“Make me a vest that looks like a road!” said my 4-year-old, and out of that brainstorm this vest was born.

I admit it, my first thought was to just find a vest pattern and tweak it. But who knew that once a kid is older than two years old, knitting patterns are so sparse? Add that it is for a boy...good luck! So my son’s road-construction-in-yarn challenge took on a life of its own.

Buckle up and hold on: zipping over one shoulder is a double-yellow stripe which continues down the back.  Blinking on the opposite side is a signal (three picked-up patch pockets, perfect for storing spare racecars).  Screech to a halt, and all the ribbing looks like tire tracks.  Vroom!

SIZE
Child’s 2[4, 6, 8] (shown in size 6)

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Chest: 24.5[26, 27.5, 29.5] inches
Length: 13.75[15.75, 17.75, 18.75] inches

MATERIALS
Yarn
Berroco Comfort [50% Super Fine Nylon, 50% Super Fine Acrylic; 210yd/193m per 100g skein]
[MC] #9713 Dusk; 2 skeins
[CC1] #9732 Primary Yellow; 1 skein
[CC2] #9734 Licorice; 1 skein
[CC3] #9752 Adirondack; 1 skein
[CC4] #9750 Primary Red; 1 skein
Note: Yarn quantities are the same for all sizes.


Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below -- every knitter's gauge is unique]
1 set US #9/5.5mm straight needles

Notions
Yarn needle
Cable needle
Stitch markers
Smooth waste yarn
Crochet hook
Pins

GAUGE

PATTERN NOTES
[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here.]

C4F: Slip next 2 sts to cable needle and hold to front of work; k2 from left needle, k2 from cable needle.

LT: (Left Twist) Reach right needle around back of first st on left needle and k into back loop of second st on left needle, without removing st from needle; k into front of first st on left needle, then drop both first and second sts from left needle.

RPT: (Right Purl Twist) P into front of second st on left needle, without removing st from left needle; p into front of first st on left needle, then drop both first and second sts from left needle.

Tire Track Rib (Worked over a multiple of 3 sts + 2):
Row 1 [RS]: [LT, p1] to last 2 sts, LT.
Row 2 [WS]: [RPT, k1] to last 2 sts, RPT.
Repeat these 2 rows for Tire Track Rib.

Double-Yellow Stripe Cable (Worked over 9 sts):
Row 1 [RS]: K4, p1, k4.
Row 2 [WS]: P4, k1, p4.
Row 3 [RS]: C4B, p1, C4F.
Row 4 [WS]: Work as for Row 2.
Repeat Rows 1-4 for Double-Yellow Stripe Cable.

Seed Stitch (Worked over an odd number of sts):
All Rows: P1, [k1, p1] to end.

Intarsia:
This pattern involves the Intarsia method of color work. When working in this way, different sections of each row are worked with different colors. Use a separate length of yarn for each area of color.
When switching from one color to the next within each row, drop the color you have been knitting with, and bring the yarn for the next color up under the yarn of the previous color before you continue knitting. This will twist the 2 yarns around each other. It is very important to do this; if you do not wrap the yarns in this way, the areas of color will not be joined, and you will have holes in your work.

Instructions for Backstitch can be found here.

Instructions for Stem Stitch can be found here.

DIRECTIONS
BACK
Using MC, CO 50[53, 56, 59] sts. Beginning with a RS row, work Tire Track Rib until work measures 1.5 inches, ending with a WS row.

Note: See Pattern Notes above re. the intarsia method of colorwork.

Set-up Row [RS]: Using ball of MC attached, k9[10, 11, 11], p1; attach CC1 and work [k1, m1] twice, p1, [k1, m1] twice; attach second ball of MC and work p1, k34[36, 38, 41]. 54[57, 60, 63] sts.

Next Row [WS]: Using MC, p34[36, 38, 41], k1; using CC1, work Row 2 of Double-Yellow Stripe Cable; using MC, k1, p9[10, 11, 11].

These two rows set pattern for back: MC sections are worked in stockinette st, with a 1-st column of reverse stockinette st at each side of the Double-Yellow Stripe Cable, which is worked using CC1.

Continue in pattern until work measures 8[9.75, 10.75, 11.25] inches or desired length to underarm, ending with a WS row.

Continuing in pattern as set, shape armholes as follows:
BO 4[4, 5, 5] sts at beginning of next 2 rows. 46[49, 50, 53] sts.

Next Row [RS]: Ssk, work in pattern to last 2 sts, k2tog.
Work 1 row in pattern.
Repeat these 2 rows 2[3, 3, 3] times more. 40[41, 42, 45] sts.

Continue in pattern until work measures 5.75[6, 7, 7.5] inches from beginning of armhole (13.75[15.75, 17.75, 18.75] inches from lower edge), ending with a WS row. BO all sts using appropriate color for each section.

FRONT
Using MC, CO 50[53, 56, 59] sts.  Beginning with a RS row, work Tire Track Rib until work measures 1.5 inches, ending with a WS row.

Set-up Row [RS]: Using ball of MC attached, k34[36, 38, 41], p1; attach CC1 and work [k1, m1] twice, p1, [k1, m1] twice; attach second ball of MC and work p1, k9[10, 11, 11]. 54[57, 60, 63] sts.

