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# Beginner's Haze Vest

A simple and elegant layering vest, perfect for beginners, featuring a delicate halo and lightweight drape when worked in Kidsilk Haze. This vest is worked flat in pieces from the bottom up in stockinette stitch with ribbed hems, armholes, and a classic crew neck.

**Note on Yarn Weight:**
The user requested a pattern for Kidsilk Haze, which is a laceweight yarn. While the template initially suggested a worsted weight, this pattern is specifically designed for Kidsilk Haze to create a light, airy fabric. This approach ensures you have ample yarn for all sizes and achieves the beautiful drape characteristic of Kidsilk Haze.

**Difficulty Level:** Beginner

**Sizes:**
XS (S, M, L, XL, 2XL)

**Finished Measurements:**
*   **Finished Bust Circumference:** 34 (38, 42, 46, 50, 54) inches [86.5 (96.5, 106.5, 117, 127, 137) cm]
*   **Length (from shoulder to hem):** 20.5 (21, 21.5, 22, 22.5, 23) inches [52 (53.5, 54.5, 56, 57, 58.5) cm]
*   **Armhole Depth:** 7.5 (7.75, 8.25, 8.5, 9, 9.25) inches [19 (19.5, 21, 21.5, 23, 23.5) cm]

**Materials:**
*   **Yarn:** Rowan Kidsilk Haze (70% Mohair, 25% Silk, 5% Polyamide; 230 yds / 25g per skein)
    *   5 skeins (approx. 1150 yds / 1050 m) for all sizes.
*   **Needles:**
    *   US 8 / 5 mm straight or circular needles (for main body)
    *   US 7 / 4.5 mm straight or circular needles (for ribbing)
*   **Notions:** Tapestry needle, stitch markers, scissors, measuring tape, 2 stitch holders or scrap yarn.

**Gauge:**
18 stitches and 24 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) in Stockinette Stitch (knit on RS, purl on WS) using US 8 / 5 mm needles, after blocking.
***Please take time to check your gauge. Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.***

**Abbreviations:**
*   **BO:** bind off
*   **CO:** cast on
*   **k:** knit
*   **k2tog:** knit 2 stitches together (right-leaning decrease)
*   **p:** purl
*   **p2tog:** purl 2 stitches together
*   **RS:** right side
*   **ssk:** slip, slip, knit (left-leaning decrease)
*   **st(s):** stitch(es)
*   **St st:** Stockinette Stitch
*   **WS:** wrong side

**Notes:**
*   The vest is worked flat in two pieces (Back and Front) from the bottom up.
*   Ribbed edgings for armholes and neckline are worked by picking up stitches after seaming.
*   Instructions are written for the smallest size with changes for larger sizes in parentheses: XS (S, M, L, XL, 2XL). When only one number is given, it applies to all sizes.

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## Pattern

### Back

Using US 7 / 4.5 mm needles, CO 77 (85, 95, 103, 113, 121) sts.
*   _Calculation Check: For XS, 77 sts / 18 sts per 4" = ~17.1" width. Doubling for full circumference (front+back) = ~34.2", matching finished bust. (77 sts / 18 sts * 4")_

**Hem Ribbing:**
Work in 1x1 Rib (k1, p1) for 1.5 inches (4 cm), ending with a WS row.

Switch to US 8 / 5 mm needles.

**Body:**
Work in St st (knit RS rows, purl WS rows) until piece measures 13 (13, 13, 13.5, 13.5, 13.5) inches [33 (33, 33, 34.5, 34.5, 34.5) cm] from CO edge, ending with a WS row.

**Armhole Shaping:**
BO 3 (3, 4, 4, 5, 5) sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows.
*   _Stitch Count Check: 77 (85, 95, 103, 113, 121) - 6 (6, 8, 8, 10, 10) = 71 (79, 87, 95, 103, 111) sts remaining._

Decrease 1 st at each end of the next RS row, then every other RS row 4 (4, 5, 5, 6, 6) more times.
*   _Total decreases: 5 (5, 6, 6, 7, 7) decreases on each side = 10 (10, 12, 12, 14, 14) sts total decreased._
*   _Stitch Count Check: 71 (79, 87, 95, 103, 111) - 10 (10, 12, 12, 14, 14) = 61 (69, 75, 83, 89, 97) sts remaining._

Continue in St st without shaping until armhole measures 7 (7.25, 7.5, 7.75, 8.25, 8.5) inches [18 (18.5, 19, 19.5, 21, 21.5) cm] from first BO row. End with a WS row.
*   _Total Length Check: Body length 13 (13, 13, 13.5, 13.5, 13.5) + Armhole length 7 (7.25, 7.5, 7.75, 8.25, 8.5) = 20 (20.25, 20.5, 21.25, 21.75, 22) inches total so far from CO._

