Chinoiserie

Chinoiserie Sweater by Boadicea Binnerts

What Is Being Made

The Chinoiserie Sweater is a women's pullover knit garment that combines classic striping with Chinese-inspired floral motifs. Designed by Boadicea Binnerts (boknits), this intermediate-level project merges traditional sweater construction with decorative intarsia patterning, creating a contemporary piece influenced by luxury fashion designers Kenzo and DVF. The sweater is available in six sizes ranging from XS to 2X, with finished bust circumferences from 72 cm (28 inches) to 126 cm (50 inches).

Design Features and Construction

This sweater is shaped specifically for the female form with a gentle A-line silhouette that tapers from the bust to the hem. The design includes narrow sleeves and a slightly deepened crew neck line for a refined neckline. The garment is knit flat rather than in the round, a construction method necessary for the intarsia technique used throughout the pattern.

Knitting Techniques Used

• Intarsia: The primary decorative technique, featuring Chinese-inspired flower patterns integrated into the striped base. The designer refers to this approach as "Intarsia Light" because the concentration of color work is relieved by the striping, and knitters work with no more than three bobbins at any one time, making it an accessible introduction to intarsia work.
• Fair-Isle: Used in conjunction with the intarsia patterning to create visual interest and texture variation.
• Stockinette Stitch: The primary stitch structure forming the body of the sweater, providing a smooth, classic fabric base.
• Stripes: Horizontal striping runs throughout the sweater, providing visual relief from the concentrated color work of the intarsia flower motifs.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The Chinoiserie Sweater is designed for 4-ply yarn weight, which provides excellent stitch definition for both the striped sections and the detailed intarsia flower patterns. The 4-ply weight allows for precise color work while maintaining good drape in the A-line silhouette. Knitters will need appropriate needles for 4-ply yarn and multiple bobbins or yarn cards for managing the intarsia color changes—a maximum of three colors are worked simultaneously at any point.

Sizing and Finished Measurements

The pattern includes the following finished measurements (bust circumference measured armpit to armpit when laid flat):

• XS: 72 cm / 28 inches bust, 40 cm / 16 inches armpit to armpit
• S: 76 cm / 30 inches bust, 45 cm / 18 inches armpit to armpit
• M: 80–86 cm / 32–34 inches bust, 50 cm / 20 inches armpit to armpit
• L: 91–96 cm / 36–38 inches bust, 55 cm / 22 inches armpit to armpit
• XL: 102–106 cm / 40–42 inches bust, 60 cm / 24 inches armpit to armpit
• 2X: 111–126 cm / 44–50 inches bust, 65 cm / 26 inches armpit to armpit

Finished length ranges from 51 cm to 60 cm (approximately 20–24 inches) depending on size.

Skill Level

Rated as intermediate difficulty, the Chinoiserie Sweater is positioned as an excellent first intarsia project. While it requires familiarity with basic knitting techniques and shaping, the "Intarsia Light" approach—limiting the number of simultaneous bobbins and incorporating relieving stripes—makes the color work manageable for knitters expanding their skills beyond basic fair-isle or stockinette projects.