Viatori vest, a free knitting pattern from Knitty.com. Free knitting pattern for a hooded vest with button closure.
INTRODUCTION
Viatori
I moved recently to a town outside of Boston whose morning streets are dominated by busy parents getting to the errands of their day while kids are at school. I have to admire their pluck, their practical energy of taking care of their families, and to respect their get ‘er done togs. As a designer, I am prone to flights of fancy, of slightly arty interpretations of whatever I am obsessed with at the moment. Not everything I knit is something you can throw over your yoga clothes or pop on to pick up a quart of milk. So in the spirit of my new neighborhood, I have interpreted the casual outer layer of late fall in New England, the puffy vest.
Strategically placed ribbing provides fuss free curves that can be wet blocked away if you want something less tailored in fit. The Blue Sky Alpacas Extra is a lush and bulky yarn that makes this a delicious knit to wear as an outer layer now, and as a cozy under layer later when the winter winds pick up. Pockets because: pockets. And a hood, for ducking the PTO president in the bread aisle. Throw this on, and seize the day.
model: Erika Molnar
photos: Julia Farwell-Clay
SIZE
For women's garments: XS[S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X]
shown in size L with 2 inches/5 cm of ease
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Chest: 32[36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56] inches/ 81.5[91.5, 101.5, 112, 122, 132, 142] cm
Length: 22.75[23.25, 23.75, 24.25, 24.75, 25.5, 25.75] inches/ 58[59, 60.5, 61.5, 63, 65, 65.5] cm
MATERIALS
Yarn
Blue Sky Alpacas Extra [55% Baby Alpaca, 45% Fine Merino; 218yd/199m per 150g skein]; color: Fedora; 4[4, 4, 5, 5, 6, 6] skeins, or approximately 680[765, 850, 935, 1020, 1105, 1190] yds/ 622[700, 778, 855, 933, 1011, 1089] m.
Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below - every knitter's gauge is unique]
1 set US #8/5.0mm dpns or circular needle(s) for working armholes in the round
24" or longer US #8/5.0mm circular needle
2 x 24" or longer US #9/5.5mm circular needles
Notions
stitch holders or spare needles
stitch markers
yarn needle
5 to 7 1 inch/2.5 cm buttons
needle and thread
button backers
GAUGE
15 sts/22 rows = 4 inches/10 cm in stockinette stitch
22 sts/ 22 rows = 4 inches/10 cm in [k2,p2] rib
PATTERN NOTES
[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here.]
Two aspects of the pattern should be controlled by the knitter: how tall the hood should be, and where one ends the ribbings that grow out of the pockets. The ribbing should end below the swell of the chest, so while the pattern gives instructions for these placements, it is up to knitters to consider with the work in progress, and to decide for themselves.
DIRECTIONS
BACK
With smaller needle, CO 74[82, 90, 98, 106, 114, 122] .
Row 1 [RS]: *K2, p2; rep from * to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 2 [WS]: *P2, k2; rep from * to last 2 sts, p2.
Repeat Rows 1-2 until ribbing measures 3.25 inches/8.5 cm, ending with a WS row.
Change to larger needle and work as follows:
Row 1 [RS]: (K2, p2) 4[4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5] times, pm, k 14[18, 18, 22, 26, 30, 34] , pm, (p2, k2) 3 times, p2, pm, k 14[18, 18, 22, 26, 30, 34] , pm, (p2, k2) 4[4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5] times.
Row 2 [WS]: (P2, k2) 4[4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5] times, purl to m, sm, (k2, p2) 3 times, k2, sm, purl to m, sm, (k2, p2) 4[4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5] times.
Work Rows 1-2 six more times.
Drop one vertical rib on each side on the next row as follows: (K2, p2) 3[3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4] times, knit to m, sm, knit to m, sm, (p2, k2) 3 times, p2, sm, knit to m, sm, k4, (p2, k2) 3[3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4] times.
Continue as established until Back measures 16 inches/40.5 cm or desired length to underarm.
Armhole shaping:
BO 6[7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12] sts at the beginning of the next two rows. 62[68, 74, 80, 86, 92, 98] sts.
BO 3[3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4] sts at the beginning of the next two rows, then BO 2 sts at the beginning of the following two rows. 52[58, 64, 70, 74, 80, 86] sts.
Dec Row [RS]: K2, ssk, knit to last 4 sts, k2tog, k2. 2 sts decreased.
Work Dec Row every RS row 2[3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8] more times. 46[50, 54, 58, 60, 64, 68] sts.
Work Back, keeping center ribbing as established, until the Back measures 5.75[6.25, 6.75, 7.25, 7.75, 8.25, 8.75] inches/ 14.5[16, 17, 18.5, 19.5, 21, 22] cm from first underarm bind off row.
