This jacket was inspired entirely by the yarn. I fell in love with a rainbow of colors of the The Loom Risoni Silk at my old LYS in Florida, brought them home with me, and then started to figure out what to do with them.

I made up the pattern for the original Rainbow Jacket as I went along and the finished piece became my favorite summer “topper.” It is something light and airy that I can wear over sleeveless tops and dresses (because I prefer to keep my arms covered) without being too warm on hot days. I have been wearing that original jacket for years now and it has held up very well. Silk is incredibly strong, so whenever this jacket gets a snag, the thread has just been pulled without breaking, so I can always pull it back into shape.

Over the years I have had many requests for this pattern and have put it off because adapting it for different sizes gets complicated when you are working with stripes of different colors. It is also a lot easier to knit than it is to explain how to knit it. The approach for writing this pattern is something that had to percolate in my brain for years before I was ready to write it out.

The jacket is knit sideways from the center out and is worked in sections that are joined together as you knit so that at the end there are no seams. (The original jacket did have side seams, but I’ve learned some tricks since then).

Difficulty: This pattern is for intermediate knitters who are comfortable reading complex patterns.

Techniques Used: provisional cast on, crochet cast on, three-needle bind off, knitting in the round, i-cord edge.

Gauge: 20 stitches x 50 rows = 4 in (10 cm) in stockinette stitch. Because this garment is knit “sideways” and is a loose knit, the fabric will stretch to make the stitches wider and the rows narrower. The gauge should be measure with the swatch stretched sideways.

Sizes: This jacket is meant to fit loosely over the shoulders, bust, and arms, but it is not oversized. It allows 2 - 5 in (6.4 - 12.7 cm) of positive ease at the bust.
Finished Bust Measurement: 32.75 (34.5, 36.75, 39, 41, 44.25)46, 47, 49, 51, 53.257.5, 59.75, 62.75, 64) in / 82 (86.5, 92, 97.5, 102.5, 110.5)115, 117.5, 122.5, 127.5, 13344, 149.5, 154.5, 160) cm
Length from shoulder: 27 (27, 27, 27, 27, 28)28, 28, 28, 29, 290, 30, 30, 30) in / 67.5 (67.5, 67.5, 67.5, 67.5, 70)70, 70, 70, 72.5, 72.55, 75, 75, 75) cm

Yarn: Risoni by The Loom: 100% Silk (thick and thin single ply), 153 yards (140 meters)/25 grams per skein.

Yarn requirements depend upon the number of colors that you want to use. Use the following formula to calculate how much you need of each color:

Total number of yards / number of colors = average yards required per color.

Total yards: 1100 (1168, 1240, 1304, 1358, 1510)1557, 1628, 1683, 1802, 1870060, 2138, 2222, 2302)

Total meters: 1006 (1068, 1134, 1192, 1242, 1381)1424, 1489, 1539, 1648, 1710884, 1955, 2032, 2105)

The original jacket was knit for a 50 in (127 cm) bust and used 2 skeins each of the following 8 colors:

03 - Elderberry, 12 - Teal Berry, 11 - Spinach, 10 - Cucumber, 09 - Asparagus, 08 - Sweet Corn, 07 - Carrot, 06 - Tomato.
Kits with the original colors are available at Quixotic Fibers.

Needles: US #4 (3.5 mm) circular needles, or size to obtain gauge, in the following lengths: 16, 24, and 40 inch (40, 60, and 100 cm)

You may need to go up or down one or two needle sizes to get gauge.

Notions:

• Stitch markers
• Row counter
• Scrap yarn or extra needle cables to hold a large number of stitches.
• Crochet hook size H/6 (5.0 mm) or larger and scrap yarn for a provisional cast on.

This pattern has been professionally tech edited.