Chou Blouse

Size

0 (1) 2

Finished Measurements

• Chest: 85 (94) 102 cm
• Length: 36.5 (41.5) 46.5 cm (excluding shoulder straps)

Gauge

30 sts × 40 rows = 10 × 10 cm
in Stockinette Stitch using 3.25 mm needles

Needles

• 3.25 mm knitting needles
• 2.75 mm knitting needles
• 3.0 mm crochet hook

Materials

• 1 cone of Otherstitchroom Summerstitch yarn (200 g / approx. 1200 m)
• Thin elastic thread (used along the front, shoulders, and back to create the gathered frill effect)
• 8 buttons (11 mm diameter)

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Yarn Information & Substitution Guide

The original yarn is sold only in Korea and may not be easily accessible internationally.

It is a 100% cotton yarn with the following characteristics:

• 200 g / approx. 1200 m per cone
• Equivalent to approx. 100 g / 600 m
• Lace-weight to fine lace-weight range (very thin cotton yarn)

For substitution, it is recommended to choose a similar fine cotton yarn with comparable meterage. Because handfeel and drape can vary significantly between yarns, selecting a substitute based on personal preference is recommended.

Any 100% cotton yarn in the lace-weight range with similar yardage will work, but swatching is strongly advised to achieve correct gauge and fabric structure.

Difficulty

★★★★★★☆ (Advanced)

This is a chart-based pattern with written instructions. Partial video tutorials are provided for specific techniques, but there is no full step-by-step tutorial video.

Instructions on how to read knitting charts are not included, so this pattern is recommended for knitters who are already comfortable working from charts.

Techniques used in this pattern include:

• 3-stitch i-cord bind off
• Crochet slip stitch
• Double knitting
• Buttonhole construction
• Italian cast-on
• Yarn-over increases
• Cable stitches
• Kitchener stitch
• German short rows
• Tubular bind off for 1×1 rib
• Picking up stitches and sewing pieces together

Construction

The Chou Blouse is a bottom-up sleeveless blouse.

The front and back pieces are worked flat separately and joined with sewing. Stitches are then picked up from the front pieces to work the shoulder straps, which are sewn in place to complete the garment.

Most of the pattern is worked from charts, with written instructions provided for sections that are not charted.

If you have previously knitted bottom-up garments with stitch patterns, most of the techniques used here will likely be familiar.

However, this design contains many different techniques and numerous finishing details, making both the knitting and finishing process fairly involved.

In particular, there are many sections that require picking up stitches and careful finishing, so the overall knitting time is relatively long. The sample shown was completed in approximately seven days, based on about eight hours of knitting per day.

Because the blouse is worked flat from the bottom up, cable length is not especially important. However, very short cables (such as 40 cm) may be somewhat inconvenient. The sample was knitted using an 80 cm cable length (including needle tips).

Needle sizes may be adjusted freely as long as the correct gauge is achieved.

Sizing

It is recommended to choose a size with approximately 5–10 cm (2–4 in) of positive ease relative to your bust measurement, although the desired fit is ultimately a matter of personal preference.

The designer’s bust measurement is approximately 85 cm (33½ in), and the sample shown is Size 1 with a finished bust circumference of 94 cm (37 in).

Because this is a bottom-up, chart-based pattern with fixed stitch motifs, modifying the size or changing the design can be challenging. Changes made to one section often affect stitch counts and pattern alignment throughout the rest of the garment, making customization relatively complex.