During the month of March, I’ll be hosting a knitalong for this jacket:
It is a very simple design that is knitted from the bottom, kimono style, up and around, in one piece. Here’s how:
Step 1: Start with the Right Front. Complete the Right Sleeve by using a Knitted Cast On to add stitches to your needle, then knit it right up to the shoulder. Place the stitches on a holder or waste yarn.
Step 2: Continue with the Left Front. Complete the Left Sleeve by using a Knitted Cast on to add stitches to your needle, then knit it right up to the shoulder.
Place all the stitches on a single needle. Knit the right front, add stitches for the neckline with a Knitted Cast On, then knit right across the left front. You are now ready to work the back.
Step 3: Complete the sleeves by knitting as many rows as you knitted on the front. At this point you can join the sleeves on each end by taking an extra needle, picking up the sleeve stitches from the cast on row, and using a 3-needle bind-off bind the stitches together.
Do the same on both sides. Or you can wait to seam the sleeves later. Whatever you prefer.
Step 4: Continue to knit down the back, and you can actually attach the sides on each row as you come to it, to avoid seaming later. Again that is optional.
This schematic shows you the dimensions of the finished jacket:
Let’s talk about materials:
I used Beaded Mohair and Sequins for the pink jacket, color 1024 Metal. For the blue jacket, I am using Beaded Silk Light color 903 Gold. My recommendation is any of our beaded yarns, like Beaded Mohair, Beaded Mohair & Sequins, Beaded Silk Light, Beaded Silk and Sequins Light.
If you are substituting yarns, I suggest using the heaviest Artyarns yarn you can find. Perhaps Silk Rhapsody, Ensemble 4, Supermerino, would make good substitutions. You cannot use any laceweight yarns like Cashmere 1 or Silk Mohair–they are just too thin. If you try using Ensemble Light, Rhapsody Light, or Regal Silk, I hope you are an experienced lace knitter, because it is not that easy to knit such thin yarn in lace on such big needles. Also, you should make sure that you are getting the gauge, and chances are you’ll need to go up a needle size or two right from the start. I recommend starting each side with a beaded yarn and ending with it too, so that the jacket is not too “flyaway” light.
GAUGE: 10 stitches and 11.25 rows = 4″ x 4″ —- Tight knitters beware, you will need to knit this in a very very open manner or your jacket will be way too small. Although I recommend size 11 needles (I personally used 10’s), many will need to go up to size 13 needles to get the required gauge.
I like using clingy needles with this type of knitting–I avoid metal, and enjoy the Knitter’s Pride Karbonz or any bamboo needles.
Want to join the knitalong, please click here for the instructions: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/spring-jacket-knitalong
We have a discussion group here where you can post any questions: https://www.ravelry.com/discuss/penny/18yarnsart-knitalongs-and-patterns/2853697/26-50#46
Happy knitting, and I hope you join me.