Let's take a little foray into the Japanese world by offering you a pattern for a short cardigan in pure merino wool reminiscent of a kimono. The yarn selected for this garment is our Luce, a ribbon yarn derived from our iconic Piuma yarn, enriched with a thin thread of lamé.
We think this wool kimono is also perfect for wearing during the Christmas season because its shimmering effect brings a festive touch!
The colour shown here is natural white, though you can find other beautiful colours on our shop.
MATERIALS
Luce yarn col. Natural White, approx. 400 g / 14.1 oz
Knitting needles size 8 EU / 11 US
Wool needle
GAUGE – CHAIN STITCH
10 cm x 10 cm / 4" x 4"
11 stitches and 18 rows
approx. 4 motifs x 4.5 motifs
STITCHES USED
Knit
Purl
Stockinette:
row 1: knit all
row 2: purl all
Repeat rows 1 and 2
Chain Stitch:
row 1: purl 1 stitch, repeat (wrap the yarn around the right needle 3 times and slip the next stitch onto the right needle as if to knit) until the last stitch, purl the last stitch
row 2: purl 1 stitch, repeat (slip 3 stitches onto the right needle dropping the wraps from the previous row, place them back onto the left needle, then without letting them drop, work these 3 stitches 3 times—once knit, once purl, once knit—then drop the 3 stitches off the needle) until the last stitch, purl the last stitch.
Repeat rows 1 and 2.
Stitch passed over:
pass 1 stitch on the right needle without working it, knit the next stitch on the left needle and with the tip of the left needle overlap the passed stitch, i.e. unworked.
Double stitch over:
pass 1 stitch onto the right needle without working it, knit together the following 2 stitches on the left needle and with the tip of the left needle overlap the passed, or unworked, stitch.
SIZES
Instructions are provided for size S/M (L)
FINISHED
GARMENT MEASUREMENTS SIZE S/M (L)
Bust circumference 97 (105) cm / 38.2" (41.3")
Total height 48 (50) cm / 19" (20")
Underarm height 15 (17) cm / 6" (6.7")
Neck opening 24 cm / 9.4"
Upper sleeve width 33 cm / 13"
Sleeve length from underarm 15 cm / 6"
DIFFICULTY
Intermediate
PROCEDURE
The kimono is knitted flat and consists of 3 pieces: the back with sleeves, the right front with sleeve, and the left front with sleeve. The edges of the opening and the neck, including the two halves of the back neck, are created during the knitting of the two fronts.
Using knitting needles size n° 8 EU / 11 US, cast on 53 (59) stitches and knit 2 rows in stockinette stitch, then continue in chain stitch for 24 (28) rows, which equals 6 (7) motifs in height. You should reach row 26 (30), which is 15 (17) cm / 6" (6.7").
Row 17 (19): cast on 18 stitches for the first sleeve, continue in chain stitch until the last stitch
row 18 (20): cast on 18 stitches for the second sleeve, continue in chain stitch until the last stitch.
There are now 89 (95) stitches, equal to 29 (31) motifs in width. Continue in chain stitch for another 16 rows, equal to 9 motifs in height, reaching row 34 (36), equal to 35 (37) cm / 13.8" (14.6").
Row 35 (37): bind off the first 5 stitches for the edge of the first sleeve, continue in chain stitch until the end of the row
row 36 (38): bind off the first 5 stitches for the edge of the second sleeve, continue in chain stitch until the end of the row.
Now start the decreases on the sides to shape the upper part of the sleeves and shoulders: if, after performing the decreases, you don’t have enough stitches to work a full pattern in chain stitch, work those stitches in stockinette stitch. The explanation is given separately for the different sizes.
