sweater vest

SIZE

To fit 32[36, 40, 44, 48, 52] inch bust

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Chest: 30[34, 38, 42, 46, 50] inches [vest is designed to be close-fitting] Length: 22[23, 24, 25, 26, 26.5] inches

MATERIALS

This pattern is meant for using up leftovers, so open up your stash of half-skeins and extra balls and see what you have. Mix yarns from different projects of a similar gauge. Buy an extra skein or two of your favorite colors from these remnants and then adjust your stripes to accommodate the yarn amounts you have. Total yardage approx. 750[850, 950, 1050, 1150, 1250] yds / 675[765, 855, 945, 1035, 1125]m Red/green/blue version pictured above: Phildar Legende [48% wool, 41% acrylic, 9% alpaca, 2% rayon; 125yd/115m per 50g skein] [A]: Rubis/dk. red (011); 2[2, 2, 2, 2, 3] skeins [B]: Jeans/blue (007); 1[1, 1, 2, 2, 2] skein(s) [C]: Amande/green (001); 1[1, 1, 2, 2, 2] skein(s) [D]: Chartreuse (003); 1 skein [E]: Miel/orange (008); 1[2, 2, 2, 2, 2] skeins [F]: Azalee/pink (002); 1[2, 2, 2, 2, 2] skeins (NOTE: Phildar yarns are available online from www.knitntyme.com in Canada, www.threadbearfiberarts.com in the US, and www.breiweb.nl in the Netherlands.) Note: Pink/red version below was knitted in Pingouin France+ (discontinued) 1 24-inch US #6/4mm circular needle 1 16-inch US #7/4.5mm circular needle 1 24-inch US #8/5mm circular needle Stitch marker Long stitch holder or spare circular needle, US#6/4mm or smaller Tapestry needle

GAUGE

20 sts/28 rows = 4" in stockinette stitch on smallest needles

stitch patterns

[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations can be found here] Stripe Pattern I encourage you to come up with your own stripe pattern. Try breaking up the length of the sweater into five or six sections and work out a stripe sequence based on your yarn amounts. For example, maybe you have twice as much of one color as another -- make that color's stripes twice as wide as the color of which you have less. You can repeat this one sequence over the length of the sweater or alter it slightly, maintaining the same percentages overall. I've used my brightest color (color [D]) in small bold stripes to designate sections of the vest and alternated pairs of colors of which I had similar amounts and which are of a similar color value in large stripes within those sections. Here is the sequence I used for my stripes: 4 rows [B]; 6 rows [C]; 2 rows [D]; 5 rows [E]; 4 rows [F]; 3 rows [C]; 2 rows [B]; 6 rows [E]; 3 rows [D]; 6 rows [F]; 4 rows [B]; 3 rows [E]; 5 rows [C]; 3 rows [F]; 2 rows [D]; 4 rows [E]; 6 rows [B]; 3 rows [C]; 5 rows [F]; 3 rows [E]; 3 rows [D]; 4 rows [F]; 6 rows [C]; 4 rows [E]; 3 rows [B]; 3 rows [F]; 2 rows [D]; 6 rows [E]; 3 rows [C]; 5 rows [B]; 5 rows [F]; 2 rows [E]; 3 rows [D]; 5 rows [F]; 4 rows [E]; 3 rows [C]; 4 rows [B]; 5 rows [F]; 2 rows [D] 3x3 Rib Worked in the round over a multiple of 6 sts. Rnd 1: K2, [p3, k3] to last st, k1. This round forms 3x3 Rib. Every round is the same.

