Vest Dressing

photo of model in striped vest
Brighten up your winter wardrobe with this knitted striped vest. Fun to wear and easy to make: the instructions are written in plain English, with no abbreviations. Let us know how you like them!

The instructions are for size 8-10. Changes for sizes 12-14 and 16-18 are in parentheses.

Materials:

  • Worsted weight yarn --12 (14, 16) ounces [340 (397, 454) grams] of the main color and 1 ounce [29 grams] each of contrasting Colors A, B and C.
  • 1 pair #11 knitting needles or whatever size you need for the correct gauge
  • 1 pair #10 knitting needles.
  • 2 stitch holders
  • 1 safety pin
  • Yarn needle for sewing seams

Gauge:

In Stockinette Stitch, measuring across, 3 stitches = 1 inch. Top to bottom, 4 rows = 1 inch.
Finished measurements:

  • Bust -- 32 (36, 40) inches
  • Width of back before the armhole shaping: 16 (18, 20) inches

Back:

  1. Use 2 strands of the main color, each from a different skein as if they were a single strand.
  2. Using #10 needles and double strand, cast on 49 (55, 61) stitches.
  3. Purl 1 stitch, then knit 1 stitch and purl 1 stitch. Continue to knit 1 and purl 1 across row.
  4. Next row: knit 1 stitch, then purl 1 stitch and knit 1 stitch. Continue to purl 1 and knit 1 across row.
  5. Repeat Step 3.
  6. Repeat Step 4.
  7. Continue to repeat Steps 3 and 4 for the ribbing until piece measures 2 inches from the beginning. Your last row should be Step 3.
  8. With #11 needles, knit row.
  9. Purl row.
  10. Repeat Step 8.
  11. Repeat Step 9.
  12. Continue to repeat Steps 8 and 9 for Stockinette Stitch until piece measures 12 1/2 inches from beginning. Your last row should be a purl row.
  13. Mark for armhole: Tie a short length of yarn through the stitch at each end of the row.
  14. Repeat Steps 8 and 9, 2 (4, 4) more times.

To work the striped yoke:

  1. When working the Stripe Pattern, carry the double strand of the main color loosely along the right-hand edge of the piece, twisting it around the other yarn every other row. Cut off the other colors about 5 inches from the knitting after each stripe.
  2. With double strand of Color A, knit 4 rows. Cut off Color A.
  3. With double strand of the main color, knit 4 rows.
  4. With double strand of Color B, knit 4 rows. Cut off color B.
  5. With double strand of the main color, knit 4 rows.
  6. With double strand of Color C, knit 4 rows. Cut off Color C.
  7. With double strand of main color, knit 4 rows.<
  8. Repeat Steps 16 and 17. Cut off main color.
  9. With double strand of Color B, knit 3 rows.
  10. Bind off first 15 (17, 20) stitches, knit the next 19 (21, 21) stitches and slip them onto a holder for the back of the neck, then bind off the remaining 15 (17, 20) stitches.

Front:

  1. Repeat Steps 1-13 of the back.

To shape the V-neck:

  1. Knit the first 24 (27, 30) stitches for the left front, place the next stitch on a safety pin for the center of the V; then slip the next 24 (27, 30) stitches to a holder for the right front.

Left front:

  1. Working on the stitches of the left front only, purl row.
  2. Knit across row until there are 2 stitches left on the other needle, knit the last 2 stitches together.
  3. Purl row.

For sizes 12-14 and 16-18:

  1. Knit row.
  2. Purl row.

For sizes 16-18 only:

  1. Repeat Steps 4 and 5.

For all sizes -- To work the striped yoke:

  1. With double strand of Color A, knit 2 rows.
  2. Knit until there are 2 stitches left on the needle, knit the last 2 stitches together.
  3. Knit. Cut off Color A.
  4. With double strand of the main color, repeat Steps 9, 10 and 11.
  5. With double strand of Color B, repeat Steps 9, 10 and 11. Cut off Color B.
  6. With double strand of the main color, repeat Steps 9, 10 and 11.
  7. With double strand of Color C, repeat Steps 9, 10 and 11. Cut off Color C.
  8. With double strand of the main color, repeat Steps 9, 10 and 11.
  9. With double strand of Color A, repeat Steps 9, 10 and 11. Cut off Color A.
  10. With double strand of the main color, repeat Steps 9, 10 and 11. Cut off the main color.
  11. With double strand of Color B, knit 3 rows.
  12. Bind off.

