Harbour Grey Wool-Rich Vest

A beginner-friendly V-neck knitted vest in the relaxed Cornish style

Sizes

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

To fit chest: 81 (91, 102, 112, 122, 132) cm / 32 (36, 40, 44, 48, 52) in

Finished measurements

Fit: The vest is designed with approximately 10 cm (4 in) of positive ease for a relaxed layering fit.

Materials

• Yarn: Worsted-weight wool-rich yarn (e.g. 80% wool / 20% nylon, approx. 200 m per 100 g) in mid grey.
  • Quantity: 650 (750, 850, 950, 1050, 1150) m
  • Approximate balls: 4 (4, 5, 5, 6, 6) × 100 g balls
• Needles:
  • 5 mm (US 8) straight needles, for the body
  • 4.5 mm (US 7) straight needles, for the hem rib
  • 4.5 mm (US 7) circular needle, 40 cm long, for the bands (or use magic loop on a longer circular)
• Notions:
  • Stitch markers
  • 1 locking stitch marker
  • Tapestry needle
  • Stitch holder or spare yarn (optional)

Tension (Gauge)

18 sts and 24 rows = 10 cm (4 in) over stocking stitch on 5 mm needles, after blocking.

Check your tension before you start:

• If you have more stitches than stated, try larger needles.
• If you have fewer stitches than stated, try smaller needles.

Abbreviations (UK)

Pattern Notes

• The back and front are worked flat, separately, from the hem upwards.
• Decreases are worked 1 st in from the edge. This gives a smooth edge that is easy to seam and pick up from.
• When an instruction says "rib as set", knit the knit stitches and purl the purl stitches as they face you.
• Cast off loosely throughout. If your cast-off tends to be tight, use a needle one size larger.

BACK

Ribbed hem

With 4.5 mm needles, cast on 82 (90, 102, 110, 118, 130) sts.

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

Repeat these 2 rows until the rib measures 6 cm, ending with a WS row.

Body

Change to 5 mm needles. Work in st st, beginning with a k row, until the piece measures 38 (39, 40, 41, 42, 43) cm from the cast-on edge. End with a WS row.

Armhole shaping

• Cast off 5 (6, 9, 10, 11, 13) sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows.
  • 82−10 = 72; 90−12 = 78; 102−18 = 84; 110−20 = 90; 118−22 = 96; 130−26 = 104 sts ✓
• Decrease row (RS): k1, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. (2 sts decreased)
• Next row (WS): purl.

Repeat the last 2 rows 4 (5, 5, 6, 7, 9) more times. That is 5 (6, 6, 7, 8, 10) decrease rows in total.

You now have 62 (66, 72, 76, 80, 84) sts:

• XS: 72−10 = 62 ✓
• S: 78−12 = 66 ✓
• M: 84−12 = 72 ✓
• L: 90−14 = 76 ✓
• XL: 96−16 = 80 ✓
• 2XL: 104−20 = 84 ✓

The armhole shaping has used 12 (14, 14, 16, 18, 22) rows.

Straight section to shoulders

Work straight in st st until the armhole measures 19 (20, 21, 22, 23, 24) cm. This is 46 (48, 50, 52, 56, 58) rows from the first armhole cast-off row. End with a WS row.

Shoulders

Cast off all sts loosely.

Place markers on the cast-off edge:

• 16 (18, 20, 21, 23, 24) sts in from each side, to mark the shoulders.
• This leaves 30 (30, 32, 34, 34, 36) sts in the centre for the back neck.
• Check: 16+30+16 = 62; 18+30+18 = 66; 20+32+20 = 72; 21+34+21 = 76; 23+34+23 = 80; 24+36+24 = 84 ✓

FRONT

Work exactly as for the Back, including all the armhole shaping, until you have 62 (66, 72, 76, 80, 84) sts. End with a WS row.

You have now worked 12 (14, 14, 16, 18, 22) armhole rows.

Divide for the V-neck

Next row (RS): k28 (30, 33, 35, 37, 39), k2tog, k1, turn.

• This leaves 31 (33, 36, 38, 40, 42) sts unworked on the left needle.
• Slip these unworked sts to a holder.
• You have 31 (33, 36, 38, 40, 42) sts on your needle for the first side, after 1 neck decrease.

