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THE INSPO
There are things that you’ll always want to design. Those extra grande, extra hard, extra special projects that you know will take way more brainpower than you expect, so you put them off to the side until you’re “better”. That was me with the Jiji Cardi.
I’ve always had dreams of designing a button-up cardigan that had a gorgeous big fold-over collar, and that drapes down and toggles together. You know, the one that as a kid wraps you up in love and reminds you of your father or grandpa sitting in the corner at Christmas. You would bury your face into it every time you saw them, drawing in that sweet aroma that can only be associated with them. That is the feeling I hope you get when you wear your Jiji Cardi.
THE REASON BEHIND “JIJI”
“Jiji” , pronounced (Gee-Gee) means grandpa in Japanese, and so this pattern name has multiple sentimental meanings to me. The first reason is that my father-in-law is Japanese and my nephew calls him Jiji. With too many pattern names starting with grandpa, I knew that not only would this be a perfect name, but the perfect way to honour him while paying homage to the classic “grandpa smoker jacket”. Ray (my FIL) is seriously so sweet, and I am honoured and so lucky to have a father-in-law that is as kind, loving and caring as he is. He is not a man of many words, but he has taken me into his family with open arms and always has the smallest twinkle of mischief in his eye. I really am quite lucky with my in-laws.
The second reason is that in 2009, my father (Jeff) passed away from cancer. I was 18 at the time, 3 days shy of my 19th birthday. My father never got the chance to see my wedding, let alone be a grandpa and that leaves me crushed and heartbroken. He was robbed of meeting his future grandchildren and getting the chance of being able to be the most amazing grandpa. I truly think he would have been wonderful, and I find it hard to think that my future kid(s) will never get the chance to meet the gentle giant who raised me. So in his honour, I wanted to also take the moment to acknowledge the Jiji that he will sadly never be, but that I will always dream of.
Now wipe those tears away. Let’s get into the knitty gritty.
DESIGN DETAILS
This top-down uni-sex raglan cardigan is knit in a specifically unique way. A portion of the collar is actually knit at the beginning and used as a baseline, so it can be knit at the same time as the yoke. Meaning you don’t have to pick up stitches at the end to do the collar. AKA meaning that once you’re done the sleeves… you are DONE!
Don’t worry - I have photos in the pattern to help guide you through this process.
The collar really is the star of this cardigan, and I wanted to make sure it could shine. It includes a lot of gorgeous ribbing that vertically goes down the panels, and includes tailored decreases. With 4 buttons adorning it (with an option for a 5th at the very bottom), this pattern has 1.5-3.5” of positive ease. Meaning it’s the perfect fit, while still being sliiiiightly oversized.
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THE YARN
Shocker, eyeroll* when I want something that I will treasure forever, I always go to Lion Brand Chainette. If you haven’t heard me rave about this yarn, then you’re in for a treat. It is hands down my favourite yarn I have ever worked with, and when I say that I would choose this yarn to design with solely for the rest of my life - I would. It’s a worsted/aran weight, but it’s a blown yarn. Meaning that it’s extremely light to wear, but fast to knit up. Imagine a chunky knit sweater in knitting time, but where it feels like a fingering weight sweater on. The baby alpaca is super soft and this stuff doesn’t pill. I LOVE it.
You will need: 7 (XS), 8 (S), 9 (M/L), 10 (XL), 11 (2XL), 13 (3XL, 4XL), 15 (5XL) skeins of Lion Brand Chainette
Other designs I have made in Lion Brand LB Collection Chainette are: The Easy Eyelet Yoke, Top Gun Bomber, Basic Colorblock Yoke, Crossback Sweater, Tunnel Vision Sweater. These can all be found as kits here on LionBrand.com.
PICKING YOUR SIZE
How to choose your size: Find your bust measurements below. Positive ease is built into the pattern, meaning final measurements are 1.5-3.5” more than that number. These sizes are based off of womens bust measurements according to the Craft Yarn Council standards, but it is unisex. i would suggest finding your biggest circumference and choosing that size.
Knit in the round, seamless.
SIZES
XS – 28-30” bust
S – 32-34” bust
M – 36-38” bust
L – 40-42” bust
XL – 44-46” bust
2XL – 48-50” bust
3XL – 52-54” bust
4XL – 56-58” bust
5XL – 60-62” bust
Note that the pattern does include how to modify for more sizes, as well and lengths.
LISTING DETAILS
DESCRIPTION
Ready to do a top down raglan cardigan? This cardigan is particularly unique since the folded over collar is made first and used as a base for the raglan yoke. *By making it this way, you can do the entire piece in one go without having to finish the sweater, and then pick up stitches to do the collar at the end.* This sweater has 1.5-3.5" of positive ease built-in.
Knit top down, flat, and seamlessly, this pattern is written in 9 sizes – XS (S, M, L, XL) (2XL, 3XL, 4XL, 5XL). The model pictured is wearing the size M and is 5’7”, 142 pounds, and has a bust of 36.5” in circumference, for reference. This pattern does have instructions on how to add more sizes (up or down)
How to choose your size: Find your bust measurements below. Positive ease is built into the pattern, meaning final measurements are 1.5-3.5” more than that number.
Knit in the round, seamless.
SIZES
XS – 28-30” bust
S – 32-34” bust
M – 36-38” bust
L – 40-42” bust
XL – 44-46” bust
2XL – 48-50” bust
3XL – 52-54” bust
4XL – 56-58” bust
5XL – 60-62” bust
Pattern has been tested in all sizes.
DIFFICULTY
Intermediate
You will need to know how to cast on, knit stitch, purl stitch, increase, decrease, knit in the round, bind off.
Materials needed:
- Size US 9/5.5 mm, 9”/23 cm circular needles or double pointed needles
- Size US 9/5.5 mm, 32”/81 cm circular needles (40”/101 cm circulars would be suggested for sizes 2X+)
- 6 stitch markers
- Scissors
- Darning needle
- 5 x 1”/2.5cm buttons (5th button is optional)
- I-9/5.5 mm crochet hook (for provisional cast on)
You can purchase this specific yarn through this affiliate link: https://shrsl.com/2j9ul
TESTERS
How gorgeous are all my testers? You can find their exact yardages, yarn subs and photos below!
YARDAGES
This is the range that my testers used, please note to always check the yardages I have listed in the materials section.
XS: 760-806
S: 841-896
M: 947-1080
L: 1047-1083
XL: 1221-1246
2X: 1379-1384
3X: 1531-1637
4X: 1531
5X: 1950-1960
Do note that the higher yardages were testers who used Chainette. Because it’s a blown yarn, it’s very hard to determine yardage in a 50 gram ball. So please aim high (as I have in my first section!)
YARNS USED
LB Collection Chainette
Lion Brand Woolease
Lion Brand Heartland
Lion Brand Touch of Alpaca
Lion Brand Boogie Nights
Big Twist Value Worsted
Caron One Pound held with mohair
Cascade 2220
Hobby Lobby Warm & Cozy
Knitpicks Wool of the Andes worsted
Redheart
Shepherds Wool by Stonehedge Fiber Mill
Yarn Bee Sleek & Smooth