Pattern description from Knitting in America: “The Kestrals Alight Cropped Kimono is knit in the round, with steeks at the front and armhole openings. Sarah knit this sweater with her own handspun, naturally dyed, three-ply yarn (two plies from a Cormo fleece and one from a Merino fleece). We then asked another knitter to reproduce the sweater with Classic Elite’s millspun ultra-soft Avalon yarn (50 percent baby alpaca, 25 percent angora, and 25 percent lambswool). Sarah graded the colors in the original version, but for the millspun version we decided to omit this step (which would have been much more difficult to achieve with a commercial yarn) and, instead, added duplicate stitch for color interest after the sweater was knit. The name of the sweater speaks to both the birds that were the inspiration for the design and to the birds that ‘alight’ on one’s shoulders when wearing the garment. The pattern for the Kestrals Alight Cropped Kimono appears on page 200.”

Measurements:

• To fit sizes Petite (Small/Medium, Large)
• Bust at underarm (closed) 34.5(42.5, 50.5)“
• Length from shoulder 21 (22, 23)“
• Sleeve width at upper arm 19.5, (20.5, 21.5)“

Materials:

• (see Spinning and Dyeing Notes is making handspun version)
• 8 (9, 10) 1.75oz / 50g balls (each approx 143yd / 129m) of Classic Elite Avalon in #5975 Mined Slate (MC)
• 7 (8, 9) balls in #5916 natural (CC)
• Small amounts in #5911 Young Girl’s Blush, #5984 Sweet Butter, #5921 Lamb’s Ear, #5923 Mellow Autumn, and #5958 Ravishing Red
• Size 2 circular needle each 16” and 32” long or size needed to obtain gauge
• Size 1 circular needle 32” long
• One set dpn each sizes 1 and 2
• Two 3/4” buttons
• Stitch markers
• Sewing machine (optional)

I believe the suggested yarn, a blend of angora / baby alpaca / lambswool, has long been discontinued. Here are its specs: 50 gm balls, each about 143 yd / 129 m.

First published in hardcover as Knitting in America (Artisan, 1996)