Hapi Coat

This is the traditional Japanese Hapi coat, which is often made from Yukata cloth, or a cotton Ikat. I have three that I bought in a used clothing store in Japan, years ago. I love wearing them because they are a half sleeved cardigan style, and with my short little arms, I needn't roll up my sleeves to wash dishes, etc.
My latest knit is shaped like the Hapi coat and is just as useful.


The design is simple, bottom up with vents at each side. No shaping, just knit up to the armholes, divided and knit fronts and back separately to the shoulder line. The lapel section is knit separately and extended straight up, connected with a three needle bind off and stitched to the back neck. The sleeves are picked up and knit straight, also no shaping until the cuff, which is gathered slightly by K2tog, K1, all around, then finished with six ridges of garter.
The yarn is Aslan Trends Artesanal, 9 skeins, size 7US needles.
 I knit this cardigan a while ago and never got around to photographing it. It is a variation of Driftwood, but changed from the buttoned down pullover of the original. This pattern has the contiguous shoulder, which is really easy, and fits so well. The yarn is Malabrigo Rios in two colorways, with  the purple bands at the bottom and cuff from Cascade 220, size 8US needles, 3 skeins of each, and just a bit of the Cascade. So yummy to knit and to wear.