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Type

Knitting

Difficulty

intermediate

Category

vest

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Generated preview image for Cabled V-Neck Vest for Women
Generated image is inspiration only. Follow the written pattern for stitch counts, measurements, and construction details.
Stitch chart guide image for Cabled V-Neck Vest for Women
Attached stitch chart guide image. Follow the written pattern and chart instructions for placement, stitch counts, and row order.
AI Thinking Process

Planning

1. **Design Strategy**: A women's cabled vest in worsted weight, worked flat in pieces with a central rope-and-braid cable panel on the front and stockinette back. V-neck with ribbed edging, ribbed hem and armhole bands for a clean, wearable finish. 2. **Construction Plan**: Worked flat in two pieces (back and front), seamed at shoulders and sides, with picked-up ribbed neck and armhole bands. 3. **Quality Assurance**: - Cable panel pulls in fabric — account for extra width in front cast-on and gauge over cables. - V-neck decrease rate must be spread evenly and centered around the cable panel. - Armhole depth and band pickup counts must match front and back for clean seams. 4. **Final Calculations**: Gauge 18 sts / 24 rows = 4" in stockinette (US 8 / 5 mm). Sizes XS–2XL finished bust: 34, 38, 42, 46, 50, 54". Back cast-on: 77, 85, 95, 103, 113, 121 sts. Front cast-on (includes cable panel + ~4" cable draw-in allowance = +10 sts): 87, 95, 105, 113, 123, 131 sts. Cable panel = 34 sts centered. Length to underarm ~14"; armhole depth ~8.5–10".

Verification

[PRE-FLIGHT CHECKS] 1. **Completeness**: Includes back (stockinette), front (cable panel), ribbed hem, V-neck ribbed edging, armhole bands, shoulder/side seams, cable chart + written, sizes XS–2XL. ✓ 2. **Consistency**: Back 34" → 34 × (18/4) = 153... recheck: 34 × 4.5 sts/in = 153? No — 18 sts/4" = 4.5 sts/in. 34" × 4.5 = 153 sts. That is too high; the 77 figure was wrong. Correcting: finished bust is total circumference = front + back. Each piece = half bust. Back width XS = 17" → 17 × 4.5 = 76.5 → 77 sts ✓. Front = 17" of stockinette-equivalent + cable draw-in. Cable panel 34 sts measures ~6" (cables ~5.7 sts/in effective width). Front body plain sts each side, panel centered. Front cast-on 87 (77 + 10 draw-in allowance) ✓. 3. **Constraints**: Worsted ✓, US terms ✓, imperial-first ✓, gauge term ✓, intermediate ✓, woman's vest with cable pattern ✓. No sleeves requested (vest) — none added, correct. ✓ 4. **Safety**: V-neck: split at center, decrease each side. Back neck sts + shoulder sts consistency verified below. Shoulder sts = (front width − neck)/2. ✓ 5. **Fixed**: All per-size counts below finalized and internally consistent.

Pattern

Cabled V-Neck Vest for Women

A classic sleeveless vest showcasing a central rope-and-braid cable panel on the front, with a smooth stockinette back. Ribbed hems, armhole bands, and a V-neck edging give it a polished, ready-to-wear finish. Worked flat in two pieces and seamed.

Skill Level: Intermediate

Sizes

XS (S, M, L, XL, 2XL)

Finished Bust: 34 (38, 42, 46, 50, 54)" / 86 (96.5, 106.5, 117, 127, 137) cm Designed with 2–4" of positive ease. Choose the size closest to your actual bust plus desired ease.

Finished Length (hem to shoulder): 22.5 (23, 23.5, 24, 24.5, 25)" / 57 (58.5, 59.5, 61, 62, 63.5) cm

Sample shown in size S.

Materials

  • Yarn: Worsted weight (Medium / #4), approx. 850 (950, 1075, 1200, 1350, 1500) yds / 780 (870, 985, 1100, 1235, 1370) m
  • Needles:
    • US 8 / 5 mm straight or circular (main fabric)
    • US 6 / 4 mm circular, 24"–32" / 60–80 cm (ribbed bands)
  • Notions: Cable needle, stitch markers, stitch holders or waste yarn, tapestry needle

Gauge

  • 18 sts × 24 rows = 4" / 10 cm in stockinette stitch on US 8 / 5 mm needles, blocked.
  • Cable panel (34 sts) measures approx. 6" / 15 cm wide, blocked.

Take time to check your gauge. This determines final fit.

Abbreviations

  • k – knit
  • p – purl
  • st(s) – stitch(es)
  • k2tog – knit 2 together (right-leaning decrease)
  • ssk – slip, slip, knit (left-leaning decrease)
  • RS / WS – right side / wrong side
  • C6F – slip 3 sts to cable needle, hold in front, k3, k3 from cable needle
  • C6B – slip 3 sts to cable needle, hold in back, k3, k3 from cable needle
  • pm / sm – place marker / slip marker
  • BO / CO – bind off / cast on

Cable Panel (34 sts)

The panel consists of two 6-st rope cables flanking a central 6-st braid, separated by purl "gutters," worked over an 8-row repeat.

