Azure kimono-free knitting pattern

This understated jacket will be your favorite go-to item this season.

DESIGN BY PATTY LYONS

Sizes
Woman’s small (medium, large, X-large, 2X-large)
Instructions are given for smallest size, with larger sizes in parentheses. When only 1 number is given, it applies to all sizes.

Finished Measurements
Note: Kimono does not meet at center front. Chest measurement is based on twice the back width.
Chest: 36 (40, 44, 47, 51) inches
Length: 22½ (22½, 23, 24½, 24½) inches

Materials
• 100% superwash fine merino wool; 130 yds/50g per hank):
6 (7, 8, 9, 9) hanks and 1 hank cornflower
• Size 7 (4.5mm) 16- and 24-inch circular
needles or size needed to obtain gauge
• Removable stitch markers

Gauge
21½ sts and 28 rows = 4 inches/10cm in St st (blocked).
To save time, take time to check gauge

Special Abbreviations
Double yarn over (2yo): Yo twice. Triple yarn over (3yo): Yo 3 times. Make 1 Left (M1L): Insert LH needle
from front to back under horizontal strand between last st worked and next st on LH needle; knit through back of resulting loop. Make 1 Right (M1R): Insert LH needle from back to front under horizontal
strand between last st worked and next st on LH needle; knit through front of resulting loop.

Pattern Stitch
2-Color Waves (multiple of 10 sts + 8) Rows 1 (RS) and 2: With A, knit.
Row 3: With B, k7, *yo, k1, 2yo, k1, 3yo, k1, 2yo, k1, yo, k6; rep from * to last st, k1.
Row 4: With B, knit across, dropping yo’s.
Rows 5 and 6: With A, knit.

Row 7: With B, k2, *yo, k1, 2yo, k1, 3yo, k1, 2yo, k1, yo, k6; rep from * to last 6 sts, yo, k1, 2yo, k1, 3yo, k1, 2yo, k1, yo, k2.
Row 8: With B, knit across, dropping yo’s.
Rows 9–12: Rep Rows 1–4.

Special Technique
Braided Long-Tail Cast-On: Tie A and B tog in a temporary slip knot; place knot on RH needle (this does not count as a st and will be removed). Hold yarns in left hand as for standard long-tail cast-on, with B over thumb and A over index finger. *Cast on 1 st, then twist yarns around each other by moving A on index finger in front of and behind B on thumb, then returning A to index finger; rep from * until desired number
of sts has been cast on. Drop temporary slip knot from needle

Designer’ tip: When working stripes, always bring new yarn color under old yarn before starting new row.

Pattern Notes
Kimono is worked as 3 separate pieces that are sewn together. Sleeves are integrated into the back and fronts.
Use Braided Long-Tail Cast-On to begin all pieces. Longer circular needle is used to accommodate large number of stitches; do not join.
When working 2-Color Waves pattern, carry yarn not in use loosely along the side; do not cut.

Back
With longer circular needle, cast on 98 (108, 118, 128, 138) sts.
Work 12-row 2-Color Waves pat.
Cut B; with A, work rest of piece in St st.
Next row (RS): Knit across and dec 1 st in middle of row—97 (107, 117, 127, 137) sts.
Work even until piece measures 11 (11, 11½, 12, 12) inches, ending with a WS row.

Shape Sleeve
Inc row (RS): K2, M1R, knit to last 2 sts, M1L, k2—99 (109, 119, 129, 139) sts. Rep Inc row [every RS row] twice—103 (113, 123, 133, 143) sts. Using cable cast-on, cast on 2 st at beg of next 2 rows, then cast on 38 sts at beg of following 2 rows—183 (193, 203, 213, 223) sts.
Mark each end of last row for beg of sleeve openings. Work even until sleeve openings measure 9 (9, 9, 10, 10) inches from markers, ending with a WS row. Remove markers. Bind off 43 sts at beg of next 2 rows—97 (107, 117, 127, 137) sts.

