Necessity Vest

By Chauntel Andreasen

Firebrunette Knitting

Materials Needed:

Size 11 US 24” and 16” circular needles

Chunky weight yarn: 640(710) yards required

Shown in photos: Malabrigo Chunky 4(5) balls in Pagoda

Rowanspun Chunky 4(5) balls in Olive

24” separating zipper

Sizes: S/M (L/XL)

fits 32”-36” (38”-42”)

Notes:

This vest is worked in one piece to the armholes then separated to work the fronts and back separately. The hood is worked by picking up stitches after the shoulders are sewn together.

The zipper can be sewn in either by hand or machine. I prefer to put it in by machine, much faster!

Body Instructions:

CO 106(114) sts

Work 6” in k2, p2 rib, ending with k2

Change to stockinette stitch, knit on the right side (RS), purl on the wrong side (WS), continue until piece measures between 14” and 16”. You have the choice to make it as long or as short as you want. The pagoda vest is 14” to the underarm and the olive vest is 16” to the underarm. I like them equally.
Now you will be binding off for the underarms and working the fronts and back separately.
Next RS row: k 20(22) for front, BO 13sts for underarm, k 40(44) for back, BO 13sts for underarm, k 20(22)

Front Left Panel:

Turn your work and continue working stockinette over the 20(22)sts for 5”.
Start neck shaping as follows:
On next WS row, BO 4sts, purl to end.
Turn and knit to end.
Turn, BO 3sts, purl to end.
Turn and knit to end.
Turn, BO 2sts, purl to end.
Turn and knit to end.
Turn, BO 1 st, purl to end.
Work a further 13 rows and BO all sts.

Front Right Panel:

Join yarn on RS of panel.
Knit 5” of stockinette over the 20(22)sts as you did for the left front.
Start neck shaping as follows:
On next RS row, BO 4sts, knit to end.
Turn and purl to end.
Turn, BO 3sts, knit to end.
Turn and purl to end.
Turn, BO 2sts, knit to end.
Turn and purl to end.
Turn, BO 1 st, knit to end.
Work a further 13 rows and BO all sts.

Back Panel:

Join yarn on RS of back.
Knit in stockinette until the back is the same length as the fronts, measuring from BO underarm sts.
BO

Sew shoulder seams together; front panels to back piece matching at armhole and seaming in towards the neckline.

Hood:

Starting at right front neckline, PU & knit 25(28)sts on right front, 24(26)sts on back, 25(28)sts on left front. 74(82)sts total
Turn and beg working in k2, p2 ribbing as follows:
- (WS) p2, k2 across, end with p2.
- (RS) k2, p2 across, end with k2.

Work 1 more WS row.

Next RS row work as follows:

BO 6sts, work 12 sts, M1, p2, M1, work 14(18)sts, M1, p2, k2, p2, M1, work 14(18)sts, M1, p2, M1, work 18sts.
Turn, BO 6sts, work across knitting all k sts and purling all p sts.
Continue until hood measures 13”, ending with a WS row.
Work a 3 needle BO with RS held together, WS facing out.

Armholes:

Join yarn at base of armhole, PU 68sts, join in the round.
Work k2, p2 ribbing for 2 rows.
BO using knit sts.
Repeat on other armhole.

Finishing:

Weave in all ends.
Soak or wash the vest before sewing in the zipper.
Either hand or machine sew in a separating zipper.

You’re finished!! Wear & Enjoy!!

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