Spring Blossoms Vest

A beginner top worked in stockinette with ribbing at the hem and sleeves.  A modified drop sleeve provides with a nice sleeve fit.

Loom: 28” Knitting Board with Peg Extenders. Loom with 107 (113, 118, 124) pegs in regular gauge is recommended.

Yarn: Approx 750-1000 yards of worsted weight merino wool. Knit Picks Swish Tonal Worsted in Summer Blooms was used in sample.

Notions: Knitting tool, tapestry needle, stitch holder (or piece of contrasting color yarn), measuring tape..

Size: 34 (36, 38, 40) inches across chest. Picture shows size 34.

Gauge: 22 sts x 28 rows = 4 inches in stockinette (using the knit stitch). It is imperative to get the stitch gauge accurate, row gauge can be different as you can work more/less rows to achieve the desired length.

This vest is intended to have a loose fit for a more fitted fit, go down a size.

Abbreviations

sts=stitches

Inc=Increase

k=knit

p=purl

BO=Basic Bind Off

YO=Yarn over (ewrap peg)

Back

Using the crochet cast on, cast on 95 (100, 105, 111) sts, prepare to work a flat panel.

Row 1-21: *k1, p1; rep from * to last st, k1.  

Row 22: Increasing row for the body.

Size 34:  [k8, yo on peg 8]11x. k7, yo on last peg. (Each YO is a new stitch). (107 total stitches)

Size 36: [k7, yo on peg 7]14x, yo on last peg. (113 total stitches)

Size 38: k5, yo on last peg. [k8, yo on last peg]11x. [k7, yo on last peg]. K5 (118 total stitches)

Size 40: [k8, yo on last peg]13x, k7 (124 total stitches)

Row 23: k to the end of the row. (107 (113, 118, 124) total stitches): see note below:

Note: Treat the YO as separate stitches— Example for smallest size: *k7, remove the YO from peg 8, hold the YO with a separate knitting tool, knit the stitch on peg 8, push this loop down to the base of the peg. Place the YO back on peg 8, knit the YO (do not knit the loop that is at the base); rep from * to the end.

Continue working in stockinette stitch until piece meas 14.5 (15, 15, 15.5) inches.

Underarm Shaping

Bind off 5 sts at beg of next 2 rows.

Continue in stockinette stitch until piece measures 24 (24.5, 25, 26) inches from cast on edge.

Bind off 26 (28, 29, 28) shoulder sts. Bind off 45 (47, 50, 52 )back neck sts. Bind off 26 (28, 29, 28) shoulder sts.

Weave in all ends. Block.

Front

Work as for back, including all shaping, and, at the same time when piece measures 20.5 (20.5, 21, 21.5)” Begin Neck Shaping

Work to center 23 (23, 24, 26) sts, attach another ball of yarn, bind off center 23 (23, 24, 26) sts, k to the end to complete row.

Work both sides at once.

Dec 1 st at each neck edge, every other row 11x (12x,  13x, 13x). Continue in stockinette stitch until piece meas 24 (24.5, 25, 26)”.  (To decrease, simply remove the loop from the last peg and place it on top of its neighbor peg, when you work the peg with the two loops, treat both loops as one).

BO.

Weave in all ends. Block.

Armhole Edging
(make 2)

Crochet cast on 114 (114, 120, 130)sts, prepare to work a flat panel.  

Rows 1-12: Work in *k1, p1, ribbing. (Approx. 1.5 inches)

Bind off loosely.

Neck Edging

Crochet cast on,  110 (122, 132, 136) sts, prepare to work a flat panel.

Rows 1-6: Work in *k1, p1, ribbing. (Approx. 1 inch)

Bind off loosely.

Assembly

Seam front to back. Seam each shoulder.

Seam Armhole bands to armhole openings (hiding the seam under the arm).

Seam Neckline band to neckline opening (hiding the seam at the back of the neck).

Block.

TIP: If the Cast On edges look too loose, try using a crochet hook to make the cast on edges look tighter/neater.