Shape Back Neck and Shoulders:
Next row [RS]: K 14[15, 16, 17, 17, 18, 19] , BO next 14[20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30] sts, knit remaining 14[15, 16, 17, 17, 18, 19] sts.
Continue, working each side separately.
Left Shoulder:
Row 1 [WS]: Purl.
Row 2 [RS]: BO 1 st, k 6[7, 7, 8, 8, 9, 9] sts, w&t.
Row 3 [WS]: Purl.
Place rem 13[14, 15, 16, 16, 17, 18] sts on holder and set aside.
Right Shoulder:
Join new yarn to work with WS facing.
Row 1 [WS]: BO 1 st, p 6[7, 7, 8, 8, 9, 9] sts, w&t.
Row 2 [RS]: Knit.
Place rem 13[14, 15, 16, 16, 17, 18] sts on holder and set aside.
LEFT FRONT
With smaller needle, CO 35[39, 43, 47, 51, 55, 59] sts.
Row 1 [RS]: (K2, p2) to last 3 sts, k3.
Row 2 [WS]: P3, (k2, p2) to end of row.
Work Rows 1-2 until ribbing measures 3 inches/7.5 cm.
Change to larger needle and work as follows:
Row 3 [RS]: (K2, p2) twice, pm, knit to end of row.
Row 4 [WS]: Purl to m, (k2, p2) twice.
Row 5: (K2, p2) twice, knit to end of row.
Work Rows 4-5 three more times.
Work WS row.
Pocket Front
Next row [RS]: Work to m, k 3[3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13] sts and place 11[11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21] just worked sts on stitch holder. Continue row as follows: K2, ssk, knit to end of row. 24[28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38] sts rem.
Next row [WS]: Purl.
Repeat these two rows 11 more times. 13[17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27] sts rem. Place pocket front sts on holder and set aside.
Pocket Lining
Turn work so WS is facing. Using larger needle and new yarn and leaving a 15 inch/38 cm long tail, pick up and purl 24[28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38] sts from the top bumps of the first row of stockinette, beginning at top of ribbing at right edge and folding the fabric horizontally to isolate the bumps if necessary. Turn work. Knit picked up sts. Work 6 more rows in St st.
Next Row [WS]: Purl 24[28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38] picked up sts, place pocket marker, transfer held sts to needle and work to end of row.
Next Row [RS]: Work to pocket marker, (p2, k2) 4 times, knit to end of row.
Keeping all ribbings as established, work pocket lining for 23 more rows, ending with a WS row. Transfer Pocket Front sts to a spare needle.
Next row [RS]: Work Pocket Lining to end of pocket ribbing. Hold needle with remaining sts together with needle holding Pocket Front sts, and knit first sts on each needle together. Knit remaining sts in row together in this way, closing top of the pocket.
Work all sts as established for 13 rows.
Shape Pocket ribbing:
Next row [RS]: Work to pocket marker, (p2, k2) 3 times, knit to end of row.
Work 3 more rows as established.
Next row [RS]: Work to pocket marker, (p2, k2) 2 times, knit to end of row.
Work 3 more rows as now established.
Next row [RS]: Work to pocket marker, p2, knit to end of row.
Work 3 more rows as now established.
Next row [RS]: Work to pocket marker, remove marker, knit to end of row.
Work as established until front measures 16 inches/40.5 cm from CO edge, or desired length to underarm, ending with a WS row.
Armhole shaping:
On the next three RS rows, bind off sts at the beginning of the row as follows:
Row 1 [RS]: BO 7[8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13] sts, work to end.
Row 3 [RS]: BO 2[2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4] sts, work to end.
Row 5 [RS]: BO 2 sts, work to end.
Row 7 [RS]: K1, ssk, knit to end.
Row 8 [WS]: Purl.
Repeat Rows 7-8 4[5, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9] times total. 20[22, 24, 26, 27, 29, 31] sts.
Work upper Left Front until it measures 4[4.5, 4.75, 5.25, 5.5, 6, 6.25] inches/ 10[11.5, 12, 13.5, 14, 15, 16] cm from first underarm BO row.
Shape front neck:
Next row [WS]: BO 4[4, 5, 5, 6, 6, 6] sts, work to end.
Work RS row as established.
BO 2 sts at beginning of next WS row and work RS row as established.
Dec row [WS]: P1, p2tog, purl to end.
Rep Dec Row 1[2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 5] times total. 13[14, 15, 16, 16, 17, 18] sts rem.
Work without further shaping until upper Left Front measures 6.75[7.25, 7.75, 8.25, 9.25, 9.75, ] inches/ 17[18.5, 19.5, 21, 22, 23.5, 25] cm from first underarm BO row.
Work shoulder short row
Next row [RS]: K 6[7, 7, 8, 8, 9, 9] sts, w&t, purl to end of row.
