Jojoland Rhythm Kimono Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Jojoland Rhythm Kimono

What Is Being Made

The Jojoland Rhythm Kimono is a seamed knit cardigan designed in a relaxed, kimono-inspired silhouette. This downloadable knitting pattern produces a garment with generous proportions, available in two finished chest sizes: 40 ½ inches (medium) and 44 inches (large). The kimono features a wraparound aesthetic created through strategic shaping at the neckline and front edges, making it an elegant layering piece suitable for various occasions.

Techniques Used

This pattern employs seamed construction and is worked flat on straight needles, meaning all pieces are knitted in separate flat sections before being joined together. The garment is assembled by joining the back and front pieces at the shoulders, attaching sleeves to the armholes, and sewing side and underarm seams. Additional finishing involves picking up stitches around the lower edge and front opening to create ribbed borders that frame the kimono's open front design.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette stitch: Forms the primary fabric texture, worked over 4 rows in the repeating pattern sequence
• Seed stitch: Creates a textured, bumpy surface that provides visual interest and structure. Seed stitch is worked for 2 rows within the main pattern repeat, used exclusively for the sleeve cuffs (1 ½ inches), and applied to all border pick-up sections including the lower edge band (1 ¼ inches) and front opening band (1 ½ inches)

The pattern stitch repeats every 6 rows throughout: 4 rows of stockinette stitch followed by 2 rows of seed stitch. This alternating texture creates visual rhythm while maintaining structural integrity.

Pattern Structure and Sizing

The kimono is constructed from five main pieces: a back panel, two front panels, and two sleeves. Both sizes use the same cast-on counts for the main pieces, with finished measurements adjusted through length variations. The pattern includes helpful customization notes: additional stitches can be cast on (5 extra stitches per additional inch) to lengthen the kimono, and width can be modified by working to desired measurements before beginning neck shaping.

Materials

The Jojoland Rhythm Kimono requires 12 to 15 skeins of Jojoland Superwash Rhythm yarn, with the yardage varying slightly between the two sizes. US size 7 needles (or the size needed to obtain proper gauge) are required for construction. The specified gauge is 4 ½ stitches per 1 inch, which is essential for achieving the correct finished measurements.

Key Design Features

The kimono's distinctive silhouette is created through asymmetrical neckline shaping on the front panels. The right front features graduated bind-offs (9 stitches once, then 8 stitches six times) that create a sloped neckline, with the left front worked in reverse for symmetry. The back piece includes a simple 2-stitch bind-off at one edge to accommodate the kimono's wrapped styling. Sleeves are designed with cap shaping, decreasing one stitch at each edge every ¾ inch for a total of 8 decreases, creating a fitted sleeve cap that transitions to a comfortable cuff worked entirely in seed stitch.