First side (left front as worn)

• Next row (WS): purl.
• Neck decrease row (RS): k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.

Repeat the last 2 rows 13 (13, 14, 15, 15, 16) more times.

That makes 15 (15, 16, 17, 17, 18) neck decreases in total, counting the dividing row. You now have 16 (18, 20, 21, 23, 24) sts:

• XS: 31−15 = 16 ✓
• S: 33−15 = 18 ✓
• M: 36−16 = 20 ✓
• L: 38−17 = 21 ✓
• XL: 40−17 = 23 ✓
• 2XL: 42−18 = 24 ✓

Work straight in st st until the armhole matches the Back. That is 46 (48, 50, 52, 56, 58) armhole rows in total. End with a WS row.

Cast off loosely.

Second side (right front as worn)

• Return the held sts to the needle with the RS facing.
• Rejoin the yarn.
• Next row (RS): k1, ssk, k to end. You now have 32 (34, 37, 39, 41, 43) sts.

Next row (WS): purl.

Neck decrease row (RS): k1, ssk, k to end.

Repeat the last 2 rows 13 (13, 14, 15, 15, 16) more times. You now have 16 (18, 20, 21, 23, 24) sts ✓

Work straight in st st until this side matches the first side, ending with a WS row.

Cast off loosely.

MAKING UP

1. Block: Wet or steam block both pieces to the measurements given. Leave them to dry flat.
2. Shoulder seams: Sew the front shoulders to the back shoulders between the markers, using mattress stitch or backstitch.
3. Side seams: Sew the side seams from the hem up to the armhole cast-off, using mattress stitch. Work the seam 1 st in from the edge.

NECKBAND

With the RS facing and the 4.5 mm circular needle, start at the left shoulder seam and pick up and knit as follows:

• 26 (26, 28, 28, 28, 28) sts down the left front neck.
• 1 st at the centre of the V. Mark this st with the locking marker.
• 26 (26, 28, 28, 28, 28) sts up the right front neck.
• 31 (31, 33, 35, 35, 37) sts across the back neck. This is 1 st per cast-off st, plus 1 extra at the shoulder seam.

You now have 84 (84, 90, 92, 92, 94) sts. Place a marker for the beginning of the round.

• XS: 26+1+26+31 = 84
• S: 84
• M: 28+1+28+33 = 90
• L: 28+1+28+35 = 92
• XL: 92
• 2XL: 28+1+28+37 = 94 ✓ (all even)

Rnd 1:

• Work (k1, p1) until 1 st remains before the marked centre st.
• s2kpo (the centre st becomes the k1 of the s2kpo). Move the locking marker to the stitch just made.
• Work in rib as set to the end of the round.
• You have decreased 2 sts.

Repeat Rnd 1 five more times, so 6 rnds in total. The band measures about 2.5 cm.

On every round, the centre st stays a knit stitch and you work the rib as set around it.

You now have 72 (72, 78, 80, 80, 82) sts:

• XS/S: 84−12 = 72 ✓
• M: 90−12 = 78 ✓
• L/XL: 92−12 = 80 ✓
• 2XL: 94−12 = 82 ✓

Cast off in rib, working the s2kpo at the centre as you cast off.

ARMHOLE BANDS (make 2)

With the RS facing and the 4.5 mm circular needle, start at the side seam. Pick up and knit 88 (94, 102, 108, 114, 122) sts evenly around the armhole:

• 1 st in each cast-off st.
• About 3 sts for every 4 rows along the shaped and straight edges.

Place a marker for the beginning of the round.

Rnd 1: *k1, p1; rep from * to end.

Repeat this round 5 more times, so 6 rnds in total (about 2.5 cm).

Cast off loosely in rib. Make the second band in the same way.

FINISHING

• Weave in all ends along the seams.
• Lightly steam the bands and seams to settle them.

Your Harbour Grey vest is ready to layer over shirts, dresses or a breton top for a relaxed Cornish look.

Optional Pocket (patch)

1. With 5 mm needles, cast on 20 sts and work 22 rows in st st.
2. Change to 4.5 mm needles and work 4 rows of k2, p2 rib.
3. Cast off in rib.
4. Sew the pocket to the front, about 5 cm above the hem rib.