On the next RS row, join Left Front to held Back Left Shoulder sts using the three needle BO.
RIGHT FRONT
With smaller needle, CO 35[39, 43, 47, 51, 55, 59] sts.
Row 1 [RS]: K3, (p2, k2) to end of row.
Row 2 [WS]: (P2, k2) to last three sts, p3.
Work Rows 1-2 until ribbing measures 3 inches/7.5 cm.
Change to larger needle and work as follows:
Row 3 [RS]: Knit to last 8 sts, pm, (p2, k2) twice.
Row 4 [WS]: (P2, k2) twice, slip m, purl to end of row.
Row 5: Knit to last 8 sts, (p2, k2) twice.
Work Rows 4-5 three more times.
Work WS row.
Pocket Front
Next row [RS]: K 21[25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35] , k2tog, k2. Slip remaining sts in row to stitch holder and set aside.
Next row [WS]: Purl.
Repeat these two rows 11 more times. 13[17. 19, 21, 23, 25, 27] sts rem. Place pocket front sts on holder and set aside.
Pocket Lining
Turn work so WS is facing. Using larger needle and new yarn and leaving a 15 inch/38 cm long tail, pick up and purl 24[28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38] sts along the top bumps of the first row of stockinette beginning 11[11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21] sts from right edge. Turn work. Work 6 rows in St st.
Next row [RS]: K 24[28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38] , place pocket marker, transfer held pocket front sts to needle and work to end of row.
Next Row [WS]: Work to pocket marker, (k2, p2) 4 times, purl to end of row.
Keeping all ribbings as established, work pocket lining for 23 more rows, ending with a WS row. Transfer Pocket Front sts to a spare needle.
Next row [RS]: Hold Pocket Front needle together with needle holding Pocket Lining sts, and knit first sts on each needle together. Knit remaining sts in row together in this way, closing top of pocket. Place pocket ribbing marker, and work to end of row.
Work all sts as established for 12 rows.
Shape Pocket ribbing:
Next Row [RS]: Work to pocket marker, remove marker, k4, replace marker, (p2, k2) 3 times, work to end of row.
Work 3 more rows as established.
Next row [RS]: Work to pocket marker, remove marker, k4, replace marker, (p2, k2) 2 times, work to end of row.
Work 3 more rows as established.
Next row [RS]: Work to pocket marker, remove marker, k4, replace marker, p2, work to end of row.
Work 3 more rows as now established.
Next row [RS]: Work to pocket marker, remove marker, k2, knit to end of row.
Work as established until front measures 16 inches/40.5 cm from CO edge, or desired length to underarm, ending with a RS row.
Armhole shaping:
On the next three WS rows, bind off sts at the beginning of the row as follows:
Row 1 [WS]: BO 7[8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13] sts, work to end.
Row 3 [WS]: BO 2[2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4] sts, work to end.
Row 5 [WS]: BO 2 sts, work to end.
Row 7 [WS]: P1, p2tog, purl to end.
Row 8 [RS]: Knit.
Repeat Rows 7-8 4[5, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9] times total. 20[22, 24, 26, 27, 29, 31] sts.
Work upper Right Front until it measures 4[4.5, 4.75, 5.25, 5.5, 6, 6.25] inches/ 10[11.5, 12, 13.5, 14, 15, 16] cm from first underarm BO row.
Shape front neck:
Next row [RS]: BO 4[4, 5, 5, 6, 6, 6] sts, work to end.
Work WS row as established.
BO 2 sts at beginning of next RS row, and work WS row as established.
Dec row [RS]: K1, ssk, knit to end.
Rep Dec Row 1[2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 5] times total. 13[14, 15, 16, 16, 17, 18] sts rem.
Work without further shaping until upper Right Front measures 6.75[7.25, 7.75, 8.25, 9.25, 9.75, ] inches / 17[18.5, 19.5, 21, 22, 23.5, 25] cm from first underarm BO row.
Work shoulder short row:
Next row [WS]: P 6[7, 7, 8, 8, 9, 9] sts, w&t, knit to end of row.
Join Right Front to held Back Right Shoulder sts using the three needle BO.
FINISHING
Sew side seams, stopping at the top of the hem ribbing.
Armhole Ribbings
Using smaller needle, with RS facing and starting at the middle of the bound off underarm sts, pick up around the armhole as follows: pick up 3 sts for every 4 bound off sts along the bottom of the armhole, then pick up 2 sts for every 3 rows up the side to the shoulder seam and back down to the bound off underarm sts, then pick up 3 sts for every 4 bound off sts to the underarm seam. 68[68, 72, 72, 76, 76, 80] sts.
Place marker and join to work in the round. Work in (p2, k2) ribbing for seven rounds, then bind off in pattern. Repeat for second armhole.