Right front:

  1. With the right side of the work facing you, slip the 24 (27, 30) stitches of the right front to the left-hand needle. The neck edge of the piece is at the point of the needle.
  2. With double strand of the main color, knit across row.
  3. Purl row.
  4. Knit 1 stitch, slip 1 stitch, knit 1 stitch, pass the slipped stitch over the knit stitch, knit to the end of the row.
  5. Purl row.

For sizes 12-14 and 16-18:

  1. Knit row.
  2. Purl row.

For 16-18 only:

  1. Repeat Steps 24 and 25.

For all sizes:

  1. With double strand of Color A, knit 2 rows.
  2. Knit 1 stitch, slip 1 stitch, knit 1 stitch, pass the slipped stitch over the knit stitch, knit to the end of row.
  3. Knit row. Cut off Color A.
  4. With double strand of the main color, repeat Steps 29, 30, and 31.
  5. With double strand of Color B, repeat Steps 29, 30 and 31. Cut off Color B.
  6. With double strand of the main color, repeat Steps 29, 30 and 31.
  7. With double strand of Color C, repeat Steps 29, 30 and 31. Cut off Color C.
  8. With double strand of the main color, repeat Steps 29, 30 and 31.
  9. With double strand of Color A, repeat Steps 29, 30 and 31. Cut off Color A.
  10. With double strand of the main color, repeat Steps 29, 30 and 31. Cut off the main color.
  11. With double strand of Color B, knit 3 rows.
  12. Bind off.

Neck ribbing:

  1. Sew the left shoulder seam.
  2. With #10 needles and double strand of the main color, knit across 9 (10, 10) stitches from the back neck holder, knit the next 2 stitches together, knit across the remaining 8 (9, 9) stitches on the holder, pick up and knit 39 (42, 42) stitches along the left neck edge, place a marker on the needle, knit the center stitch from the safety pin, place a marker on the needle, pick up and knit 39 (42, 42) stitches along the right neck edge. You will have 97 (105, 105) stitches.
  3. This row is the wrong side of the work. Purl 1 stitch and knit 1 stitch. Continue to purl 1 and knit 1 until you reach the center stitch, slip the marker, purl the center stitch, slip the marker, then knit 1 and purl 1. Continue to knit 1 and purl 1 to the end.
  4. Knit 1 stitch and purl 1 stitch. Continue to knit 1 and purl 1 until there are 2 stitches left before the center stitch, slip 1 stitch, knit 1 stitch, pass the slipped stitch over the knit stitch, slip the marker, knit the center stitch, slip the marker, knit 2 stitches together, then purl 1 and knit 1. Continue to purl 1 and knit 1 to the end.
  5. Purl 1 stitch, then knit 1 stitch and purl 1 stitch. Continue to knit 1 and purl 1 until there are 2 stitches left before the center stitch, slip 1 stitch, knit 1 stitch, pass the slipped stitch over the knit stitch, slip the marker, purl the center stitch, slip the marker, knit 2 stitches together, purl 1, then knit 1 and purl 1. Continue to knit 1 and purl 1 to the end of row.
  6. Repeat Step 4.
  7. Working each stitch as for Step 5, bind off until there are 2 stitches left before the center stitch, slip 1 stitch, knit 1 stitch, pass the slipped stitch over the knit stitch, bind off this stitch, remove the marker, bind off the center stitch, remove the marker, knit 2 together, bind off this stitch. Continue to bind off each stitch.

Armhole ribbing:

  1. Sew shoulder and neck seam.
  2. From right side with #10 needles and a double strand of the main color, pick up and knit 77 (85 and 85) stitches between the armhole markers.
  3. Repeat Steps 3 and 4 of the back twice.
  4. Working each stitch as for Step 3 of the back; bind off.
  5. Work the other armhole ribbing in the same way.

Finishing:

  1. Sew side seams.

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of these instructions. We cannot be responsible, however, for variances in individual techniques, human errors or typographical mistakes.