We are particularly excited to share with you our new collaboration with Japanese designer Noriko Ichikawa @noriko_ichikawa—many of you have already knitted her Zakkuri or Back Yoke sweaters!
Noriko has a unique way of creating designs that are both minimalist and sophisticated, where every detail is carefully considered and refined to add a touch of modernity and elegance, transforming each project into a distinctive and highly desirable garment. Written with a constant eye for precision and accurateness, her patterns are a delight to work on and invite us to take the time to learn and create something beautiful and deeply satisfying for both our eyes and our minds 🙂
The Type-V cardigan is a V-neck cardigan knitted from the top down, creating a relaxed yet stylish silhouette with a generous fit throughout the body and sleeves. The design combines deep armholes and a cropped body length with a subtly shaped back hem created using short rows for a modern, polished look. With its comfortable fit and relaxed vibe, it looks just as good worn over a simple T-shirt as it does layered over thicker tops as a cozy mid-season jacket.
“Type-V Cardigan” by Noriko Ichikawa, knitted in size 2 with a 40.5 cm chest circumference, in Gilliatt “poivre”
CONSTRUCTION
The project starts at the back of the neckline with a few short rows before shaping the yoke using a raglan construction. After separating the body from the sleeves, the body is worked flat, discreetly shaped using a series of short rows, and finished with a 3×1 rib hem. The sleeves are then knitted in the round with a series of decreases before the cuff, creating a lovely rounded shape. Finally, stitches are picked up along the front and neckline edges to create a 1×1 ribbed button band, with buttonholes worked simultaneously.
As the cardigan is worked top-down, you can try it on as you go to adjust the length of the body and sleeves. You can also customize the number of buttons to suit your preference (please note that any adjustments will affect yarn requirements and button count).
Details of the button band and the back of the neckline of the « Type-V cardigan » by Noriko Ichikawa, knitted in Gilliatt « poivre »
TECHNIQUES USED AND SKILL LEVEL
This pattern is intermediate-level and uses the following techniques: Cable cast-on, Backward Loop cast-on, Italian Tubular cast-on, increasing and decreasing, knitting in the round and picking up stitches, German short rows, working a 1×1 Rib Button Band for V-Neck, Bind-Off and Italian Bind-Off. Links to video tutorials are provided for special techniques used.
It includes links to video tutorials for each of the specific techniques used to create this design. The instructions are particularly detailed and precise, and are accompanied by diagrams to guide you through every technical step and help ensure you’re completely satisfied with the final result!
This pattern combines the relaxation of stockinette stitch and the enjoyment of a relatively quick project with the exploration of more advanced techniques to satisfy all knitters, even experienced ones.
“Type-V cardigan” by Noriko Ichikawa, knitted in Gilliatt “bouleau”
HOW TO PICK YOUR SIZE
The pattern is available in 10 sizes corresponding to the following finished measurements:
Bust/Chest circumference: 117 (125.5, 130, 134.5) 139, 143.5, 148 (152.5, 157, 163.5) cm
Arm circumference: 49 (52, 54.5, 55.5) 58.5, 59.5, 61.5 (63.5, 65.5, 68.5) cm.
It is designed to be worn with a lot of positive ease. If you want it to fit similarly to the samples shown in the photos, you would need to choose a size that is 30 to 40 cm larger than your actual bust measurement.
Our “Type-V cardigan” sample, knitted in size 2 with 33.5 cm of positive ease at the chest, knitted in Gilliatt “bouleau”
GAUGE AND YARN CHOICE
Noriko chose our Gilliatt carded yarn, which is knitted at a gauge of 18 sts x 28 rows = 10 x 10 cm to create a fabric that is both structured and soft.
Sample knitted in size 2 with 40.5 cm of positive ease at the chest, knitted in Gilliatt “poivre”
Yardage to knit the pattern in Gilliatt (100% mérinos d’Arles and black merino from Portugal; 250 m / 100g) : 5 (5, 5, 5) 5, 5, 6 (6, 6, 6) balls OR approx. 1025 (1100, 1140, 1175) 1225, 1250, 1290 (1325, 1375, 1440) m of Worsted weight yarn.
Body extension: Approx. 40 (40, 40, 45) 45, 45, 50 (50, 50, 50) m / 40 (45, 45, 45) 50, 50, 50 (55, 55, 55) yds extra per 2.5 cm / 1” of additional length.
Noriko Ichikawa’s Type-V cardigan is available in French and English in our shop and in English, Japanese and Korean on Ravelry. I hope you like it as much as we do, and we can’t wait to see your versions!
Sample knitted in size 2 with 33.5 cm of positive ease at the chest, knitted in Gilliatt “bouleau”
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_
Noriko is also the designer of the Back Yoke sweater and Zakkuri cardigan, both knitted in Gilliatt, and of the Minna no sweater knitted in Ulysse (all of them available in French and English on our website):
Photo credits for the sample in Gilliatt “poivre”: Noriko Ichikawa
Our Gilliatt “bouleau”‘s sample has been knitted by the talented Audrey @audrizz_arts, many thanks to her!