Beautiful “zakkuri” sweater by Noriko Ichikawa

We are pleased to share with you the “Zakkuri Cardigan” imagined by the Japanese designer Noriko Ichikawa: a pattern of pure beauty with a generous volume associated with a rather short cut and nice rib details that give it a lot of allure.
“Zakkuri” means “Zakkuri” means casual, comfortable, thick fabric“ in Japanese which Gilliatt’s soft rustic look and cozy thickness creates perfectly.

The pattern is very well explained with detailed step by step instructions, diagrams and video links from the designer for each technique used and in particular to create perfect buttonholes. It is a seamless design that is knitted from top to bottom with button plackets knitted at the same time as the body and will be easy to adapt to your morphology or your desires.

This pattern is knitted seamlessly top down from the neckline. After shaping the neckline with short rows, the yoke is worked up to the armpits with increases on either side of the raglan armholes. The sleeves are then separated and the body is knitted flat to the edge. The sleeves are then knitted in the round to the wrist. Finally, the stitches are pulled up around the neckline and the collar is worked in ribs.

The buttonholes are worked at the same time as the body, but the buttonholes are made after the work is finished, so that the length of the body can be extended at will (in this case, a little more yarn is needed than recommended). The pattern includes links to videos explaining how to make the buttonholes and a step-by-step image to guide you.

CHOOSE YOUR SIZE

The pattern has 9 sizes corresponding to the following final measurements:

Chest size: 121, 124, 128.5 {133, 140, 144} 151, 160, 165.5 cm / 473⁄4, 483⁄4, 501⁄2 {521⁄4, 55, 563⁄4} 591⁄2, 63, 651⁄4″

Upper arm circumference: 51, 52, 54.5 {56.5, 60, 61} 64.5, 65.5, 65.5 cm / 20, 20½, 21½ {22¼, 23½, 24} 25¼, 25¾, 25¾” 

The sample pictured is worn with lots of positive ease: the model is 1.62 m/54” tall and wears a size 2, with an ease of 34 cm /13½“ at the chest and 26 cm / 10¼” at the upper arm.

To achieve this over-sized effect, we recommend that you choose a bust clearance of 25 to 40 cm and 15 to 30 cm around the arm (measured at the largest point).

For example, if your chest size is 96 cm / 37.8” and your arm size is 32 cm/ 12.6”, you can choose :

  • size 2 with 28 cm/ 11″ of positive ease at the chest and 20 cm/7.9″ of positive ease at the upper arm
  • size 3 with 32,5 cm/ 12.8″ of positive ease at the chest and 22,5 cm/8.9″ of positive ease at the upper arm

The wool quantities have been calculated for a height of 55/ 21.6″ to 57 cm/22.5″ from the neckline to the bottom of the body and a sleeve length of 39,5 cm/15.6″.

TECHNIQUES USED AND LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY

This pattern is at an intermediate level and will require the ability to cast on and cast off, increase and decrease, knit in the round and lift stitches.

The pattern includes detailed explanations for the specific techniques used to make this pattern, such as creating buttonholes and German short rows.

With the help of the videos provided by the designer, it can be a good introduction to seamless knitting.

Pattern: «Zakkuri Cardigan » by Noriko Ichikawa available in French and English on our website and Ravelry (sizes 1 to 9) and in Japanese, Korean and English on Ravelry

Yarn: Gilliatt (French Merino from Arles and Black Portuguese Merino, 250 m / 100 g) shown in colorway poivre et sel5 to 7 balls

About the designer: After establishing a modern secondhand bookshop and publishing several books, Noriko resumed knitting, a skill my grandmother taught her, after having a child. She finds joy in creating simple, comfortable, and beautiful in-shape designs. She resides in the small coastal town of Kanagawa, Japan with her husband and daughter.

You can follow her on Ravelry and Instagram:

Ravelry : Norikoichikawa 

Instagram : noriko_ichikawa_ 

Photos Credits : @noriko_ichikawa_

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