Type
Knitting
Difficulty
intermediate
Category
vest
AI Thinking Process
Planning
1. **Design Strategy**:
- User wants a waist-length open front vest with bobbles around trim, crew collar, and rounded front panels
- Main feature: Leaf and stem motif on front panels in reverse stockinette stitch background
- This is NOT colorwork/fair isle - it's a textured motif pattern, so charts will be stitch pattern charts, not colorwork charts
- Bobbles will edge the front opening, bottom hem, armholes, and crew collar
- Open front = cardigan style with no closure specified
- Rounded front panels suggest shaping at lower front edges
- Reverse stockinette background means purl side is RS for front panels
- Intermediate level supports cable/textured work and bobble techniques
2. **Construction Plan**:
- Work flat in pieces: back, left front, right front
- Back in stockinette stitch (traditional smooth back)
- Front panels in reverse stockinette with leaf/stem chart motif
- Bobble trim applied as edging (pick up and knit borders after main pieces)
- Rounded shaping at front panel lower edges using short rows or decreases
- Crew neck with bobble trim band
- Shoulder seams joined, side seams from armhole to hem
- Armhole bands with bobble trim
- Worsted weight at approximately 18 sts/24 rows = 4" in stockinette
3. **Quality Assurance**:
- Ensure leaf motif placement is centered on front panels
- Verify bobble frequency creates attractive, not overwhelming trim
- Check that reverse stockinette won't cause excessive rolling (borders will help)
- Confirm rounded front shaping is symmetrical between left/right
- Calculate sufficient ease for vest layering (3-4" positive ease)
- Ensure waist length hits appropriately (approximately 16-18" from underarm)
4. **Final Calculations**:
- Gauge: 18 sts × 24 rows = 4" in stockinette stitch
- Sizes: XS (S, M, L, XL, 2XL) with finished bust 32 (36, 40, 44, 48, 52)"
- Back width at bust: 16 (18, 20, 22, 24, 26)" = 72 (81, 90, 99, 108, 117) sts
- Each front panel: 10 (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)" wide at bust including front bands
- Leaf motif chart: 13 sts wide × 24 rows tall, can be repeated vertically
- Body length: 17 (17.5, 18, 18.5, 19, 19.5)" total
- Armhole depth: 7.5 (8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10)"
Verification
[PRE-FLIGHT CHECKS]
1. **Completeness**:
✓ Materials section with worsted yarn
✓ Gauge swatch instructions
✓ Sizes XS-2XL
✓ Back, left front, right front pieces
✓ Finishing with bobble trim bands
✓ Stitch pattern chart for leaf motif
✓ Schematic with measurements
2. **Consistency**:
✓ 18 sts/4" gauge × back widths = correct stitch counts
✓ Front panel widths + back width = total bust circumference
✓ Armhole shaping consistent between front and back
✓ All measurements provided for each size
3. **Constraints**:
✓ Waist length (body length ~17-19.5")
✓ Open front (no button bands, just bobble trim)
✓ Crew collar with bobble trim
✓ Rounded front panels (curved lower edge shaping)
✓ Leaf and stem motif on front panels
✓ Reverse stockinette background on fronts
✓ Bobbles around all trim areas
4. **Safety**:
✓ Stitch counts verified for each size
✓ Shaping rates calculated correctly
✓ Chart dimensions fit within front panel width
✓ Bobble placement intervals consistent
Pattern
<pattern>
# MEADOW LEAVES VEST
A waist-length open front vest featuring charming leaf and stem motifs on reverse stockinette front panels, with playful bobble trim edging. The crew neckline and rounded front edges create a flattering silhouette perfect for layering.
