Blurred Lines Vest, a free knitting pattern from Knitty.com. Free knitting pattern for a fitted zig-zagged striped vest, featured on The Mindy Show with Mindy Kaling.
INTRODUCTION
Blurred Lines
The idea for this vest came from the brilliant mind of costume designer, Salvador Perez. I am lucky enough to knit some of the wardrobe pieces for Mindy Kaling on Hulu’s The Mindy Project.
This design emerged from a discussion I had with Perez in his office on the backlot of Universal Studios. There was a pair of kelly green pants for Mindy and he wanted a chevron vest to match. He already knew he wanted dark blue as the main color and a matching green to compliment the pants. I pulled out my Madelinetosh color cards and we found that Seaglass was a perfect match. The deeply dyed Ink swatch was an excellent compliment as the main color. Perez did not want the stripes to be the same size, so I designed the piece to have two more rows of blue than green.
The final result is a beautifully vivid vest that can be knit in many different color combinations!
Editor's note: due to the nature of garments kit for TV like this, the pictures available to us at press time are screen shots of the actual show (Season 5, episode 9) and pre-production shots, since the garment is long out of the hands of the designer. We hope to have fully modelled shots in the very near future and will update this page as soon as they arrive. We think this sweater is cool enough to make up for the missing photos until then.
model: Mindy Kaling (yes, that Mindy Kaling), The Mindy Project
photos: Courtesy Hulu – The Mindy Project, Krista Ann
SIZE
Women's XXS[XS, S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X]
shown in size XS with 1 inch/2.5 cm of negative ease
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Bust circumference: 30[32, 34, 36, 40.25, 44.25, 48.5, 52.5] inches/ 76[81.5, 86.5, 91.5, 102, 112.5, 123, 133.5] cm
Length: 19.25[20, 21.25, 22.5, 23.25, 24.25, 25.75, 26.25] inches/ 49[51, 54, 57, 59, 61.5, 65.5, 66.5] cm
MATERIALS
Madelinetosh [75% Merino Wool, 25% Nylon; 420yds/384m per 100g skein];
[MC] Ink; 1[1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3] skeins
[CC] Seaglass; 1[1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2] skeins
Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below - every knitter's gauge is unique]
1 pair of US #1/2.25 mm needles
1 US #0/2mm circular needle, 16 inches/40 cm long
Notions
stitch holders
yarn needle
GAUGE
32 sts/48 rows = 4 inches/10 cm in St st using larger needles
30 sts = 4 inches/10 cm in Stripe Pattern using larger needles
PATTERN NOTES
[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here.]
The front and the back are knit separately and joined at the shoulders using a three-needle bind off.
The sides of the front are worked in the main color using intarsia to create a slimming illusion. You will need to join a second ball of MC to work the right side of the front. Always use the second ball of MC when working the right side – even if you used MC to knit across the row. This keeps the intarsia consistent along the side and the resulting fabric is clean and without vertical floats.
The front and back are then seamed at the sides and stitches are picked up from the cast on edges to work ribbing in the round for the bottom hem. The neck and armhole ribbing is also done after the pieces have been joined.
No shaping should be made on the two edge stitches – all shaping is created on the third stitch from each end. On the front, always keep the first and last 3 stitches in the MC.
Stripe Pattern
Note: Use the intarsia method to work sts at each end of row in MC, using two separate balls of MC. These rows begin the pattern after the hem on the front; armhole shaping will alter the number of sts worked at each end in MC. Keep the slip stitch pattern in the center correct while working shaping.
Row 1 [RS]: K 12[12, 12, 12, 12, 12, 16, 16] with MC; with CC: *k1, sl 3 wyib; rep from * to last 13[13, 13, 13, 13, 13, 17, 17] sts, k1 with CC; knit to end with MC.
Row 2 [WS]: P 12[12, 12, 12, 12, 12, 16, 16] with MC; with CC: P2, *sl 1 wyif, p3; rep from * to last 15[15, 15, 15, 15, 15, 19, 19] sts, sl 1 wyif, p2 with CC; purl to end with MC.
Row 3: K 12[12, 12, 12, 12, 12, 16, 16] with MC; knit with CC to last 12[12, 12, 12, 12, 12, 16, 16] sts; knit to end with MC.
Row 4: P 12[12, 12, 12, 12, 12, 16, 16] with MC; purl with CC to last 12[12, 12, 12, 12, 12, 16, 16] sts, purl to end with MC.
Row 5: With MC only, k 13[13, 13, 13, 13, 13, 17, 17] , *sl 3 wyib, k1; rep from * to last 12[12, 12, 12, 12, 12, 16, 16] sts, knit to end.
Row 6: With MC only, p 14[14, 14, 14, 14, 14, 18, 18] , *sl 1 wyif, p3; rep from * to last 15[15, 15, 15, 15, 15, 19, 19] sts, sl 1 wyif, purl to end.