Next Row [WS]: Using MC, p9[10, 11, 11], k1; using CC1, work Row 2 of Double-Yellow Stripe Cable; using MC, k1, p34[36, 38, 41].

These two rows set pattern for front: MC sections are worked in stockinette st, with a 1-st column of reverse stockinette st at each side of the Double-Yellow Stripe Cable, which is worked using CC1.

Continue in pattern until work measures same as back to underarm, ending with a WS row.
Shape armholes as for Back.

When work measures 1.25[1.5, 2, 2.5] inches from beginning of armhole (9.25[11.25, 12.75, 13.75] inches from lower edge) ending with a WS row, shape neckline as follows:
Next Row [RS]: K16[17, 17, 19] and place all sts just worked on st holder for left front; BO 2 sts, work in pattern to end. 22[22, 23, 24] sts.

Work 1 row in pattern.
Next Row [RS]: Ssk, work in pattern to end.
Repeat these 2 rows 5[6, 7, 8] times more. 16[15, 15, 15] sts.
Continue in pattern until work measures same as back to shoulder, ending with a WS row. BO all sts using appropriate color for each section.

Place held sts of left front on needle and join MC with WS facing.
P 1 row.
Next Row [RS]: K to last 2 sts, k2tog.
Repeat these 2 rows 5[6, 7, 8] times more. 10[10, 9, 10] sts.

Continue in pattern until work measures same as back to shoulder, ending with a WS row. BO all sts.

POCKETS
Before working each pocket, a line of basting will be worked using smooth waste yarn, which will be used as a guide for picking up sts for the pocket. Sts will be picked up on RS of fabric using a crochet hook and CC2 (see photo).

Green Signal Pocket:
Lay front of vest flat with RS facing up. Measure 2.5 inches from right edge [will be left edge when worn] and 1.5[1.5, 2.25, 2.75] inches from lower edge. Beginning at this point and continuing along a single row of sts toward center of vest, baste a line 11 sts long.
With CC2 and using basted line as a guide (see photo above), pick up 11 sts and place on needle.

Set-up Row [WS]: P11.
Work Rows 1-11 of Pocket Chart, using CC3 as Signal Color.
Using CC2, work 2 rows Seed Stitch. BO all sts in Seed Stitch.

Using CC2, work a line of stem stitch embroidery around circle design (see Pattern Notes). Weave in ends.
Pin side edges of pocket to vest front, ensuring that edges are straight and even; upper edge of pocket should be 2.5 inches from lower edge. Sew in place. Remove pins and waste yarn.

Yellow Signal Pocket:
Measure up 0.25[0.25, 0.5, 0.5] inches from top of green pocket. Baste a line 11 sts long, directly above and in line with green pocket.
Work as for green signal pocket, using CC1 as Signal Color.

Red Signal Pocket:
Measure up 0.25[0.25, 0.5, 0.5] inches from top of yellow pocket. Baste a line 11 sts long, directly above and in line with yellow pocket.
Work as for green signal pocket, using CC4 as Signal Color.

FINISHING
Weave in ends.

With MC, using column of p sts as a guide, work a row of backstitch embroidery down center of Double-Yellow Stripe Cable on both front and back of vest.

Sew right shoulder seams, taking up excess width within cable section as necessary.
Count 10[10, 9, 10] sts from armhole edge along BO edge of back, and place a pin in work at this point to indicate end of left shoulder seam.

Do not work left shoulder seam yet; neckband is worked first.

Neckband:
Using MC, with RS facing and beginning at left shoulder, pick up and k 25[25, 28, 31] down left front neckline edge, place marker, pick up and k 1 st at center of V-neckline, place marker, pick up and k 24[24, 26, 30] sts up right front neckline edge and 16[16, 20, 22] sts across back neckline edge, ending at marked point. 66[66, 75, 84] sts.

Row 1 [WS]: [RPT, k1] to 4 sts before first marker, RPT, ssk, slip marker, p1, slip marker, k2tog, [RPT, k1] to last 2 sts, RPT. 64[64, 73, 82] sts.

Row 2 [RS]: [LT, p1] to 3 sts before first marker, k1, ssk, slip marker, k1, slip marker, k2tog, k1, [p1, LT] to end. 62[62, 71, 80] sts.

Row 3 [WS]: [RPT, k1] to 2 sts before first marker, ssk, slip marker, p1, slip marker, k2tog, [k1, RPT] to end. 60[60, 69, 78] sts.

Row 4 [RS]: [LT, p1] to 4 sts before first marker, LT, ssk, slip marker, k1, slip marker, k2tog, LT, [p1, LT] to end. 58[58, 67, 76] sts.

BO all sts loosely in pattern (do not work twists when binding off).

Armhole Edging:
Sew left shoulder seam.

Using MC, with RS facing and beginning at underarm edge, pick up and k59[59, 71, 74] sts around one armhole.

Work 4 rows Tire Track Rib, beginning with WS row and ending with RS row.

BO all sts loosely in pattern (do not work twists when binding off).

Work edging around other armhole in the same way.

Sew side seams and armhole edging seams. Weave in remaining ends and block as desired.

Valerie Beard is a civil engineer living in Pismo Beach, CA with her son and husband. They are very patient with the lady of the house rambling on and on about cables, lace, yarn, and dropped stitches.