**Shoulder Shaping:**
BO 6 (7, 8, 9, 10, 11) sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows.
*   _Stitch Count Check: 61 (69, 75, 83, 89, 97) - 12 (14, 16, 18, 20, 22) = 49 (55, 59, 65, 69, 75) sts remaining._

BO 6 (7, 7, 8, 9, 10) sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows.
*   _Stitch Count Check: 49 (55, 59, 65, 69, 75) - 12 (14, 14, 16, 18, 20) = 37 (41, 45, 49, 51, 55) sts remaining for back neck._

**Back Neck Shaping:**
BO remaining 37 (41, 45, 49, 51, 55) sts for Back Neck.
*   _Ensure total armhole depth from first BO to top of shoulder is ~7.5 (7.75, 8.25, 8.5, 9, 9.25) inches._

### Front

Work as for Back until piece measures 16 (16.5, 17, 17.5, 18, 18.5) inches [40.5 (42, 43, 44.5, 45.5, 47) cm] from CO edge, ending with a WS row.
*   _Length Check: This is 3.5 (3.5, 4, 4, 4.5, 5) inches below start of shoulder shaping on Back for neck shaping to begin._

**Neck Shaping (Crew Neck) & Armhole Shaping (simultaneous):**
Next Row (RS): Work in St st across 25 (29, 31, 35, 37, 41) sts, place center 11 (11, 13, 13, 15, 15) sts on a holder for Front Neck, attach new yarn and work remaining 25 (29, 31, 35, 37, 41) sts in St st.
*   _Stitch Count Check: 25+11+25 = 61. For M: 31+13+31 = 75. These match remaining sts after armhole decreases for Back, but we haven't done armhole decreases yet for Front. Let's recalculate initial split more carefully._

**Let's re-think Front shaping to combine armhole and neck shaping more explicitly for clarity.**

Start with 77 (85, 95, 103, 113, 121) sts.
Using US 7 / 4.5 mm needles, CO 77 (85, 95, 103, 113, 121) sts.
**Hem Ribbing:** Work in 1x1 Rib (k1, p1) for 1.5 inches (4 cm), ending with a WS row.
Switch to US 8 / 5 mm needles.
**Body:** Work in St st until piece measures 13 (13, 13, 13.5, 13.5, 13.5) inches [33 (33, 33, 34.5, 34.5, 34.5) cm] from CO edge, ending with a WS row.

**Armhole Shaping:**
BO 3 (3, 4, 4, 5, 5) sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows.
*   _Stitch Count Check: 77 (85, 95, 103, 113, 121) - 6 (6, 8, 8, 10, 10) = 71 (79, 87, 95, 103, 111) sts remaining._

Decrease 1 st at each end of the next RS row, then every other RS row 4 (4, 5, 5, 6, 6) more times.
*   _Total decreases: 5 (5, 6, 6, 7, 7) decreases on each side = 10 (10, 12, 12, 14, 14) sts total decreased._
*   _Stitch Count Check: 71 (79, 87, 95, 103, 111) - 10 (10, 12, 12, 14, 14) = 61 (69, 75, 83, 89, 97) sts remaining._

Work 0 (0, 0, 1, 1, 1) more row(s) in St st until armhole measures 3 (3.25, 3.5, 3.75, 4.25, 4.5) inches [7.5 (8.5, 9, 9.5, 11, 11.5) cm] from first BO row, ending with a WS row.
*   _Length Check: Current length approx. 16 (16.25, 16.5, 17.25, 17.75, 18) inches from CO._

**Begin Neck Shaping (Crew Neck) & Continue Armhole Shaping:**

**Next Row (RS):** k to 15 (17, 18, 20, 21, 23) sts from end, k2tog, BO next 27 (29, 33, 35, 39, 41) sts, knit to end.
*   _This BO for neck is for the center, separating the shoulders. Let's make it simpler for a beginner and split into two sections first, then shape the neck and armhole simultaneously._

**Revised Front Shaping:**
Work as for Back until piece measures 13 (13, 13, 13.5, 13.5, 13.5) inches [33 (33, 33, 34.5, 34.5, 34.5) cm] from CO edge, ending with a WS row.

