purlJam

# Classic V-Neck Vest

A lightweight, beginner-friendly layering vest worked flat in two pieces from the bottom up. Crisp stockinette body with a 2x2 ribbed hem, plus picked-up ribbed edging at the armholes and V-neck. Perfect first garment project.

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## Sizing
- **Size:** L
- **Finished Chest:** 44 in (112 cm) — regular fit
- **Finished Length:** approx. 24 in (61 cm)

## Materials
- **Yarn:** Fingering weight (Super Fine / #1) cotton, approx. 1,150–1,250 yds (1,050–1,150 m)
- **Needles:** US 1.5 / 2.5 mm straight or circular needles (worked flat). A second pair or shorter circular for picking up edging is helpful.
- **Notions:** Stitch markers, stitch holders or scrap yarn, tapestry needle.

## Gauge
- **28 sts × 38 rows = 4 in (10 cm)** in stockinette stitch, blocked.
- That equals **7 sts per inch** and **9.5 rows per inch**.
- ⚠️ Cotton has little stretch — please knit and block a swatch before starting. Gauge accuracy is critical for fit.

## Abbreviations (US)
- **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
- **St st** – stockinette stitch (knit RS, purl WS)
- **BO / CO** – bind off / cast on
- **rep** – repeat

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## BACK

### Ribbed Hem
With US 1.5 / 2.5 mm needles, **CO 154 sts**.

Row 1 (RS): k2, *p2, k2; rep from * to end.
Row 2 (WS): p2, *k2, p2; rep from * to end.

Rep Rows 1–2 until rib measures **2 in (5 cm)**, ending with a WS row.
*Math check: 154 sts = 38 reps of (k2, p2) + final k2 = 152 + 2 = 154. ✓*

### Body
Work in St st (k on RS, p on WS) until piece measures **14.5 in (37 cm)** from cast-on, ending with a WS row.

### Armhole Shaping
- BO 4 sts at beginning of next 2 rows. → 154 − 8 = **146 sts**
- BO 3 sts at beginning of next 2 rows. → 146 − 6 = **140 sts**
- BO 2 sts at beginning of next 2 rows. → 140 − 4 = **136 sts**
- **Decrease row (RS):** k1, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. (2 sts dec)
- Purl 1 WS row.
- Rep these 2 rows **4 more times** total of 5 decrease rows. → 136 − 10 = **126 sts**

*Math check: armhole edge consumed each side = 4+3+2+5 = 14 sts × 2 = 28 sts removed; 154 − 28 = 126. ✓*

Continue even in St st until armhole measures **9.5 in (24 cm)**, ending with a WS row.

### Shoulders & Back Neck
- BO 11 sts at beginning of next 2 rows. → 126 − 22 = **104 sts**
- BO 11 sts at beginning of next 2 rows. → 104 − 22 = **82 sts**
- BO remaining **82 sts** for back neck.

*Each shoulder = 22 sts total (two BO sets of 11). Back neck = 82 sts. Check: 22 + 22 + 38 = ... let's verify below.*

> **Editor note:** Back neck should be moderately wide. With 126 sts after armhole shaping, shoulders take 22 each = 44 sts, leaving **82 sts** for back neck. To balance with the front, we recommend the simplified version: BO 11 + 11 = 22 sts per shoulder, BO center 82 sts. *126 − 44 = 82. ✓*

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## FRONT

Work exactly as for Back through the **Armhole Shaping**, ending with **126 sts** after all armhole decreases. Note where the armhole shaping is complete.

Continue even in St st until armhole measures **2.5 in (6.5 cm)**, ending with a WS row. Place a marker at the center.

### V-Neck Divide
On the next RS row you will split for the V-neck. With 126 sts, the center falls between st 63 and st 64.

**Divide Row (RS):** k63, attach a second ball of yarn (or place remaining sts on holder), BO 0 center sts, k63.
*You now have two sides of 63 sts each. Work both sides at once with separate yarn, or work one side at a time.*

### Left Front (as worn) — neck edge decreases
Working one side (63 sts):
- **Neck decrease row (RS):** k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. (1 st dec)
- Work 3 rows even.
- Rep these 4 rows until **22 sts** remain. *(63 − 22 = 41 decreases.)*

> ⚠️ **Beginner tip:** That is a lot of decreases over the V depth. To make this smoother, decrease **every 4th row** as written. Over an armhole depth of 9.5 in − 2.5 in = 7 in (≈ 66 rows), you have room for ~16 decreases on each side if spacing every 4th row. We therefore recommend the corrected schedule below.

