“Niji pullover” by Eri Shimizu

 We’re delighted to share with you the lovely “Niji” pullover designed by Japanese designer Eri Shimizu @eritml for her friend Ayako @kaedenoha, who offers our Gilliatt yarn in her workshop in Japan.

“Niji” is a raglan sweater knitted seamlessly from top to bottom, with ribbing that gives it plenty of charm while remaining easy to knit. The fit is comfortable, and the pattern offers different variations with pretty slipped stitch details for the neckline and bottom hew that make you want to knit lots of versions!

When we shown it on Instagram, many of our followers asked us for a French translation, and you can now find a French version of the pattern on our website 🙂 We took the opportunity to test a version with Gilliatt held with Bérénice, and we love the result!

“Niji” pullover knitted in Gilliatt “aubépine” with back split neck and hem.

CONSTRUCTION

This pattern is knitted seamlessly from top to bottom from the neckline. After shaping the neckline with short rows, the yoke is worked up to the armholes with increases on either side of the raglan armholes, which are highlighted by wide 1/1 rib bands. The sleeves are then separated and the lower body is knitted in the round, continuing the ribbing of the raglans under the armholes, then up to the hem, which can be simple or with a decorative split in the back. Stitches are picked up again for the sleeves and then knitted in the round to the wrist. Finally, the stitches are picked up around the neck and the collar is knitted according to the options chosen: simple crew neck, turtleneck or stand-up collar with a split decorated with stitches slipped over the back of the neck.

CHOICE OF YARN

Eri has chosen to use Gilliatt in a relaxed gauge (with a 13.5 mm swatch for 10 cm and 5.5 mm needles), which gives a smooth, very light finish to the finished sweater, with a nicely rustic, slightly irregular fabric. Depending on your size, you’ll need 4 to 6 balls to knit a standard version.

“Niji” pullover knit in Gilliatt “cèdre” + Bérénice “cyprès” with crew-neck options and single 1/1 rib hem.

For a more structured result and greater definition of the rib pattern, you also can combine Gilliatt with our Bérénice lace mohair yarn. The resulting fabric is pleasantly thick and cozy, with beautifully regular stitches and a subtly luxurious look. Depending on your size, you’ll need 4 to 6 balls of Gilliatt and 5 to 7 balls of Bérénice to knit a standard version.

For a result that combines the smooth, slightly light gauge look of the original version with the soft, luxurious touch of mohair, you can also knit it in Ulysse + Bérénice. You’ll need 5 (5, 6, 6, 7) (7, 8, 8, 8) balls of Ulysse and 5 (5, 5, 6, 6) (6, 7, 7, 7) balls of Bérénice, depending on your size.

PICK YOUR SIZE

The pattern comes in 9 sizes corresponding to the following final measurements:

Chest circumference: 106.5 (115.5, 127.5, 136.5, 148) (157, 169, 178, 186.5) cm.

Recommended ease for this model is 20 to 30 cm. The red sweater is worn with a 30.5 cm bust positive ease; the green sweater with a 20 cm positive ease.

For example, if your chest circumference measures 96 cm, you can choose either:

• size 2 with 19.5 cm of positive ease at the chest for standard ease
• size 3 with 31.5 cm of positive ease at the chest for a slightly oversized look.

Top-to-bottom construction makes it easy to adjust body and sleeve lengths. Yarn quantities are calculated for a height of 30 cm for the lower body and 42.5 cm for the sleeves.

TECHNIQUES AND SKILL LEVEL

This pattern is at an intermediate level and will require you to know how to cast on and cast off, increase and decrease, slip and cross slip stitches, knit in the round and pick up stitches.

It includes detailed tutorials links for the specific techniques used.

For the story, Eri kindly chose to call her design “Niji”, which means “rainbow” in Japanese, in reference to our logo, and Naoko  @atelierknits_strandsoflife, who did the technical edition, pointed out to her that a rainbow was indeed hidden in the stitch pattern! Did you find it? 🙂

About the designer: Since childhood, Eri has watched her mother and grandmother knit. It was after discovering the seamless knitting technique in 2014 that she became passionate about knitting, which for her is a way to embody her imagination and being connected to the world.

She loves nature and sometimes draws her inspiration from the everyday landscapes that surround her.

She lives in the Japanese countryside with her husband and a dog.

You can follow her adventures on Ravelry and Instagram:

Ravelry: eri shimizu 

Instagram: @eritml

Photo credits for the red sample : Eri Shimizu