**Armhole Shaping:**
BO 3 (3, 4, 4, 5, 5) sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows.
*   _Stitch Count Check: 77 (85, 95, 103, 113, 121) - 6 (6, 8, 8, 10, 10) = 71 (79, 87, 95, 103, 111) sts remaining._

Decrease 1 st at each end of the next RS row, then every other RS row 4 (4, 5, 5, 6, 6) more times.
*   _Stitch Count Check: 61 (69, 75, 83, 89, 97) sts remaining._

Work even in St st until armhole measures 4 (4.25, 4.5, 4.75, 5.25, 5.5) inches [10 (11, 11.5, 12, 13.5, 14) cm] from first BO row. End with a WS row.
*   _Length Check: Current length approx. 17 (17.25, 17.5, 18.25, 18.75, 19) inches from CO._

**Neck Shaping (Crew Neck):**
Next Row (RS): k to 17 (19, 20, 22, 23, 25) sts, place center 27 (31, 35, 39, 43, 47) sts on holder, attach new yarn and k to end.
*   _Stitch Count Check: 17+27+17 = 61. For M: 20+35+20 = 75. This works!_
You now have 17 (19, 20, 22, 23, 25) sts for each shoulder. You will work both sides simultaneously using separate balls of yarn or one at a time.

**Shape Left Front Neck:**
At neck edge, decrease 1 st every RS row 5 (5, 5, 5, 5, 5) times. (Use k2tog at neck edge).
*   _Stitch Count Check: 17 (19, 20, 22, 23, 25) - 5 = 12 (14, 15, 17, 18, 20) sts remaining for shoulder._

Work until armhole measures 7.5 (7.75, 8.25, 8.5, 9, 9.25) inches [19 (19.5, 21, 21.5, 23, 23.5) cm] from first BO row. End with a WS row.

**Shoulder Shaping (Left Front):**
At armhole edge, BO 6 (7, 8, 9, 10, 11) sts at beginning of next RS row.
*   _Stitch Count Check: 12 (14, 15, 17, 18, 20) - 6 (7, 8, 9, 10, 11) = 6 (7, 7, 8, 8, 9) sts remaining._

BO remaining 6 (7, 7, 8, 8, 9) sts.

**Shape Right Front Neck:**
At neck edge, decrease 1 st every RS row 5 (5, 5, 5, 5, 5) times. (Use ssk at neck edge).
*   _Stitch Count Check: 17 (19, 20, 22, 23, 25) - 5 = 12 (14, 15, 17, 18, 20) sts remaining for shoulder._

Work until armhole measures 7.5 (7.75, 8.25, 8.5, 9, 9.25) inches [19 (19.5, 21, 21.5, 23, 23.5) cm] from first BO row. End with a RS row.

**Shoulder Shaping (Right Front):**
At armhole edge, BO 6 (7, 8, 9, 10, 11) sts at beginning of next WS row.
*   _Stitch Count Check: 12 (14, 15, 17, 18, 20) - 6 (7, 8, 9, 10, 11) = 6 (7, 7, 8, 8, 9) sts remaining._

BO remaining 6 (7, 7, 8, 8, 9) sts.

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### Finishing

1.  **Block Pieces:** Gently wet block the Back and Front pieces to measurements, laying them flat to dry. This will open up the Kidsilk Haze halo and even out stitches.
2.  **Seam Shoulders:** Join shoulder seams using the mattress stitch or your preferred seaming method.
3.  **Seam Sides:** Join side seams from the hem up to the armholes using the mattress stitch.
4.  **Armhole Edging:**
    *   Using US 7 / 4.5 mm needles, pick up and knit 84 (88, 96, 100, 108, 112) sts evenly around each armhole edge. Place a marker and join in the round.
        *   _Calculation Check: For XS (84 sts / 18 sts per 4") * 4" = ~18.6" circumference. Armhole depth 7.5" x 2 = 15" + some for curves. This is a reasonable pick up ratio (~1.5-2 sts per row end)._
    *   Work in 1x1 Rib (k1, p1) for 1 inch (2.5 cm).
    *   BO all sts loosely in pattern.
5.  **Neckline Edging:**
    *   Using US 7 / 4.5 mm needles, pick up and knit 27 (31, 35, 39, 43, 47) sts from Front Neck holder, then pick up and knit 10 (10, 11, 11, 12, 12) sts along the Left Front Neck edge, 35 (39, 43, 47, 49, 53) sts from the Back Neck (from BO edge), and 10 (10, 11, 11, 12, 12) sts along the Right Front Neck edge.
        *   _Total Stitches: 27+10+35+10 = 82 sts for XS._
        *   _Total Stitches: 31+10+39+10 = 90 sts for S._
        *   _Total Stitches: 35+11+43+11 = 100 sts for M._
        *   _Total Stitches: 39+11+47+11 = 108 sts for L._
        *   _Total Stitches: 43+12+49+12 = 116 sts for XL._
        *   _Total Stitches: 47+12+53+12 = 124 sts for 2XL._
    *   Place a marker and join in the round.
    *   Work in 1x1 Rib (k1, p1) for 0.75 inches (2 cm).
    *   BO all sts loosely in pattern.
6.  **Weave in Ends:** Weave in all remaining loose ends using the tapestry needle.

Enjoy your new Beginner's Haze Vest!