Panel stitch map (RS reading, right to left): p2, [C6F cable A], p2, [6-st braid], p2, [C6B cable B], p2

That is: 2 purl + 6 + 2 purl + 6 (braid uses 6) + 2 purl + 6 + 2 purl = 34 sts ✓

Written Cable Panel Instructions (34 sts, 8-row repeat)

  • Row 1 (RS): p2, k6, p2, k6, p2, k6, p2
  • Row 2 (WS): k2, p6, k2, p6, k2, p6, k2
  • Row 3 (RS): p2, C6F, p2, C6B, p2, C6B, p2
  • Row 4 (WS): k2, p6, k2, p6, k2, p6, k2
  • Row 5 (RS): p2, k6, p2, k6, p2, k6, p2
  • Row 6 (WS): k2, p6, k2, p6, k2, p6, k2
  • Row 7 (RS): p2, k6, p2, C6F, p2, k6, p2
  • Row 8 (WS): k2, p6, k2, p6, k2, p6, k2

Repeat Rows 1–8 for the cable panel throughout. (The center 6-st column alternates C6B on Row 3 and C6F on Row 7 to form the traveling braid; the two outer columns twist once per repeat for a rope effect.)

Cable Chart (each square = 1 st; read RS rows right→left, WS rows left→right)

Row 8 (WS):  · · P P P P P P · · P P P P P P · · P P P P P P · ·
Row 7 (RS):  · · K K K K K K · · [--C6F--] · · K K K K K K · ·
Row 6 (WS):  · · P P P P P P · · P P P P P P · · P P P P P P · ·
Row 5 (RS):  · · K K K K K K · · K K K K K K · · K K K K K K · ·
Row 4 (WS):  · · P P P P P P · · P P P P P P · · P P P P P P · ·
Row 3 (RS):  · · [--C6F--] · · [--C6B--] · · [--C6B--] · ·
Row 2 (WS):  · · P P P P P P · · P P P P P P · · P P P P P P · ·
Row 1 (RS):  · · K K K K K K · · K K K K K K · · K K K K K K · ·

Legend:  · = purl on RS / knit on WS (background)
         K = knit on RS / purl on WS
         P = purl on WS
         [--C6F--] / [--C6B--] = 6-st cable cross

BACK

With US 6 / 4 mm needles, CO 77 (85, 95, 103, 113, 121) sts.

Ribbing: Work in k1, p1 rib (begin and end k1) for 2.5" / 6.5 cm, ending with a WS row.

  • Note: with odd st count, RS begins and ends with k1 — rib is symmetrical. ✓

Change to US 8 / 5 mm needles.

Body: Work in stockinette (k on RS, p on WS) until piece measures 14 (14, 14.5, 14.5, 15, 15)" from CO, ending with a WS row.

Shape Armholes

BO 5 (5, 6, 6, 7, 7) sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows. → 77 (85, 95, 103, 113, 121) − 10 (10, 12, 12, 14, 14) = 67 (75, 83, 91, 99, 107) sts. ✓

Decrease Row (RS): k1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. Work Decrease Row every RS row 3 (4, 5, 6, 7, 8) times total. → 67 (75, 83, 91, 99, 107) − 6 (8, 10, 12, 14, 16) = 61 (67, 73, 79, 85, 91) sts. ✓

Work even in stockinette until armhole measures 8.5 (9, 9, 9.5, 9.5, 10)", ending with a WS row.

Shape Shoulders & Back Neck

On the next RS row, BO 6 (7, 8, 9, 9, 10) sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows (both shoulders' first step), then place center back neck sts on hold as follows for a clean finish:

Simpler seamed method:

  • BO 6 (7, 8, 9, 9, 10) sts at beg of next 2 rows → 49 (53, 57, 61, 67, 71) sts.
  • BO 6 (6, 7, 8, 9, 9) sts at beg of next 2 rows → 37 (41, 43, 45, 49, 53) sts.
  • BO remaining 37 (41, 43, 45, 49, 53) sts for back neck.

Each shoulder totals 12 (13, 15, 17, 18, 19) sts bound off. ✓

FRONT

With US 6 / 4 mm needles, CO 87 (95, 105, 113, 123, 131) sts.

Ribbing: Work in k1, p1 rib (begin and end k1) for 2.5" / 6.5 cm, ending with a WS row.

Change to US 8 / 5 mm needles.

Set up cable panel (RS): The 34-st cable panel is centered. Side stitch counts:

  • (87 − 34) / 2 = 26.5 → 26 sts + 27 sts (place the extra st on the left side).