Size S/M
Row 37: decrease 2 stitches by working a double slipped stitch over the first 3 stitches, continue in chain stitch until the last 3 stitches, decrease 2 stitches by working 3 stitches together knitwise over the last 3 stitches
rows 38 to 42: work as row 37
row 43: decrease 2 stitches by working a double slipped stitch over the first 3 stitches, continue in chain stitch until the last 3 stitches, decrease 2 stitches by working 3 stitches together knitwise over the last 3 stitches
row 44: decrease 2 stitches by working 3 stitches together in twisted purl over the first 3 stitches ( slip the 3 stitches knitwise without working them onto the right needle, twist them and pass them back onto the left needle one at a time, then purl the 3 stitches together through the back loop), continue in chain stitch until the last 3 stitches, decrease 2 stitches by working 3 stitches together purlwise over the last 3 stitches
rows 45 to 46: repeat rows 43 and 44
Bind off.
Size L
Row 39: bind off the first 3 stitches, continue in chain stitch until the last 3 stitches, bind off the last 3 stitches
rows 40 to 47: work as row 39
row 48: bind off the first 2 stitches, continue in chain stitch until the last 2 stitches, bind off the last 2 stitches.
Bind off the work.
Using knitting needles size n° 8 EU / 11 US, cast on 33 (39) stitches and knit 2 rows in stockinette stitch.
Row 3: knit 2 stitches, repeat (wrap the yarn around the right needle 3 times and slip the next stitch onto the right needle as if to knit) until the last stitch, purl the last stitch
row 6: purl 1 stitch, repeat (slip 3 stitches onto the right needle dropping the wraps from the previous row, place them back onto the left needle, then without letting them drop, work these 3 stitches 3 times – once knit, once purl, once knit – then drop the 3 stitches off the needle) until the last 2 stitches, purl the last 2 stitches
row 17 (19): work chain stitch with initial stockinette border
row 18 (20): cast on 18 stitches for the sleeve, continue chain stitch with initial stockinette border until the end of the row.
There are now 51 (57) stitches, equal to 16 (18) motifs in width. Continue chain stitch with initial stockinette border for another 16 rows, equal to 9 motifs in height, reaching row 34 (36), equal to 35 (37) cm / 13.8" (14.6").
Row 35 (37): work chain stitch with initial stockinette border
row 36 (38): bind off the first 5 stitches for the sleeve edge, continue chain stitch with initial stockinette border until the end of the row.
Now begin decreases on the left side to shape the upper sleeve, shoulder, and neckline (including half the back neckline): if after performing the decreases there are not enough stitches for a full chain stitch motif, work these stitches in stockinette stitch. The explanation is given separately by size.
Size S/M
Row 37: work chain stitch with initial border until the last 3 stitches, bind off the last 3 stitches
row 38: bind off the first 3 stitches, continue chain stitch with initial stockinette border until the end of the row
rows 39 to 42: repeat rows 37 and 38 two more times
row 43: work chain stitch with initial stockinette border until the last 3 stitches, decrease 2 stitches by knitting 3 stitches together over the last 3 stitches
row 44: decrease 2 stitches by working 3 stitches together in twisted purl over the first 3 stitches, continue chain stitch with initial stockinette border until the end of the row
rows 45 and 46: repeat rows 43 and 44
row 47: work chain stitch with initial stockinette border until the last 3 stitches, bind off the last 3 stitches
row 48: bind off the first 3 stitches, continue chain stitch with initial stockinette border until the end of the row
rows 49 and 50: repeat rows 47 and 48
Bind off the work.
Size L
Row 49: work chain stitch with initial stockinette border until the last 3 stitches, bind off the last 3 stitches
row 40: bind off the first 3 stitches, continue chain stitch with initial stockinette border until the end of the row
rows 41 to 46: repeat rows 39 and 40 three more times
row 47: work chain stitch with initial stockinette border until the last 3 stitches, bind off the last 3 stitches
row 48: bind off the first 2 stitches, continue chain stitch with initial stockinette border until the end of the row
row 49: work chain stitch with initial stockinette border until the last 3 stitches, bind off the last 3 stitches
row 50: bind off the first 3 stitches, continue chain stitch with initial stockinette border until the end of the row
rows 51 and 52: repeat rows 49 and 50
Bind off the work.
Knit the left front with sleeve in the same way as the right front with sleeve, but in a mirrored way.
Sew the top of the sleeves and the shoulders together. Sew the two halves of the back neck together and around the neckline. Close the underarms and the sides.
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