  by
Stephannie Roy 
The second I touched Reynolds Blizzard
Alpaca yarn I knew I had to make something out of
it. I decided on a vest to throw over my favorite
sweaters on those chilly Autumn mornings. Think of
a down vest, that's far more soft and snuggly. The
cozy boucle shawl collar, and pocket edgings adds
a bit of pizzaz and will keep your neck warm.
Designed with quick knitting in
mind--this is a good weekend project -- the entire
vest is worked in one piece to the armholes with the
zipper facings integrated into the pattern and self-finishing
armholes. The shoulders are finished with a 3 needle
bind off so the only sewing you'll have to do is the
zipper.
The extra-small size was designed
for my 5 year old and would fit a child with a 24-28"
chest who is about 4 feet tall. For larger children,
the small size can be shortened where indicated. The
vest was designed to be worn with something fairly
heavy underneath, so about 6 inches of ease is recommended.
To modify the pattern for a child,
shorten both the body and armhole where indicated
in the pattern. As a guide, use a garment the length
of which fits the child the way you want this vest
to fit. I recommend shortening the armhole by one
inch, and removing any additional length from the
body.
As row end edges form actual finished
edges of garment, it is important these edges are
kept neat. Attach new balls of yarn two stitches in
(after the zipper facing) to maintain the nicely finished
edge. Maintain seed stitch zipper facing on first
and last 2 stitches of each row unless directed otherwise.
These sts will be referred to as "zipper facing"
throughout the pattern. |
| 
model: Emma
Thompson & Stephannie Roy
photos: Craig
Thompson |
|
| XS [S, M, L, XL] |
| |
Chest: 32 [38, 44, 50, 56] inches
Length: 17 [22.5, 23, 23.5, 24.5] inches |
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| |
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[MC] Reynolds Blizzard [65% Alpaca, 35% Acrylic; 66yds/59m
per 100g skein];
color: #641 Pink or #683 Blue; 4 [6, 7, 8, 9] skeins.
[CC] Artful Yarns Circus [95% Wool, 5% Acrylic; 93yds/83m
per 100g skein];
color: Pink Version: #10 Side Show / Blue Version:
#7 Palm Reader; 1 [1, 1, 1, 1] skein.
1 24-inch US #11/8 mm circular needle
1 set US #11/8 mm straight or circular needles any
length [for optional pockets]
1 set US #10.5/6.5mm circular needles 16"
1 separating zipper to match length of zipper facing
stitch holders
tapestry needle. |
|
|
| 11 sts/17 rows =
4" in St stitch |
| |
| [Knitty's list
of standard abbreviations can be found here]
2x2 Rib with Seed Stitch
Edging (worked over multiple of 4 sts
+2):
Row 1: k1, p1, [k2, p2] to last 4 sts,
k2, p1, k1.
Row 2: k1, p1, [p2, k2] to last 4 sts,
p3, k1.
Rep these 2 rows for 2x2 Rib with Seed Stitch
Edging.
|
Body
Using larger circular needle and MC, CO 86[102,
122, 138, 154] sts.
DO NOT join, body will be worked back and forth.
Work 2x2 Rib with Seed Stitch Edging for 6 rows.
Row 7 [RS]: K1, p1, k to last 2 sts increasing
2[2,0,0,0] sts evenly, p1, k1. 88[104, 122, 138,
154] sts on needle.
Row 8: K1, p to last st, k1.
If omitting pockets, work rows 7 and 8 until work
measures 10.5[14, 14, 14, 14.5] inches, ending with
a WS row.
**Lengthen or shorten as desired at this
point.**
Proceed to armhole shaping.If working pockets, proceed
as follows:
 Optional
Pockets
Next Row: With extra US #11 straight or
circular needle (will be referred to as "extra
needle"), k1, p1, k10[14, 14, 14, 14]sts. 12[16,
16, 16, 16] sts on needle.
Leave rem sts on hold on main needle.