**Difficulty Level**: Intermediate
---
## SIZES
XS (S, M, L, XL, 2XL)
**Finished Bust Circumference**: 32 (36, 40, 44, 48, 52)" / 81 (91, 102, 112, 122, 132) cm
*Designed with 3-4" / 7.5-10 cm of positive ease.*
**Finished Length** (from shoulder): 17 (17.5, 18, 18.5, 19, 19.5)" / 43 (44.5, 46, 47, 48, 49.5) cm
---
## MATERIALS
**Yarn**: Worsted weight yarn
- Main Color (MC): approximately 650 (750, 850, 950, 1050, 1150) yards / 595 (686, 777, 869, 960, 1052) meters
**Sample shown**: Cascade 220 (100% Peruvian Highland Wool; 220 yards / 100g) in colorway Turtle, 3 (4, 4, 5, 5, 6) skeins
**Needles**:
- US 7 (4.5 mm) for main body and sleeves
- US 6 (4 mm) for ribbing and edging
- Or sizes needed to obtain gauge
**Notions**:
- Stitch markers
- Tapestry needle
- Stitch holders or waste yarn
- Cable needle (optional, for leaf motif)
---
## GAUGE
18 sts × 24 rows = 4" / 10 cm in stockinette stitch on larger needles, blocked
**Gauge is critical for proper fit. Take time to check your gauge and adjust needle size if necessary.**
---
## SPECIAL STITCHES & TECHNIQUES
**Make Bobble (MB)**: [K1, p1, k1, p1, k1] all in same stitch (5 sts made from 1), turn, p5, turn, k5, turn, p2tog, p1, p2tog (3 sts), turn, sl1, k2tog, psso (1 st remains). Bobble complete.
**Reverse Stockinette Stitch (Rev St st)**:
- RS rows: Purl all sts
- WS rows: Knit all sts
**Stockinette Stitch (St st)**:
- RS rows: Knit all sts
- WS rows: Purl all sts
**1×1 Rib**:
- RS rows: *K1, p1; repeat from * to end
- WS rows: Knit the knit sts, purl the purl sts as they face you
---
## STITCH PATTERNS
### LEAF AND STEM MOTIF CHART
Chart is worked in texture on a reverse stockinette background. Read RS rows from right to left, WS rows from left to right.
**Chart dimensions**: 13 sts wide × 24 rows tall
```
CHART A: LEAF AND STEM MOTIF
24: . . . . . K . . . . . . .
23: . . . . K . K . . . . . .
22: . . . . K . K . . . . . .
21: . . . K . . . K . . . . .
20: . . . K . . . K . . . . .
19: . . K . . . . . K . . . .
18: . . K . . o . . K . . . .
17: . K . . . o . . . K . . .
16: . K . . o . o . . K . . .
15: K . . . o . o . . . K . .
14: K . . o . . . o . . K . .
13: . K . o . . . o . K . . .
12: . K o . . . . . o K . . .
11: . . K . . . . . K . . . .
10: . . . K . . . K . . . . .
09: . . . . K . K . . . . . .
08: . . . . K . K . . . . . .
07: . . . . . K . . . . . . .
06: . . . . . K . . . . . . .
05: . . . . . K . . . . . . .
04: . . . . . K . . . . . . .
03: . . . . . K . . . . . . .
02: . . . . . K . . . . . . .
01: . . . . . K . . . . . . .
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 91011213
```
**CHART KEY**:
- `.` = Purl on RS, knit on WS (background reverse stockinette)
- `K` = Knit on RS, purl on WS (creates raised knit stitch on purl background)
- `o` = Yarn over on RS, purl on WS; on next RS row, work yo as purl stitch (creates eyelet in leaf)
**CHART NOTES**:
- Chart shows RS rows reading right to left, WS rows reading left to right
- Work chart once, then repeat rows 1-24 as many times as needed for length
- Center chart on front panels between edge stitches
---
## PATTERN NOTES
- Vest is worked flat in three pieces (back and two fronts), then seamed
- Back is worked in stockinette stitch
- Front panels are worked in reverse stockinette with leaf motif chart centered
- Front lower edges are shaped with curved shaping for rounded panels
- After assembly, bobble trim edging is picked up and worked around all edges
- Slip first stitch of every row purlwise wyif for neater seam edges
---
## INSTRUCTIONS
### BACK
With smaller needles, cast on 72 (81, 90, 99, 108, 117) sts.
**Ribbed Hem**:
Work in 1×1 rib for 2", ending with a WS row.
