Simple and Lovely

I have always liked the idea of kimono. I guess when I was younger it seemed to me a bit like getting to wear your pajamas in public, though now of course I know that some of the traditional kimono designs weren't the light and comfortable garments I imagined.

Still, there's a great beauty to the simple shape of kimono and the often intricate designs used to decorate them. While most people don't wear traditional kimono anymore, we can all take the design aesthetic into this century by knitting beautiful kimono.

Vicki Square's book Knit Kimono: 18 Designs with Simple Shapes elegantly illustrates how modern knitters can use the ancient style of kimono to create modern garments. The designs sometimes use the traditional straight rectangle shapes, while some add shaping for a slightly more streamlined look.

These patterns are perfect choices for oversized garments to wear around the house or office when you get a chill or even for more formal occasions.