This design is part of my “From Japan, with love“ series, which was inspired by a recent trip back to Japan, where I lived as a child..

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While I was walking alone through the grove that surrounds the Honen-in temple in Kyoto one late afternoon, a feeling of complete quiet and contentment washed over me. It was as if time was suspended and I could just fully and peacefully observe the moment. Then appeared a monk, who walked up a few stairs to sound the temple bell and close the gate. That dream-like moment has been etched in my heart ever since.

The distinctive front band of this wrap-style cardigan reminds me of the intertwined tree roots covering the temple grounds.

CONSTRUCTION:

This cardigan is worked seamlessly from the bottom up. The body is worked flat in one piece to the underarms, then the back and fronts are worked separately, then joined by a three-needle bind off. Stitches are picked up around the armholes, then a few short rows are worked to shape the sleeve caps. The sleeves are then worked in the round to the cuff. Finally, stitches are picked up along the fronts and back neck to work the herringbone edging in one piece.

SKILLS REQUIRED:

Casting on, knitting and purling through the back loop, knitting, purling, increasing, decreasing, working a three-needle bind off, picking up stitches, binding off, working the herringbone stitch (explanations and link to video tutorial provided), wet-blocking.

SIZES:

3mo (6mo, 12mo, 18mo // 2yo, 4yo, 6yo, 8yo, 10yo)

To fit chest sizes 16 (17, 18, 19 // 21, 23, 25, 26.5, 28) inches or 40.5 (43, 45.5, 48.5, // 53.5, 58.5, 63.5, 67.5, 71) cm.

Finished garment has chest measurement of 20.25 (21, 22, 23.5 // 25.25, 27.75, 29.5, 31.25, 32.75) inches or 51.5 (53.5, 56, 59.5 // 64, 70.5, 75, 79.5, 83) cm

In general it’s best to go by the child’s actual chest measurement when selecting the appropriate size. You can also choose a size according to how much ease you’d like the garment to have.

YARN REQUIREMENTS:

Approximately 350 (400, 450, 500 // 550, 650, 800, 850, 950) yards or 320 (366, 411, 457 // 503, 594, 731, 777, 869) meters of worsted weight yarn.
Note: For this particular design, I recommend using natural fibers as they block more easily – wet-blocking is essential for this design

NEEDLES:

• US7 or 4.5 mm circular needle in 24-inch or 60 cm length or size needed to match stockinette gauge
• matching dpns for sleeves
• US4 or 3.5 mm circular needle, or 3 sizes smaller than above, in 24-inch or 60cm length (or longer for sizes 2yo and up) for I-cord bind off
• matching dpns for sleeve cuffs

NOTIONS:

• 4 locking stitch markers
• 3 pieces of scrap yarn
• tapestry needle

GAUGE:

19 sts x 28 rows = 4 inches or 10 cm in stockinette stitch, using larger needles, after blocking

28 sts x 32 rows = 4 inches or 10 cm in herringbone stitch, using larger needles, after blocking
(Note: depending on your tension, you may need a larger size needle to achieve this gauge – a few test-knitters had to go up one or two needle sizes)

22 sts x 28 rows = 4 inches or 10 cm in twisted rib, using larger needles, after blocking