Working back and forth over 12[16, 16, 16, 16] sts
on extra needle, cont in St st (maintaining seed
st zipper facing) for 4[5, 5, 5, 5] inches, ending
with a WS row.
Place sts on st holder.
Do not cut yarn.
With RS facing, join a new ball of yarn to rem sts
and work as set to end.
Turn.
Next Row: With extra needle, k1, p1, p10[14,
14, 14, 14]sts. 12[16, 16, 16, 16] sts on needle.
Leave rem sts on hold on main needle.
Work to match previous pocket.
Place sts on st holder. Break yarn.
Pocket linings
Turn work so WS is facing.
Resume working on main needle.
With new ball of yarn, starting at right-hand side
(behind what will be the left pocket), two rows
up from ribbing and two sts in from edge, pick up
and purl 1 st in the purl bump formed by ea st along
bottom of pocket (10[14, 14, 14, 14] sts picked
up in total), purl across body sts to other pocket,
and pick up and purl sts as for previous pocket
lining. 84[100, 118, 134, 150] sts on needle.
Work in St st until same length as pockets.
Break yarn, leaving a 10 inch length for seaming.
NOTE: In following step, if
yarn attached to right pocket is not long enough
to finish next row, use it for first two stitches
then switch to yarn used for pocket linings.
Transfer sts of right pocket to extra needle.
With ball of yarn attached to right pocket, [k1,
p1] from extra needle, *k next st from pocket together
with first st from pocket lining, rep from * until
all sts of right pocket are attached to pocket lining
sts, work across body sts, transfer sts of left
pocket to extra needle, attach left pocket sts to
lining sts as for right pocket, work zipper facing
sts.
All 88[104, 122, 138, 154] sts are now on main needle.
Work in patt as set until work measures 10.5[14,
14, 14, 14.5] inches, ending with a WS row.
**Lengthen
or shorten as desired at this point.**
Separate for armholes
Next Row [RS]: K1, p1, k18[22, 26, 30,
34] sts, BO 4[4, 5, 5, 5] sts, k40[48, 56, 64, 72]sts,
BO 4[4, 5, 5, 5] sts, k18[22, 26, 30, 34]sts, p1,
k1.
Left front
Next Row [WS]: Using extra needle, k1,
p1, p18[22, 26, 30, 34] sts. Work back and forth
on these 20[24, 28, 32, 36] sts, leaving rem sts
on hold on main needle.
Next Row [RS]: Sl 1 st pwise, ssk, k to last 2 sts,
p1, k1.
Next Row [WS]: K1, p to end.
Rep these 2 rows 5[5, 6, 8, 10] times more. 14[18,
21, 23, 25] sts rem.
Cont in St st, maintaining seed st zipper facing
and sl st at armhole, until armhole measures 4[5.5,
5.5, 5.5, 6] inches, ending with a RS row.
**Lengthen or shorten as desired at this
point.**
Neck Shaping
Size XS ONLY:
BO 3 sts in pattern, p to end.
Work 2 rows.
Sl 1 pwise, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
Work 2 rows.
P1, p2tog, p to end.
Work 2 rows.
Sl 1 pwise, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
P 1 row.
Place rem 8 sts on st holder.
Break yarn, leaving 2 foot length for working 3-needle
BO.
Size S/M/L/XL ONLY:
BO 3 sts in pattern, p to end.
Sl 1 pw, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
Next Row [WS]: P1, p2tog, p to end.
Next Row [RS]: Sl 1 pw, k to end.
Rep last 2 rows [4, 5, 6, 7] times more. [9, 11,
12, 13] sts
Place rem sts on st holder.
Break yarn, leaving 2 foot length for working 3-needle
BO.
Back
Using extra needle and with WS facing, sl 1 pw,
attach yarn and purl rem 39[47, 55, 63, 71] sts
of vest back. Leave rem sts (right front) on hold
on main needle.
Sl 1 pwise, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
Sl 1 pwise, purl to end.
