EASY-KNIT VEST

EASY-KNIT VEST (in 5 sizes)

Skill level: Easy

Sizes: To fit size 32 (34, 36, 38, 40) - Finished bust measures 36 (38, 40, 42, 44)"

Materials:

365 (400, 455, 500, 550) yds. heavy worsted wt. wool/acrylic/poly novelty blend yarn - OR - heavy worsted wt. yarn of choice that knits to gauge (sample shown in "Farfalla" novelty blend)

Pair of size 11 (8 mm) needles (for body)

Circular needle size 9 (5.5 mm) 24" length (for armhole & front edging)

Stitch holders

Tapestry needle

4 buttons, sewing thread & needle

Gauge: 2.5 sts & 3.5 rows = 1" in stockinette st on size 11 (8 mm) needles

Stitches/Terms: beginning (beg), bind off (BO), cast on (CO), decrease (dec), increase (inc), knit (K), knit two together (K2tog) place marker (pm), purl (p), repeat (rep), slip slip knit (ssk), stitch (st), stockinette stitch (st st)

Special stitches:

Three-needle bind-off: Place back shoulder sts on needle. Place matching front shoulder sts on second needle. Hold needles together (with right side of sts facing each other), bind off with a third needle.

Slip slip knit (ssk): Slip first st off left needle knitwise, slip next st off left needle knitwise, insert left needle from left to right through front of these two stitches and knit them together from this position.

Vest

Back:

With larger needle, cast on 45 (48, 50, 52, 55) sts.

Knit 4 rows.

Work in stockinette stitch (knit 1 row, purl 1 row) until piece measures 11.5 (12, 12.5, 12.5, 13)", ending on wrong side row.

Armhole shaping: Bind off 5 (5, 5, 5, 5) sts at beg of next 2 rows. Continue in st st until armhole measures 8.5 (9, 9.5, 10, 10)", ending on wrong side row.

Next row (right side): Knit 9 (11, 12, 12, 13), place those sts on holder, bind off next 17 (16, 16, 18, 19) sts (for back neck), knit across remaining 9 (11, 12, 12, 13) sts and place those sts on holder. Set piece aside.

Left Front:

With larger needle, cast on 22 (24, 25, 26, 27) sts.

Knit 4 rows.

Work in st st until piece measures same as back to armhole, ending on wrong side row.

Armhole shaping: Bind off 5 (5, 5, 5, 5) sts, knit across row.

Purl 1 row.

Begin neck decreases:

Row 1: Knit across to last 3 sts, K2tog, K1.

Row 2: Purl across.

Repeat last 2 rows twice.

Next 4 rows:

Row 1: Knit across to last 3 sts, K2tog, K1.

Row 2: Purl across.

Row 3: Knit across.

Row 4: Purl across.

Repeat last 4 rows until 9 (11, 12, 12, 13) sts remain. Work even until armhole measures same length as armhole on back piece. Place sts on holder, set piece aside.

Right Front:

Repeat instructions for Left Front to armhole shaping.

Armhole shaping:

Row 1 (right side): Knit across.

Row 2 (wrong side): Bind off 5 (5, 5, 5, 5) sts, purl across.

Begin neck decreases:

Row 1: K1, ssk, knit across.

Row 2: Purl across.

Repeat last 2 rows twice.

Next 4 rows:

Row 1: K1, ssk, knit across.

Row 2: Purl across.

Row 3: Knit across

Row 4: Purl across.

Repeat last 4 rows until 9 (11, 12, 12, 13) sts remain. Work even until armhole measures same length as armhole on back piece.

Finishing:

Join shoulder seams: Use three-needle bind-off (see page 3 for technique) to join front and back shoulder sts.

Armhole Edging

With smaller circular needle and with right side facing you, pick up approximately

52 (55, 58, 60, 60) sts around armhole.

Work in garter st for 3 rows. Bind off loosely (use larger needle for bind-off).

Repeat for other armhole.

Front and Neck Edging:

With smaller circular needle and with right side facing you, pick up approximately

55 (60, 60, 61, 63) sts along right front edge, 17 (16, 16, 18, 19) sts along back neck, and 55 (60, 60, 61, 63) sts along left front.

Knit 1 row.

Next row (buttonhole row)(right side): Beginning at lower right front, knit 2 sts, bind off next 2 sts, *knit 7 (8, 8, 8, 8) sts, bind off next 2 sts, rep from * twice, knit to end.

Knit 2 rows. Bind off loosely (use larger needle for bind-off).

Sew side seams. Weave in all ends. Sew buttons on left front to match buttonholes on right front.

Consult care instructions on yarn ball band, and if necessary and appropriate for your yarn, block vest between damp towels in a place with good air circulation.

For personal or charity use only. Do not duplicate pattern for commercial purposes.