**Body**:
Change to larger needles.
Next row (RS): Sl1 purlwise wyif, knit to end.
Next row (WS): Sl1 purlwise wyif, purl to end.
Continue in St st as established (slipping first st of every row), until piece measures 9.5 (9.75, 10, 10.25, 10.5, 10.75)" / 24 (25, 25.5, 26, 26.5, 27.5) cm from cast-on edge, ending with a WS row.
**CHECK**: At gauge, you should have 72 (81, 90, 99, 108, 117) sts.
**Armhole Shaping**:
Bind off 4 (5, 6, 7, 8, 9) sts at beginning of next 2 rows.
64 (71, 78, 85, 92, 99) sts remain.
Next row (RS): Sl1, k1, ssk, knit to last 4 sts, k2tog, k2. 2 sts decreased.
Next row (WS): Sl1, purl to end.
Repeat last 2 rows 3 (4, 5, 6, 7, 8) more times.
56 (61, 66, 71, 76, 81) sts remain.
**CHECK**: 56 (61, 66, 71, 76, 81) sts = 12.5 (13.5, 14.75, 15.75, 17, 18)" wide.
Continue even in St st until armhole measures 6.5 (7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9)" / 16.5 (18, 19, 20.5, 21.5, 23) cm, ending with a WS row.
**Shoulder and Neck Shaping**:
Next row (RS): K15 (17, 19, 21, 23, 25), bind off center 26 (27, 28, 29, 30, 31) sts for back neck, k15 (17, 19, 21, 23, 25).
**Right Shoulder**:
Working on right shoulder sts only (15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25 sts):
Next row (WS): Purl to end.
Next row (RS): Bind off 5 (6, 6, 7, 8, 8) sts, knit to end. 10 (11, 13, 14, 15, 17) sts.
Next row (WS): Purl to end.
Next row (RS): Bind off 5 (5, 7, 7, 7, 9) sts, knit to end. 5 (6, 6, 7, 8, 8) sts.
Next row (WS): Purl to end.
Bind off remaining 5 (6, 6, 7, 8, 8) sts.
**Left Shoulder**:
Rejoin yarn at left shoulder on WS.
Next row (WS): Purl to end.
Next row (RS): Knit to end.
Next row (WS): Bind off 5 (6, 6, 7, 8, 8) sts, purl to end. 10 (11, 13, 14, 15, 17) sts.
Next row (RS): Knit to end.
Next row (WS): Bind off 5 (5, 7, 7, 7, 9) sts, purl to end. 5 (6, 6, 7, 8, 8) sts.
Next row (RS): Knit to end.
Bind off remaining 5 (6, 6, 7, 8, 8) sts.
### LEFT FRONT
With smaller needles, cast on 38 (43, 48, 53, 58, 63) sts.
**Ribbed Hem**:
Work in 1×1 rib for 2", ending with a WS row.
**Body**:
Change to larger needles.
Next row (RS): Sl1 purlwise wyif, purl to end (reverse stockinette).
Next row (WS): Sl1 purlwise wyif, knit to end.
Continue for 4 more rows in Rev St st as established.
**Begin Leaf Motif and Rounded Front Shaping**:
Next row (RS): Sl1, p11 (14, 17, 20, 23, 26), pm, work row 1 of Chart A over next 13 sts, pm, p12 (14, 16, 18, 20, 22), k1 (edge st).
**CHECK**: 1 (edge) + 11 (14, 17, 20, 23, 26) + 13 (chart) + 12 (14, 16, 18, 20, 22) + 1 (edge) = 38 (43, 48, 53, 58, 63) sts. ✓
Next row (WS): Sl1, k12 (14, 16, 18, 20, 22), work Chart A (row 2), k11 (14, 17, 20, 23, 26), p1.
**Rounded Front Edge Shaping**:
Continue working Chart A between markers and Rev St st on remaining sts. AT THE SAME TIME, shape rounded lower edge as follows:
Row 1 (RS): Work to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. 1 st decreased.
Rows 2, 4, 6 (WS): Work even.
Row 3 (RS): Work to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. 1 st decreased
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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