Rep last 2 rows 5 [5, 6, 8, 10] times more. 28[36,
42, 46, 50] sts rem.
Sl first st of each row pwise, cont in St st until
work measures same as front to shoulders, ending
on a WS row.
Sl 1, k7[9, 10, 11, 12] sts, place 8[10, 11, 12,
13] sts just worked on st holder, BO 12[18, 20,
22, 24] sts, k to end, place rem sts on st holder.
Break yarn.
RIGHT FRONT
With WS facing, sl 1 pwise, attach yarn and p to
last st, k1. 20[24, 28, 32, 36] sts
Next Row [RS]: K1, p1, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
Next Row [WS]: Sl 1, p to last st, k1.
Rep these 2 rows 5[5, 6, 8, 10] times more. 14[18,
21, 23, 25] sts rem.
Cont in St st, maintaining seed st zipper facing
and sl st at armhole, until armhole measures 4[5.5,
5.5, 5.5, 6] inches, ending with a WS row.
Neck Shaping
Size XS ONLY:
BO 3 sts in pattern, k to end.
Work 2 rows.
Sl 1 pwise, p to last 3 sts, p2tog tbl, p1.
Work 2 rows.
K1, ssk, k to end.
Work 2 rows.
Sl 1 pwise, p to last 3 sts, p2tog tbl, p1.
K1 row.
Place rem 8 sts on st holder.
Break yarn, leaving 2-foot length for working 3-needle
BO.
Size S/M/L/XL ONLY:
BO 3 sts in pattern, k to end.
Sl 1 pwise, p to last 3 sts, p2tog tbl, p1.
Next Row [RS]: K1, ssk, k to end.
Next Row [WS]: Sl 1 pwise, p to end.
Rep last 2 rows [4, 5, 6, 7] times more. [9, 11,
12, 13] sts rem.
Place rem sts on st holder.
Break yarn, leaving 2-foot length for working 3-needle
BO.
|
Using
3 needle BO, join shoulder seams.
Weave in ends.
Sew down edge of pocket lining just inside zipper
facing sts.
Seed St Pocket
Edgings
With RS facing, using 6.5mm needle and CC, pick up
and k 16[20, 20, 20, 20]sts along edge of pocket.
Next Row [WS] K2tog, [p1, k1] to last 2 sts,
p2tog. 14 [18, 18, 18, 18] sts rem.
Next Row [RS] [P1, k1] to last st.
Next Row [WS]: P2tog, [k1, p1] to last 2
sts, k2tog. 12[16, 16, 16, 16] sts rem.
BO all sts in patt.
Repeat for other pocket.
Seed St Collar
With RS facing, using 6.5mm needle and CC, starting
at right edge of back neck, pick up and k 12[18, 20,
22, 24] sts from back BO edge, then 3 sts from left
front neck edge. 15[21, 23, 25, 27]sts
Turn, sl1 kwise, [p1, k1] to end, pick up and p 2
sts.
Turn, sl1kw, work in seed st to end, pick up and k
2 sts.
Rep last 2 rows 1 time more. 23[29, 31, 33, 35] sts
on needle.
Inc Row: sl1 kwise, work 10[13, 14, 15, 16]
sts, m1, place marker, work 1 st in patt, place marker,
m1, work to end, pick up 2 sts. 27[33, 35, 37, 39]
sts on needle.
Cont in seed st as est, picking up 2 sts at end of
each row and inc 1 st at each side of marker every
4th row, until all neck edge sts are picked up, including
zipper facing sts. 49[57, 61, 67, 71] sts
Work 5[7, 7, 9, 9] rows more, slipping first st kwise
each row and increasing at center back as established.
BO loosely in patt.
Sew in zipper. Frolic in the leaves.
|
 Stephannie
is currently making the transition from grad student
to gainfully employed post-doctoral fellow, and is
wondering if she can knit in her new office.
You can read all about it on her
blog. |
| Pattern & images
© 2004 Stephannie Roy. Contact Stephannie |
|
