purlJam

<pattern>

# BALLOON STRIPE KIMONO CARDIGAN

A playful, oversized kimono-style cardigan featuring a cheerful four-colour balloon motif worked in stranded colourwork. This classic T-shaped design has minimal shaping, wide rectangular sleeves, and an open front for easy layering. The generous drape and dropped shoulders create a relaxed, contemporary silhouette perfect for transitional weather.

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## MATERIALS

**Yarn:** DK weight yarn (light worsted), approximately 100m per 50g
- **Colour A (Pink):** 300 (350, 400)g / 600 (700, 800)m
- **Colour B (Blue):** 200 (225, 250)g / 400 (450, 500)m  
- **Colour C (Yellow):** 150 (175, 200)g / 300 (350, 400)m
- **Colour D (Green):** 150 (175, 200)g / 300 (350, 400)m

**Total yardage:** Approximately 1600 (1825, 2100)m

**Needles:** 
- 4mm (UK 8, US 6) straight needles for main body
- 3.75mm (UK 9, US 5) straight needles for ribbed edges
- Or sizes needed to obtain correct tension

**Notions:**
- Stitch markers
- Tapestry needle for seaming and weaving in ends
- Blocking wires or pins (optional but recommended)
- Optional: Two 40cm fabric ties or ribbon for closure

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## GAUGE (TENSION)

**22 stitches × 30 rows = 10cm (4") in stocking stitch with 4mm needles, measured after blocking**

**22 stitches × 28 rows = 10cm (4") in stranded colourwork pattern with 4mm needles, measured after blocking**

*Note: Tension in colourwork is typically slightly looser in row gauge. Take time to swatch in the balloon pattern and check your tension carefully. Adjust needle size if necessary to match stitch gauge.*

**Tension Swatch Instructions:**
Cast on 36 sts with 4mm needles. Work 4 rows in stocking stitch with Colour A, then work Rows 1-16 of Chart A three times, then work 4 more rows in Colour A. Bind off. Block swatch and measure tension over the middle section.

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## SIZES

**S/M (L/XL, 2XL/3XL)**

**Finished Measurements:**
- **Bust circumference:** 102 (117, 132)cm / 40 (46, 52)" (measured with fronts meeting at centre)
- **Body length:** 60 (62, 64)cm / 23.5 (24.5, 25.25)" from shoulder to hem
- **Sleeve length:** 45 (47, 49)cm / 17.75 (18.5, 19.25)" from shoulder seam to cuff
- **Sleeve width:** 40 (42, 44)cm / 15.75 (16.5, 17.25)" at widest point (cuff to cuff when laid flat)
- **Cross-back width:** 51 (58.5, 66)cm / 20 (23, 26)"

**Recommended Ease:** 
This kimono is designed to be worn with 20-30cm (8-12") of positive ease at the bust for an oversized, relaxed fit. Choose a size based on your preferred drape.

**Example sizing:**
- For 81-91cm bust: choose S/M
- For 91-107cm bust: choose L/XL  
- For 107-122cm bust: choose 2XL/3XL

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## ABBREVIATIONS

- **k:** knit
- **p:** purl
- **st(s):** stitch(es)
- **RS:** right side
- **WS:** wrong side
- **St st:** stocking stitch (knit on RS, purl on WS)
- **k2tog:** knit 2 stitches together (right-leaning decrease)
- **ssk:** slip, slip, knit (left-leaning decrease) - slip 2 sts knitwise individually, insert left needle into front of both sts and knit together
- **CO:** cast on
- **BO:** bind off
- **pm:** place marker
- **sm:** slip marker
- **CC:** contrast colour
- **beg:** beginning
- **rem:** remaining
- **rep:** repeat
- **cont:** continue
- **approx:** approximately

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## NOTES

**Construction:**
This cardigan is worked in five flat pieces from the bottom up: Back, Left Front, Right Front, and two Sleeves. All pieces are simple rectangles with minimal shaping to create the classic T-shaped kimono silhouette. After seaming, front bands are picked up and worked in rib. The cardigan is designed to be worn open or closed with optional fabric ties.

**Kimono Characteristics:**
- No armhole shaping - sleeves attach perpendicular to body
- No shoulder shaping - straight horizontal seam
- Dropped shoulders for relaxed fit
- Wide, rectangular sleeves with no tapering
- Oversized, boxy fit with no waist shaping

**Colourwork Technique:**
The balloon motif is worked in stranded colourwork (Fair Isle technique). Carry unused colours loosely across the wrong side of work, catching floats every 3-4 stitches to prevent snagging. When working with 4 colours in a single row, you may find it helpful to hold 2 colours in your right hand and 2 in your left, or drop and pick up colours as needed.

**Float Management:**
Maximum float length in this pattern is 5 stitches. To catch floats: when working the dominant colour, insert right needle into next stitch, lay the float over the right needle, complete the stitch catching the float behind it. Do this every 3-4 stitches on longer floats.

**Reading Charts:**
- Read RS (odd-numbered) rows from right to left
- Read WS (even-numbered) rows from left to right
- Charts show RS rows; work colours as shown on RS, and purl them on WS
- Chart repeats are indicated with brackets [ ]
- Work edge stitches outside brackets once, then repeat bracketed section across row

**Colour Dominance:**
For consistent tension, establish a dominant colour (the colour that travels below the other on the WS). Colour A (Pink) is used as the background and should be your dominant colour throughout.