DIRECTIONS

NOTE: Vest is knit in the round to the underarms, then the Front and Back are worked separately, back and forth. Lower Body Using US#8/5mm needle and double strand of [A], CO 120[132, 144, 156, 168, 180 ] sts. Place marker and join to begin working in the round, being careful not to twist. Cont with double strand of yarn, work in 3x3 rib as directed above until work measures 3 inches. Next Rnd: K2, place marker, p2tog, p1, work 51[57, 63, 69, 75, 81] sts in patt as set, place marker, p1, p2tog, k3, place marker, p2tog, p1, work 51[57, 63, 69, 75, 81] sts in patt as set, place marker, p1, p2tog, k1. Work 3 rnds in patt as set. Next Rnd: [Work in patt to marker, slip marker, p2tog] to last st, k1. 112[124, 136, 148, 160, 172 ] st. Switch to US #6/4mm needle and one strand of yarn (cont with color [A] for increase rnd). First Increase Rnd: K2, remove marker, kfb, k3, [ kfb, kfb, k4] to marker, remove marker, kfb, k3, remove marker, kfb, k3, [ kfb, kfb, k4] to marker, remove marker, kfb, k1. 148[164, 180, 196, 212, 228 ] sts. Begin stripe patt and work in St st, keeping marker at beg of round and placing another marker after 74[82, 90, 98, 106, 114] sts. Cont in stripe patt until work measures 4 inches after rib. Second Increase Rnd: [K1, m1, k to 1 st before marker, m1, k1] around. 152[168, 184, 200, 216, 232] sts. Cont in stripe patt, repeating Second Increase Rnd every 6 rows 0[1, 2, 3, 4, 4] times more. 152[172, 192, 212, 232, 248] sts. Cont in stripe patt until work measures 14[14.5, 15, 15.5, 16, 16] inches. Work will now be divided into Back and Front, each worked separately. Back *Shape Armholes BO 5[5, 6, 6, 6, 6] sts at beg of next round, k to marker, place rem sts on st holder or spare circular needle. Turn work. BO 5[5, 6, 6, 6, 6] sts, p to end of row. 66[76, 84, 94, 104, 112] sts. Next Row [RS]: K1, k2tog, k to 3 stitches from end, ssk, k1. Next Row [WS]: P1, slip next 2 sts knitwise, place slipped sts back on left needle and p tog tbl, p to 3 stitches from end, slip next two sts knitwise, place slipped sts back on left needle and p tog, p1. Working decrease rows as above, decrease on next 1[1,1,3, 5, 5] row(s). 60[70, 78, 84, 90, 98] stitches.* Next Row [WS]: P all sts. Next Row [RS]: K1, k2tog, k to 3 stitches from end, ssk, k1. Work these 2 rows 2[3, 3, 4, 4, 4] times more. 54[62, 70, 74, 80, 88] sts rem. Cont in stripe patt until armhole measures 7[7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5] inches, ending with a WS row. Shape back neck and shoulders Next Row [RS]: K 12[12, 16, 16, 18, 18] sts, BO center 30[38, 38, 42, 44, 52] sts, K 12[12, 16, 16, 18, 18]. Each shoulder will now be worked separately: work across first 12[12, 16, 16, 18, 18] sts only. Row 1 [WS]: P all sts. Row 2 [RS]: BO 3[3, 4, 4, 4, 4] sts, k to end. Repeat these 2 rows again. Next Row [WS]: BO 3[3, 4, 4, 5, 5] sts, p to end. Next Row [RS]: K all sts. BO rem 3[3, 4, 4, 5, 5] sts. Rejoin yarn to rem 12[12, 16, 16, 18, 18] sts at armhole edge. Row 1 [RS]: K all sts. Row 2 [WS]: BO 3[3, 4, 4, 4, 4] stitches, P to end. Repeat these 2 rows again. Next Row [RS]: BO 3[3, 4, 4, 5, 5] sts, k to end. Next Row [WS]: P all sts. BO rem 3[3, 4, 4, 5, 5] sts. Front Rejoin yarn to sts on hold to begin working Front. Work Armhole Shaping as for back from * to *. 60[70,78, 84, 90, 98] sts. Divide for Neck First, Second and Third Sizes Only: Row 1 [WS]: P 30[35, 39, _, _, _] sts, place rem sts on hold. Turn work. Row 2 [RS]: K1, k2tog, k to 3 stitches from end, ssk, k1. Cont working decreases on RS rows, as above, 2[3, 3, _, _, _] more times. 24[27, 31, _, _, _] sts rem. Right Side armhole decreases are now complete. Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Sizes Only: Row 1 [WS]: P _[_, _, 42, 45, 49] sts, place rem sts on hold. Turn work. Row 2 [RS]: K1, k3tog, k to 3 stitches from end, ssk, k1. Cont working decreases on RS rows, as above, _[_, _, 0, 1, 2] more times. -[-, -, 39, 39, 40] sts rem. Next RS Row: K1, k2tog, K to 3 sts from end, ssk, k1. Cont working decreases on RS rows, as above, _[_, _, 3, 2, 1] more times. -[-, -, 31, 33, 36] sts rem. Right Side armhole decreases are now complete. All Sizes: Cont working decreases at neck edge (k1, k2tog at beg of row) every RS row until 6[6, 8, 8, 10, 10] sts rem. Work straight until armhole measures 7.5[8, 8.5, 9.25, 9.75, 10.25] inches, ending with a RS row. BO 3[3, 4, 4, 5, 5] sts at beg of next row. K 1 row. BO rem 3[3, 4, 4, 5, 5] sts. Rejoin yarn to other side of front at neck edge. First, Second and Third Sizes Only: Row 1 [WS]: P all sts. Row 2 [RS]: K1, k2tog, k to 3 stitches from end, ssk, k1. Cont working decreases on RS rows, as above, 2[3, 3, _, _, _] more times. 24[27, 31, _, _, _] sts rem. Left Side armhole decreases are now complete. Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Sizes Only: Row 1 [WS]: P all sts. Row 2 [RS]: K1, k2tog, k to 4 stitches from end, sssk, k1. Cont working decreases on RS rows, as above, _[_, _, 0, 1, 2] more times. -[-, -, 39, 39, 40] sts rem. Next RS Row: K1, k2tog, K to 3 sts from end, ssk, k1. Cont working decreases on RS rows, as above, _[_, _, 3, 2, 1] more times. -[-, -, 31, 33, 36] sts rem. Left Side armhole decreases are now complete. All Sizes: Cont working decreases at neck edge (ssk, k1 at end of row) every RS row until 6[6, 8, 8, 10, 10] sts rem. Work straight until armhole measures 7.5[8, 8.5, 9.25, 9.75, 10.25] inches, ending with a WS row. BO 3[3, 4, 4, 5, 5] sts at beg of next row. P 1 row. BO rem 3[3, 4, 4, 5, 5] sts.

