Kasuri Chanchanko by Cheryl Oberle

Kasuri Chanchanko

Knitting
October 2002
Fingering (14 wpi) ?
chart pattern using larger needles
1200 yards (1097 m)
English
Errata available: interweave.com interweave.com

Kasuri means ikat (an Indonesian word for the same thing) woven cloth & Chanchanko means vest in Japanese. Kasuri is an incredibly complex tied resist dyeing technique done on the loom using (historically) indigo dyes. This vest is a masterpiece of stranded knitting resulting in a very striking interpretation of the traditionally styled woven cloth vest.

Sizing is altered by changing the gauge with the change in needle sizes. The neck band is knitted on needles one size smaller than the body needles. The amount of yarn needed does not change: 750 yds. of the MC and 450 yds. of the CC.

Gauge for the 3 sizes:

  • 41 1/2”-105.5 cm chest: 28 st/34 rows over 4 inches/10 cm on size US 3 (3.25 mm) needles
  • 44 1/2”-113 cm chest: 26 st/32 rows over 4 inches/10 cm on size US 4 (3.5 mm) needles
  • 51 1/2”-131 cm chest: 24 st/30 rows over 4 inches/10 cm on size US 5 (3.75 mm) needles

Notes: The yarn used in the original pattern, Jamieson’s 2-ply Shetland, seems to have been replaced with Jamieson’s Shetland Spindrift, which has less yardage. If you are getting the Spindrift, please be sure to order enough yarn. Eight balls of Prussian Blue and 4 balls of Granite is suggested to be safe. The featured project was made using another discontinued yarn: Annabel Fox Donegal DK.