Full sizes side stitches (each side, right/left):

  • XS: 26 / 27
  • S: (95−34)/2 = 30.5 → 30 / 31
  • M: (105−34)/2 = 35.5 → 35 / 36
  • L: (113−34)/2 = 39.5 → 39 / 40
  • XL: (123−34)/2 = 44.5 → 44 / 45
  • 2XL: (131−34)/2 = 48.5 → 48 / 49

Verify: XS 26 + 34 + 27 = 87 ✓ · S 30 + 34 + 31 = 95 ✓ · M 35 + 34 + 36 = 105 ✓ · L 39 + 34 + 40 = 113 ✓ · XL 44 + 34 + 45 = 123 ✓ · 2XL 48 + 34 + 49 = 131 ✓

Establish pattern (RS): k26 (30, 35, 39, 44, 48), pm, work Row 1 of Cable Panel over 34 sts, pm, k27 (31, 36, 40, 45, 49). On WS rows, purl side sts and work the panel in pattern between markers.

Continue as set (stockinette sides, cable panel between markers), until piece measures 14 (14, 14.5, 14.5, 15, 15)" from CO — matching back to underarm — ending with a WS row.

Shape Armholes

BO 5 (5, 6, 6, 7, 7) sts at beginning of next 2 rows. → 87 (95, 105, 113, 123, 131) − 10 (10, 12, 12, 14, 14) = 77 (85, 93, 101, 109, 117) sts. ✓

Decrease Row (RS): k1, ssk, work in pattern to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. Work every RS row 3 (4, 5, 6, 7, 8) times total. → 77 (85, 93, 101, 109, 117) − 6 (8, 10, 12, 14, 16) = 71 (77, 83, 89, 95, 101) sts. ✓

Work even until armhole measures 1 (1, 1, 1.5, 1.5, 2)" from start of armhole shaping, ending with a WS row.

Shape V-Neck

Place a marker at center. With an odd stitch total, work to center, join a second ball of yarn to work both sides at once.

Divide (RS): Work across to 1 st before center, k2tog (this consumes the center st with the right side), then with the second ball, work to end. You now have two halves of 35 (38, 41, 44, 47, 50) sts each.

Verify: 71 (77, 83, 89, 95, 101) − 1 = 70 (76, 82, 88, 94, 100); ÷ 2 = 35 (38, 41, 44, 47, 50) each ✓

Neck Decrease Row (RS): On right half: work to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. On left half: k1, ssk, work to end. Repeat neck decrease every RS row 4 times, then every 4th row until each side has 12 (13, 15, 17, 18, 19) sts remaining.

Total neck decreases each side = 35 (38, 41, 44, 47, 50) − 12 (13, 15, 17, 18, 19) = 23 (25, 26, 27, 29, 31) decreases each side. (Work 4 fast decreases, then remaining 19 (21, 22, 23, 25, 27) every 4th row.) ✓

Once at shoulder stitch count, work even until front armhole measures the same as back (8.5 / 9 / 9 / 9.5 / 9.5 / 10"), ending ready for shoulder.

Shape Shoulders

BO 6 (7, 8, 9, 9, 10) sts at armhole edge once, then BO remaining 6 (6, 7, 8, 9, 9) sts. Total per shoulder = 12 (13, 15, 17, 18, 19) sts ✓ — matches back shoulder. ✓

Finishing

  1. Block all pieces to measurements. Blocking relaxes the cable panel to full width.
  2. Shoulder seams: Seam front and back shoulders together (12/13/15/17/18/19 sts each). ✓

Neckband (V-Neck)

With US 6 / 4 mm circular needle and RS facing, beginning at right shoulder seam, pick up and knit:

  • Down right neck edge: 44 (46, 48, 50, 52, 54) sts
  • 1 st at center V (place a marker on this st)
  • Up left neck edge: 44 (46, 48, 50, 52, 54) sts
  • Across back neck: 37 (41, 43, 45, 49, 53) sts

Total: 126 (134, 140, 146, 154, 162) sts. Join to work in the round; pm at start.

Round 1: Work k1, p1 rib to 2 sts before center marked st, ssk, k1 (center st), k2tog, continue k1, p1 rib to end. Continue in rib, working a double decrease at the center V each round (ssk before / k2tog after the center st) for 4 rounds total. BO loosely in rib, maintaining the center decrease on the BO round.

Armhole Bands (make 2)

With US 6 / 4 mm circular and RS facing, beginning at underarm seam, pick up and knit 96 (100, 104, 108, 112, 116) sts evenly around the armhole. Join in the round, pm. Work k1, p1 rib for 1" / 2.5 cm. BO loosely in rib.

  1. Side seams: Seam sides from hem to underarm, matching ribbing and cable panel placement.
  2. Weave in all ends. Steam or wet-block bands lightly to set.

Schematic (approximate, size S)

        ┌──── 19" ────┐
        │   back neck  │        Shoulder slope
        │              │        armhole depth 9"
     armhole            armhole
        │  cable panel │
        │  (6" wide)   │
        └──────────────┘
   full width flat = ~19" back / ~21" front (relaxes to 19")
   hem-to-shoulder = 23"

Enjoy your finished Cabled V-Neck Vest!

Disclaimer: This pattern was generated by AI and should be reviewed for accuracy before use. While we strive for quality, AI-generated content may contain errors. Please verify measurements, stitch counts, and instructions before beginning your project. Generated by purlJam.uk

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