COSY BRIGHT KIMONO
Inject a blast of personality into any ensemble with Pat Strong’s spirited statement piece
Kimonos top the list of comfiest fashion trends, right up there with jumpsuits, snoods and dad trainers. This one is no exception, and it’s an optimism-inducing festival of colour to boot. Fancy adding a belt? If you need inspiration, try adapting the rainbow band from page 50. Wear it as a stunning extra layer for shopping, or keep it to yourself – it’s the perfect match for a set of comfy slippers and a good book.
NOTES
This oversized garment is made in one piece from the hem to the Motif strip, then above the Motif strip to the armholes. At the armholes it is divided for Front and Back, and a Sleeve extension ch is added to each side so that each Sleeve is worked across this chain and the existing sts on each side of the Front. For the Back above the armholes, the base of each Sleeve is worked into the extension ch and across the existing sts on the Back. A front band is added around the neckline.
STITCH PATTERNS
SHELL STITCH PATTERN MULTIPLE OF 8 + 1 STS
Row 1 (RS) Ch1 (does not count as st throughout), dc in second ch from hook, *ch2, skip 3 ch, 4tr in next ch, ch2, skip 3 ch, dc in next ch; rep from * to end, turn.
Row 2 Ch1, dc in first st, *ch3, dc in second tr of next 4-tr group, ch3, dc in next dc; rep from * to end, turn.
Row 3 Ch3 (counts as first tr throughout), tr in st at base of ch, *ch2, dc in next dc, ch2, 4tr in next dc; rep from * to end, working 2tr in last dc, turn.
Row 4 Ch1, dc in first st, *ch3, dc in next dc, Mirror sequins are used both in this flower band and scattered across the trellis pattern ch3, dc in second tr of next 4-tr group; rep from * to end, working last dc in top of beg ch-3, turn.
Row 5 Ch1, dc in first st, *ch2, 4tr in next dc, ch2, dc in next dc; rep from * to end, turn. Rows 2-5 set pattern.
FLOWER MOTIF MAKE 12
Using Raspberry, ch18, ss to first ch to join into a ring.
Round 1 Ch3 (counts as tr), 35tr into ring, ss to top of beg ch-3. [36 sts]
Round 2 Ch1 (does not count as st throughout), dc into first st, *ch6, skip 2 sts, dc in next st; rep from * around omitting dc on last repeat, ss to first dc. [12 ch-6 sps]
Round 3 Join Primrose in the third ch of any ch-6, *ch4 (counts as dtr), 2dtr in same ch, ch3, 3dtr in next ch, ch1 (corner made), (3tr in third ch of next ch-6 sp, ch1) twice; rep from * 3 more times replacing beg ch-4 with dtr, ss to top of beg ch-4. Fasten off.
[2 tr-groups on each side, 2 dtr-groups at each corner, 4 corner ch-3 sps]
Round 4 Join Iced Teal in any st. Ch1, dc in
each st and ch-1 sp around, 4dc in each corner ch-3 sp. Fasten off.
JOIN MOTIFS
With RS facing, join each Motif with a ss seam using Iced Teal.
Add a sequin to centre space if required.
TRELLIS PATTERN
Row 1 (WS) Ch1 (does not count as st throughout), dc in first st, *ch5, dc in second tr of next 4-tr group, ch5, dc in next dc; rep from * to end, turn.
Row 2 (RS) Ch5 (counts as tr and ch2), dc in next ch-5 sp, (ch5, dc in next ch-5 sp) rep to last ch-5 sp, ch2, tr in last dc, turn.
Row 3 Ch1, dc in first st, (ch5, dc in next ch-5 sp) rep to last ch-5 sp, ch5, dc in third ch of beg ch-3, turn.
Rows 2 and 3 set pattern.
KIMONO
FRONT AND BACK TO ARMHOLES
Using Cobalt, ch257 (297).
Work Rows 1-5 of the Shell Pattern, working Row 4 in Primrose. [32 (37) pattern repeats] Work Rows 2-5 of the Shell Pattern, working Row 2 in Primrose.
Change to Burnt Sienna.
PATTERN STRIPE 1
Work Rows 2-5 of the Shell Pattern. Work Rows 2-5 of the Shell Pattern, working Rows 2 and 4 in Primrose.
Work Rows 2 and 3 of the Shell Pattern. Change to Iced Teal.
PATTERN STRIPE 2
Work Rows 4-5 of the Shell Pattern. Work Rows 2-5 of the Shell Pattern, working Row 4 in Primrose.
Work Rows 2-5 of the Shell Pattern, working Row 2 in Primrose.
Repeat Pattern Stripe 1 with Raspberry as the main colour.
Repeat Pattern Stripe 2 with Cobalt as the main colour.
FLOWER MOTIFS
Make 12 (14) Motifs and join into a strip as stated in the instructions above.
To join the Motif strip to the last row of the Back and Fronts, pin the Motif strip evenly at intervals to the Back and Fronts. Using Iced Teal, dc evenly along the bottom edge of the Motif strip, and when you reach a tr group on the last row of the Back and Fronts, dc in next st on Motif strip, ss in second and third tr of tr group, dc in next st on Motif strip. Repeat across until all treble groups are joined.
