The Design

“A relaxed classic.”

The vest you’ve been asking for! The slightly high V-neck has a modern look, the ribbed arm bands extend just to the shoulder’s edge, and the easily-adapted length is designed for hands-in-pockets ease. Equally right for business or casual, it fits perfectly over a collared shirt, dressy blouse, or relaxed tee.

We chose a barely-blue shade of Rowan’s downy Softyak DK. It’s an eminently touchable blend of cool cotton and cloud-soft yak fiber. With a touch of nylon and a chainette construction, it knits into a gently springy fabric (with a lovely drape after a nice rinse). And the palette of calm neutrals, blushing pastels, and moody landscape tones is equal parts pretty and handsome.

The Details

FINISHED SIZES
Finished chest: 40 (43, 46, 49, 52, 55)"/102 (109, 117, 124, 132, 140)cm circumference, after seaming and blocking.
Finished length: 26¾ (26¾, 27, 27¼, 27¾, 28)"/68 (68, 68.5, 69, 70, 71)cm, from high-shoulder point (where shoulder meets neck, excluding ribbed neck band) to hem.

YARN
6 (6, 7, 7, 8, 8) skeins Rowan Softyak DK (148 yds/135m each).
Or approx. 820 (875, 950, 1015, 1085, 1160) yds/750 (800, 870, 930, 995, 1060)m of a DK-weight yarn that typically knits as 21-22 sts to 4"/10cm.
Shown in color 248 Coast in size 43".

NEEDLES & NOTIONS
US 6 (4mm) needles, or size to obtain gauge.
US 4 (3.5mm) 16-24"/40-60cm circular needle, or 2 US sizes/.5mm smaller than gauge needle.
Stitch markers; 1 locking marker.
Stitch holder.
Darning needle to finish.

GAUGE
21 sts/30 rows = 4"/10cm in stockinette stitch on gauge needle, after blocking.

KNITTER'S NOTES
Garment is knit in pieces and seamed using mattress stitch. Neck and arm bands are picked up and knit in the round.

When designing this vest, we really wanted the center V to be, well, centered! Take a peek at the close up picture of the front V-neck and you'll see a single stitch wide column of knit stitches directly in the center. At this point in our pattern, something really neat happens - we think you'll love it as much as we do!

Test knitters appreciated our finishing instructions and tutorial support for binding off and picking up stitches - we hope the teaching sections included in this pattern will become a skills library of sorts for use on future garments.