Hood
Using smaller needle, pick up and work 62[64, 70, 74, 78, 82, 84] sts along neck edge by picking up one st for every bound off st, and 2 sts for every 3 rows along the vertical edges. The exact number of picked up sts isn’t critical at this point, but do aim for a stitch count close to the recommended number for your size. The most important thing is that stitch count is symmetrical on either side of the center back, and that the stitches picked up along the back neck correspond to the knits and purls of the center ribbing panel. Place markers on either side of the 14 center back sts.
Next row [WS]: Purl to m, (k2, p2) 3 times, k2, slip marker, purl to end of row.
On the next row, change to larger needle, and work in pattern as established until hood measures 9 inches/23 cm, or until the hood reaches the top curve of your head, keeping sts between markers in rib as established.
For a plain hood, work for 3 more inches, then fold in half holding wrong sides together, and join both sides together using a three needle bind off. To keep ribbing as established, work in three sections as follows.
Right Side of Hood:
Short row 1 [RS]: Knit to 1 st before m, w&t, purl to end of row.
Short row 2: Knit to last st before wrapped st, w&t, purl to end of row.
Repeat Short rows 1-2 2 more times.
Short row 3 [RS]: Knit to 2 sts before wrapped st, w&t, purl to end of row.
Repeat Short rows 2-3 once more.
Next row [RS]: Knit across all hood sts, knitting wraps tog with their sts as you come to them.
Left Side of Hood:
Short row 1 [WS]: Purl to last st before m, w&t, knit to end of row.
Short row 2: Purl to last st before wrapped st, w&t, knit to end of row.
Repeat Short rows 1-2 2 more times.
Short row 3 [WS]: Purl to 2 sts before wrapped st, w&t knit to end of row.
Repeat Short rows 2-3 once more.
Next row [WS]: Purl to end of wrapped sts, working wraps tog with their sts as you come to them. Continue to work 14 rib sts, then p2. Turn work so RS is facing.
Join Hood:
Divide sts on the needle into three sections as follows: slip Right Side of Hood sts minus the two sts you just purled onto one dpn. Slip same number of Left Side of Hood sts onto another dpn. Working only with the center rib sts, you will be working the edge sts of the ribbing section together with the held hood side sts at the beginning and the end of every row.
Row 1 [RS]: Knit first rib st tog with first held Right Hood st from dpn, work remaining rib sts to last st, ssk last rib st together with first Left Hood st from dpn, turn work.
Row 2 [WS]: Purl first rib st tog with next held Left Hood st from dpn (this may take some strategic re-seating of stS], work remaining rib sts to last st, purl last rib st together with first Right Hood st from dpn, turn work.
Repeat these 2 rows until all side hood sts are used up. Leave Rib sts on holder and set aside.
Button Band
With RS facing and starting at Right Front hem, pick up and knit 3 sts for every 4 rows up Right Front to neck, 2 sts for every 3 rows around front edge of hood to held ribbing sts, work rib sts as established, and resume pick up rate of 2 sts for every 3 rows down hood to neck, then 3 sts for every 4 rows down Left Front. Note stitch count on either side of hood ribbing.
Next row [WS]: Work in a k2, p2 ribbing that matches up with established hood rib sts. You may want to adjust your st count so that you begin and end with either a k2 or a p2, whatever works for you. Precise numbers here are not important, just that it suits your tolerance for imperfection.
Work 3 rows.
Mark placement for 6 or 7 buttons along Left front. Match button placements with markers for buttonholes on Right side, remove button markers.
Next row [WS]: as you come to markers make buttonholes using a BO 1.
Following row: CO 1 st at every buttonhole BO. Work 3 more rows. BO in pattern.
Sew pocket sides down with long tails from Pocket Linings. Weave in all ends. Sew fabulous buttons to correspond with buttonholes. Block to finished measurements.
A: 32[36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56] inches / 81.5[91.5, 101.5, 112, 122, 132, 142] cm
B: 22.75[23.25, 23.75, 24.25, 24.75, 25.5, 25.75] inches / 58[59, 60.5, 61.5, 63, 65, 65.5] cm
C (includes ribbing): 13.75[14.75, 16, 17, 17.5, 18.5, 19.5] inches / 35[37.5, 40.5, 43, 44.5, 47, 49.5] cm
D: 6.75[7.25, 7.75, 8.25, 8.75, 9.25, 9.75] inches / 17[18.5, 19.5, 21, 22, 23.5, 25] cm
E: 16 inches/40.5 cm
F: 6.5[7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5] inches / 16.5[18, 19, 20.5, 21.5, 23, 24] cm
ABOUT THE DESIGNER
Julia Farwell-Clay lives with her family outside of Boston and complains bitterly about her lack of animal companionship, so she over compensates by keeping her many bird feeders filled.
Pattern & images © 2016 Julia Farwell-Clay. Contact Julia