FINISHING

Sew shoulder seams. Neck Ribbing Using US#8/5mm needle and double strand of [A], pick up and k 28[28, 31, 31, 34, 34] sts along right side of neck, 36[42, 42, 48, 48, 54] sts along back neck, and 28[28, 31, 31, 34, 34] sts along left side of neck. 92[98, 104, 110, 116, 122] sts. DO NOT JOIN, Neck Ribbing will be worked back and forth. Row 1 [WS]: P1, [k3, p3] to last st, p1. Row 2 [RS]: K4, [p3, k3], to last 4 sts, p3, k1. Repeat these 2 rows 4 times more. BO loosely in patt. Using mattress stitch, sew first of four knit stitches at right end of neck ribbing to left side of v-neck (outside). Using whipstitch, sew single knit stitch from left end of neck ribbing to right side of v-neck (inside). See photo for neck detail. Armhole Edging Using US#7/4.5mm needle and single strand of [A], pick up and k 78[84, 90, 96, 102, 108] stitches around an armhole. Working in the round, work 5 rounds of 3x3 Rib. BO loosely in patt. Repeat for second armhole. Weave in ends. Block, flattening neck ribbing.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Alison Hansel lives and knits in Boston, MA. She's desperate to use up her leftover yarns before she is forced to eat them. Watch her try at http://alison.knitsmiths.us