MOTIF STRIP TO ARMHOLES
Using Iced Teal, rejoin on the top edge of the Motif Strip with RS facing and dc 257 (297) evenly across. This works out as 21 sts per Motif plus an extra 4 (2) sts evenly spaced.
Repeat Pattern Stripe 2 with Iced Teal as the main colour, working the first Row 4 as follows: Row 4 Ch1 (does not count as st), dc in first st, (ch3, skip 3 sts, dc in next st) repeat to end, turn. [32 (37) patt repeats]
Repeat Pattern Stripe 1 with Raspberry as the main colour.
LEFT FRONT AND SLEEVE
Using Cobalt and with WS facing, work Row 4 of the Shell Pattern until there are 12 (14) ch-sps and 13 (15) dc, ch56 for Sleeve extension, turn.
Work Row 1 of the Shell Pattern into the chain extension for 7 patt repeats, working the final dc into the last dc worked of the previous row; continue working as Row 5 of the Shell Pattern across the ch-sps of the Row 4 sts, turn. [13 (14) patt repeats] Continue this Pattern Stripe as for the remaining 8 rows of Pattern Stripe 2.
TRELLIS PATTERN
Using Burnt Sienna, work Row 1 of Trellis Pattern. [13 (14) patt repeats] Continue working in Trellis Pattern as set, repeating Rows 2 and 3 alternately. Work 3 more rows in Burnt Sienna, 4 rows in Primrose then 4 rows in Burnt Sienna.
Fasten off.
Repeat Pattern Stripe 1 with Cobalt as the main colour, working the first Row 2 as follows:
Row 2 Ch1 (does not count as st), dc in first st, (ch3, dc in second ch of next ch-5) rep to last ch-5, ch3, dc in third ch of beg ch-5, turn. Fasten off at the end of Pattern Stripe 1.
RIGHT FRONT AND SLEEVE
Mark the 6 (7)th tr group from the edge on the last row of the Raspberry stripe on the opposite front edge.
Using Cobalt, ch56, and with WS facing dc in second tr of marked tr group and continue in Row 4 of Shell Pattern to end, turn. Work Row 5 of the Shell Pattern across the ch-sps of the Row 4 sts then continue working as Row 1 of the Shell Pattern across the chain extension, starting with (skip 3 ch, 4tr in next ch), turn. [13 (14) patt repeats] Continue this Pattern Stripe as for the remaining 8 rows of Pattern Stripe 2. Continue working the Trellis Pattern and Pattern Stripe 1 as for the Left Front and Sleeve to match.
BACK AND BACK SLEEVES
Lay the work out with the RS of the Back facing, folding the Fronts and Sleeve pieces forward so that the Sleeve extension ch on each side is in line with the next row to be worked across the Back.
Next row (RS) Using Cobalt, and working into the opposite side of the extension ch of the Right Sleeve, work as Row 1 of the Shell Pattern across the extension ch, working the last dc in the opposite side of the dc after the extension ch, continue working as Row 5 of the Shell Pattern across the 20 (23) repeats of the Back, working the last dc in the opposite side of the dc before the extension ch, skip first 3 ch of Left Sleeve extension ch and continue as Row 1 of Shell Pattern across the opposite side of the extension ch, turn.
[34 (37) patt repeats]
Continue as for Pattern Stripe 2. Complete 12 rows of Trellis Pattern, and Pattern Stripe 1 as for the Front until the last row of Pattern Stripe 1.
On the last row of Pattern Stripe 1, when working the second and third tr of each tr group, ss to the corresponding sts on the tr groups of the Fronts to join. There will be a section in the centre which is unjoined for the neckline. Fasten off.
FRONT EDGINGS
Using Cobalt and with RS facing, join at the Right hem edge, ch1 (does not count as st), and work dc evenly as follows:
14dc in the row ends of the first Pattern Stripe, 15dc in the row ends of each Pattern Stripe to Motif, 21 sts along the side of the Motif, marking the first of these sts, 15dc in the row ends of each Pattern Stripe, 24dc in the row ends of the Trellis Pattern, 15dc in the row ends of the last Pattern Stripe.
Fasten off.
Rejoin Cobalt at the top of the Left Front and work dc evenly down Left Front to match Right Front, with the exception of only 20 sts along the side of the Motif. Mark the last of the 20 sts on the side of the Motif, as the place to rejoin for the Front Band.
FRONT BAND
With WS facing, rejoin Cobalt in the marked st on the Left Front, and work as Row 4 of the Shell Pattern as follows:
Next row (WS) Ch1, dc in first st, (ch3, skip 3 sts, dc in next st) repeat until last dc of Front edge has been worked, work as Row 4 across Back neckline in last row of Pattern Stripe 1 ending with a dc st, ch3, skip first 3 sts of Right Front edge, dc in next st, (ch3, skip 3 sts, dc in next st) repeat ending with last dc in second marked st, turn.
Complete as for Pattern Stripe 2.
Fasten off and weave in ends.
TO FINISH
Sew remaining sequins to body part of trellis if desired.