Shape Shoulders
Bind off 7 (8, 10, 11, 12) sts at beg of next 6 (8, 2, 4, 6) rows, then 6 (0, 9, 10, 11) sts at beg of following 2 (0, 6, 4, 2) rows—43 sts. Bind off rem sts.

Right Front
With longer circular needle, cast on 28 (38, 38, 48, 48) sts. Work 12-row 2-Color Waves pat. Cut B; with A, work rest of piece in St st.
Next row (RS): Knit and inc 3 (0, 3, 0, 4) sts evenly across— 31 (38, 41, 48, 52) sts. Work even until piece
measures 11 (11, 11½, 12, 12) inches, ending with a WS row

Shape Sleeve
Inc row (RS): Knit to last 2 sts, M1L, k2—32 (39, 42, 49, 53) sts. Rep Inc row [every RS row] twice, ending with a WS row—34 (41, 44, 51, 55) sts.
Using cable cast-on, cast on 2 sts at end of next row and 38 sts at end of following RS row—74 (81, 84, 91, 95) sts. Mark end of last row for beg of sleeve opening. Work even until sleeve opening measures 9 (9, 9, 10,
10) inches from marker, ending with a RS row; remove marker. Next row (WS): Bind off 43 sts, purl to end—31 (38, 41, 48, 52) sts. Knit 1 row.

Shape Shoulders
Bind off 7 (8, 10, 11, 12) sts at beg of next 3 (4, 1, 2, 3) WS row(s), then 6 (0, 9, 10, 11) sts at beg of following 1 (0, 3, 2, 1) WS row(s)—4 (6, 4, 6, 5) sts.
Bind off rem sts.
Left Front
Work same as right front to sleeve, ending with a WS row

Shape Sleeve
Inc row (RS): K2, M1R, knit to end of row—32 (39, 42, 49, 53) sts. Rep Inc row [every RS row] twice,
ending with a WS row—34 (41, 44, 51, 55) sts.
Using cable cast-on, cast on 2 sts at beg of next row and 38 sts at beg of following RS row—74 (81, 84, 91, 95) sts. Mark end of last row for beg of sleeve opening. Work even until sleeve opening measures 9 (9, 9, 10, 10) inches from marker, ending with a WS row; remove marker.
Next row (RS): Bind off 43 sts, knit to end—31 (38, 41, 48, 52) sts.
Purl 1 row.

Shape Shoulders
Bind off 7 (8, 10, 11, 12) sts at beg of next 3 (4, 1, 2, 3) RS row(s), then 6 (0, 9, 10, 11) sts at beg of following 1 (0, 3, 2, 1) RS row(s)—4 (6, 4, 6, 5) sts.
Bind off rem sts.

Finishing
Weave in ends. Block pieces to measurements.

Right Front Band
With RS facing and using B, starting at bottom of right front edge, pick up and knit 108 (108, 110, 118, 118) sts, ending at center back neck; then using cable cast-on, cast on 18 (16, 18, 16, 17) sts for back neckband—126 (124, 128, 134, 135) sts.
Work 5 rows in St st. Next 2 rows: *P1, k1; rep from * to end. Work 3 rows in St st.
Loosely bind off pwise.

Left Front Band
With B, using cable cast-on, cast on 18 (16, 18, 16, 17) sts for back neckband, then with RS facing and beg at center back neck, pick up and knit 108 (108, 110, 118, 118) sts along left front edge—126 (124, 128, 134, 135) sts.
Work same as for right front band. Sew shoulder seams. Sew side and sleeve seams. Sew back neckband edges tog; reverse seaming on the top of roll to keep seam on inside edge. Sew back neckband to back neck.

Sleeve Band
With RS facing, using shorter circular needle and B, and beg at bottom sleeve seam, pick up and knit 98 (98, 98, 108, 108) sts around sleeve edge; pm for beg of rnd and join.
Knit 3 rnds.
Loosely bind off kwise.
Weave in rem ends