six inches because I am short and it would have been coat length.  There is only one chart for the cables and it is repeated up the back to a certain point and then only the simpler element used above the armholes.

Exactly the same cable is split across the fronts, adding to the impression of military style braiding.

I went for bronze buttons with a crest because brassy ones distracted from the cables themselves. The only technique I added was to use a two stitch I-cord bind-off on the front edges, which worked really well.  

This is a budget yarn, designed I think for toddlers, but I was drawn to the strong colour.  I'm now imagining it done in a pure wool, perhaps in a deep green, and worn with a tartan skirt with a suggestion of kilt about it.  If one went to events where that sort of thing could be worn, that is.