**Stripe Pattern:**
The balloon chart is worked continuously from hem to shoulder on all pieces. Begin all pieces at Row 1 of the chart and continue repeating Rows 1-16 throughout.

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## BACK BODY

**Stitch Count Check:** 
- S/M: 113 sts = 5 edge + (12 × 9 repeats) = 5 + 108 = 113 sts ✓
- L/XL: 129 sts = 5 edge + (12 × 10 repeats) + 4 edge = 5 + 120 + 4 = 129 sts ✓
- 2XL/3XL: 145 sts = 5 edge + (12 × 11 repeats) + 8 edge = 5 + 132 + 8 = 145 sts ✓

With 3.75mm needles and Colour A, CO 113 (129, 145) sts.

**Ribbed Hem:**
Row 1 (RS): *K1, p1; rep from * to last st, k1.
Row 2 (WS): *P1, k1; rep from * to last st, p1.
Rep these 2 rows until ribbing measures 5cm (2"), ending with a WS row.

**Begin Balloon Pattern:**
Change to 4mm needles.

Setup Row (RS): Work Row 1 of Chart A as follows:
- **S/M:** Work sts 1-5 (edge sts), then work 12-st repeat 9 times.
- **L/XL:** Work sts 1-5 (edge sts), then work 12-st repeat 10 times, then work sts 6-9 (edge sts).
- **2XL/3XL:** Work sts 1-5 (edge sts), then work 12-st repeat 11 times, then work sts 6-13 (edge sts).

Cont working Rows 1-16 of Chart A in St st, repeating the 16-row pattern throughout. Carry unused colours loosely across WS, catching floats as needed.

Work even in pattern until piece measures 60 (62, 64)cm / 23.5 (24.5, 25.25)" from CO edge, ending with a WS row.

**Math Check:**
- 60cm × 28 rows/10cm = 168 rows ✓
- 168 ÷ 16 = 10.5 chart repeats ✓

BO all sts loosely in pattern. Piece should measure 51 (58.5, 66)cm / 20 (23, 26)" wide.

**Width Check:**
- S/M: 113 sts ÷ 22 sts/10cm × 10 = 51.4cm ✓
- L/XL: 129 sts ÷ 22 sts/10cm × 10 = 58.6cm ✓
- 2XL/3XL: 145 sts ÷ 22 sts/10cm × 10 = 65.9cm ✓

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## LEFT FRONT

**Stitch Count Check:**
- S/M: 56 sts = 5 edge + (12 × 4 repeats) + 3 edge = 5 + 48 + 3 = 56 sts ✓
- L/XL: 64 sts = 5 edge + (12 × 4 repeats) + 7 edge = 5 + 48 + 11 = 64 sts ✓
- 2XL/3XL: 73 sts = 5 edge + (12 × 5 repeats) + 8 edge = 5 + 60 + 8 = 73 sts ✓

With 3.75mm needles and Colour A, CO 56 (64, 73) sts.

**Ribbed Hem:**
Row 1 (RS): *K1, p1; rep from * to end.
Row 2 (WS): *P1, k1; rep from * to end.
Rep these 2 rows until ribbing measures 5cm (2"), ending with a WS row.

**Begin Balloon Pattern:**
Change to 4mm needles.

Setup Row (RS): Work Row 1 of Chart A as follows:
- **S/M:** Work sts 1-5 (edge sts), then work 12-st repeat 4 times, then work sts 6-8 (edge sts).
- **L/XL:** Work sts 1-5 (edge sts), then work 12-st repeat 4 times, then work sts 6-12 (edge sts), then work st 1.
- **2XL/3XL:** Work sts 1-5 (edge sts), then work 12-st repeat 5 times, then work sts 6-13 (edge sts).

Cont working Rows 1-16 of Chart A in St st, repeating the 16-row pattern throughout.

Work even in pattern until piece measures 55 (57, 59)cm / 21.75 (22.5, 23.25)" from CO edge, ending with a WS row.

**Neck Shaping:**
Maintaining pattern as established, shape neck as follows:

Next Row (RS): BO 8 (10, 12) sts at beg of row, work to end. 48 (54, 61) sts rem.

Next Row (WS): Work even in pattern.

Dec Row (RS): K1, ssk, work in pattern to end. 1 st decreased.

Rep Dec Row every RS row 3 (4, 5) more times. 44 (49, 55) sts rem.

Work even in pattern until piece measures 60 (62, 64)cm / 23.5 (24.5, 25.25)" from CO edge, ending with a WS row (same length as Back).

BO all sts loosely in pattern.

**Width Check:**
- S/M: 56 sts ÷ 22 sts/10cm × 10 = 25.5cm ✓
- L/XL: 64 sts ÷ 22 sts/10cm × 10 = 29.1cm ✓
- 2XL/3XL: 73 sts ÷ 22 sts/10cm × 10 = 33.2cm ✓

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## RIGHT FRONT

Work as for Left Front, REVERSING neck shaping:

Work even in pattern until