Kim — Red Wrap Cardigan Knitting Kit

Védís Jónsdóttir’s Kim from Ístex’s Lopi 26, in its red version: a women’s long, open wrap cardigan in garnet red Léttlopi, cut like a kimono — two fronts with moss-stitch borders that overlap, wide straight sleeves, and on the back one big intarsia motif: a red ring round a black centre, with an eight-pointed star in green, pink, yellow and light blue. It has no buttons or ties; the belt in the photo is not part of the pattern. Two of the motif colours are no longer made: this kit has 9434 crimson red in place of the light red (1408) of the ring, and 1703 mimosa in place of the sun yellow (1411). The ring will be a strong red, not the pale pink it looks in the photo.

Included

• Icelandic Léttlopi wool yarn — yarn for the largest size is included, so every size is covered
• Knitting pattern in English (PDF) — emailed right after purchase
• ADDI knitting needles — only if you choose the kit with needles

Léttlopi — 50 g balls · sizes S (M L XL)
A 1409 Garnet Red — 10 (10 11 12)
B 9434 Crimson Red (in place of 1408 light red) — 1 (1 1 1)
C 0059 Black — 1 (1 1 1)
D 1406 Spring Green Heather — 1 (1 1 1)
E 1412 Pink Heather — 1 (1 1 1)
F 1703 Mimosa (in place of 1411 sun yellow) — 1 (1 1 1)
G 1404 Glacier Blue — 1 (1 1 1)

Sizes — the pattern’s chest is twice the width of the back; the two fronts overlap, so the cardigan is roomy (see the questions below)

Gauge
18 sts × 24 rows = 10 cm (4″) in stocking stitch on 4.5 mm needles.

Needles used in the pattern (included when you choose the kit with needles)
4.5 mm (US 7) circular needles, 40 and 80 cm — the 80 cm for the back and fronts, knitted back and forth, and (our reading) the 40 cm for the sleeves, knitted in the round. Moss stitch is knitted on the same needles; no smaller size is used

Not included
Stitch holders (or scrap yarn) for the shoulder stitches, small bobbins or separate lengths of yarn for the intarsia motif, and a tapestry needle for joining the pieces. The pattern has no fastening; the belt in the photos is not part of it.

How it is knitted
Knitted in pieces and sewn together. The back and the two fronts are knitted back and forth on the 80 cm circular, each starting with 7 rows of moss stitch. Each front has a 10-stitch moss-stitch border along its front edge, and a decrease beside the border every 10th row slopes the front from the hem to the shoulder. On the back, from 42 (45) 48 (50) cm, the 41-stitch motif is knitted in intarsia from a 55-row chart: a ring of crimson red round a black centre, with an eight-pointed star of petals in spring green, pink heather, mimosa and glacier blue. The sleeves are knitted in the round, wide and straight, with 7 rounds of moss stitch at the cuff and no shaping. The front shoulders are joined to the back, and the two borders carry on past the shoulders for 8 (8) 9 (9) cm, are grafted together at the centre back and sewn along the back neck. The sleeves are sewn to the sides from the shoulder down — the sleeve’s width sets the depth of the armhole — and the side seams are sewn.

Design: Védís Jónsdóttir — pattern from Lopi No. 26 (no. 15), Ístex.

Genuine Ístex lopi — the same wool Icelanders knit with, spun in Iceland from the fleece of Icelandic sheep. No substitutes.

Care of the finished garment — air out between wears; hand wash cool and dry flat. Full care guide

Shipping — DHL Express worldwide, fully tracked. Rates & times

US & Canada duties — collected at checkout; nothing to pay on delivery. How it works

Returns — unused kits in original condition; see our return policy.