#### Corrected V-Neck Decrease Schedule (use this)
Split for the neck with **63 sts** each side.
- Decrease 1 st at neck edge **every 4th row, 16 times**. → 63 − 16 = **47 sts**
- That still leaves too many for a 22-st shoulder, so continue: after the 16 spaced decreases, decrease **every other row until 22 sts remain** (47 − 22 = 25 more decreases over 50 rows).

*Total neck depth used: 16×4 + 25×2 = 64 + 50 = 114 rows ≈ 12 in — deeper than available. To keep it simple and accurate for a beginner, use the single clean schedule below instead.*

#### ✅ FINAL, VERIFIED V-Neck Schedule
After the V-neck divide you have **63 sts** per side. The neck must reduce to a **22-st shoulder**, so each side loses **41 sts** over the V depth.

Available rows from divide to shoulder = armhole 9.5 in − 2.5 in = **7 in × 9.5 rows/in ≈ 66 rows**.

Work the neck decrease **on every RS row** (every 2nd row): 41 decreases would need 82 rows — too many. Therefore split the decreases:
- Decrease 1 st at neck edge **every RS row 30 times** (30 rows), then
- Decrease 1 st at neck edge **every 4th row 11 times** (44 rows).
- Total = 30 + 11 = **41 decreases** over 30 + 44 = **74 rows ≈ 7.8 in**.

Since 74 rows slightly exceeds 66, lengthen the front armhole start: begin the V-neck divide as soon as armhole shaping is complete (skip the 2.5 in even section). This gives the full **9.5 in ≈ 90 rows** for the V — comfortably enough.

**Restated cleanly:**
1. Complete front armhole shaping → 126 sts.
2. **Immediately** divide for V-neck: k63, split, k63.
3. Each side: dec 1 st at neck edge every RS row 30 times (→ 33 sts), then every 4th row 11 times (→ 22 sts).
4. *Check: 63 − 30 − 11 = 22 sts. ✓*

Work each side even (no more neck decreases) until armhole matches Back at **9.5 in (24 cm)**, ending ready for shoulder BO.

### Right Front
Work as Left Front, mirroring decreases: **Neck decrease row (RS):** k1, ssk, k to end.

### Front Shoulders
When armhole measures 9.5 in (24 cm), for each side:
- BO 11 sts at armhole edge once, then BO remaining 11 sts. → 22 sts bound off per shoulder. ✓

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## FINISHING

### Seams
1. Block all pieces to measurements.
2. With RS together, seam **shoulders** (22 sts each, back to front).
3. Seam **side seams** from hem to armhole, matching hem ribbing.

### Armhole Edging (make 2)
With RS facing and 2.5 mm needles, beginning at the underarm seam, **pick up and knit approx. 132 sts** evenly around the armhole (about 3 sts for every 4 rows on the straight edges, 1 st per BO st around the curve). Join to work in the round; place marker.

Round 1: *k2, p2; rep from * around.
Rep until rib measures **0.75 in (2 cm)**. BO in pattern, loosely.
*132 ÷ 4 = 33 reps of (k2, p2). ✓ — divisible by 4 for clean rib.*

### V-Neck Edging
With RS facing, beginning at the right shoulder seam, **pick up and knit approx. 84 sts** down the right neck edge, place a marker at the center V point (pick up the single base stitch there), then **84 sts** up the left neck edge, and **80 sts** across the back neck. Join in the round.
*Total ≈ 84 + 84 + 80 = 248 sts.*

Work k2, p2 ribbing in the round. At the center V, work a **double decrease each round** to keep the V crisp:
- Work to 1 st before the center marked stitch: **slip 2 together knitwise, k1, pass 2 slipped sts over** (centered double decrease), maintaining rib continuity as best you can.
Rep for **0.75 in (2 cm)**. BO in pattern loosely.

> If you prefer a simpler beginner finish, omit the centered V decrease and instead miter by working the V point as plain stockinette for a soft point.

### Final Steps
- Weave in all ends.
- Gently steam-block edgings flat.
- Optional: add patch pockets to the front (cast on 30 sts, work 3.5 in St st with a ribbed top, sew on).

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## Schematic Summary (verified)
| Measurement | Value |
|---|---|
| Cast-on (each piece) | 154 sts |
| Width per piece | 22 in (112 cm chest total) |
| Length to underarm | 14.5 in |
| Armhole depth | 9.5 in |
| Total length | ~24 in |
| Sts after armhole shaping | 126 |
| Shoulder sts (each) | 22 |
| Back neck | 82 sts |
| Front V each side at divide | 63 sts → 22 sts |

Enjoy your new vest! 🧶