Rows 7-10: Work in St st with MC.
Rep Rows 1-10 for patt.
DIRECTIONS
BACK
Using larger needles and MC, CO 120[128, 136, 144, 160, 176, 192, 208] sts.
Starting with a WS row, work in St st until piece measures 9[9.25, 9.75, 10.25, 10.5, 11, 12, 12] inches / 23[23.5, 25, 26, 26.5, 28, 30.5, 30.5] cm from cast-on edge or desired length to armhole, ending after a WS row.
Shape armholes:
Cont in St st, BO 5[6, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13] sts at beg of next 2 rows. 110[116, 124, 130, 144, 156, 170, 182] sts.
Row 1 [RS]: K2, ssk, knit to last 4 sts, k2tog, k2.
Row 2 [WS]: Purl.
Rep last 2 rows 4[5, 5, 5, 6, 8, 13, 17] times more. 100[104, 112, 118, 130, 138, 142, 146] sts.
Work even in St st until work measures 6.75[7.25, 7.75, 8.25, 8.75, 9.25, 9.75, 9.75] inches / 17[18.5, 19.5, 21, 22, 23.5, 25, 25] cm from armhole BO, ending after a WS row.
Next row [RS]: K 28[28, 31, 34, 36, 39, 40, 42] and place these sts on holder, BO 44[48, 50, 50, 58, 60, 62, 62] sts, knit to end. 28[28, 31, 34, 36, 39, 40, 42] sts rem for Left Back Shoulder.
Left Back Shoulder
Row 1 [WS]: Purl.
Row 2 [RS]: K2, ssk, knit to end.
Rep last 2 rows 3[3, 4, 5, 5, 6, 6, 8] times more. 24[24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 33, 33] sts.
Work even in St st until work measures 7.5[8, 8.75, 9.5, 10, 10.5, 11, 11.5] inches / 19[20.5, 22, 24, 25.5, 26.5, 28, 29] cm from armhole BO, ending after a WS row.
Place sts on holder.
Right Back Shoulder
Place 28[28, 31, 34, 36, 39, 40, 42] sts held for Right Back Shoulder back on needle with WS facing. Join MC at neck edge.
Row 1 [WS]: Purl.
Row 2 [RS]: Knit to last 4 sts, k2tog, k2.
Rep last 2 rows 3[3, 4, 5, 5, 6, 6, 8] times more. 24[24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 33, 33] sts.
Work even in St st until work measures 7.5[8, 8.75, 9.5, 10, 10.5, 11, 11.5] inches / 19[20.5, 22, 24, 25.5, 26.5, 28, 29] cm from armhole BO, ending after a WS row.
Place sts on holder.
Using larger needles and MC, CO 117[125, 133, 141, 157, 173, 189, 205] sts.
Starting with a WS row, work in St st for 5 rows.
Work in Stripe Pattern until piece measures same as BACK to armholes, ending after a WS row.
Shape armholes:
Keeping in patt, BO 5[6, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 13] sts at beg of next 2 rows. 107[113, 121, 127, 141, 155, 167, 179] sts.
Note: Cont in Stripe Patt when working armhole decreases, maintaining 3 sts at each end of row in MC and working rest of row as established by previous rows of Stripe Pattern.
Row 1 [RS]: K2 in MC, ssk in MC, patt to last 4 sts, k2tog in MC, k2 in MC.
Row 2 [WS]: P3 in MC, patt to last 3 sts, p3 in MC.
Rep last 2 rows 4[5, 5, 5, 6, 9, 13, 17] times more. 97[101, 109, 115, 127, 135, 139, 143] sts
Work even in patt until armhole measures approx. 3.75[4.25, 4.75, 5.25, 5.75, 6, 6.25, 6.5] inches/ 9.5[11, 12, 13.5, 14.5, 15, 16, 16.5] cm, ending after Row 6 or Row 8 of Stripe Pattern.
Shape neck:
Dividing row [RS]: With MC, k 29[30, 32, 35, 37, 40, 41, 42] and place these sts on holder, BO 39[41, 45, 45, 53, 55, 57, 59] , knit to end. 29[30, 32, 35, 37, 40, 41, 42] sts rem for right front.
Right Front Neck and Shoulder
Row 1 [WS]: Work even in patt.
Row 2 [RS]: K2, SSK, patt to end. 1 st decreased.
Rep last 2 rows 4[5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7, 8] times more. 24[24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 33, 33] sts.
Work even in patt (keeping 3 sts at each end of row in MC) until work measures 7.5[8, 8.75, 9.5, 10, 10.5, 11, 11.5] inches / 19[20.5, 22, 24, 25.5, 26.5, 28, 29] cm from armhole BO, ending after a WS row.
Place sts on holder.
Left Front Neck and Shoulder
Place 29[30, 32, 35, 37, 40, 41, 42] sts held for Left Front Neck and Shoulder back on needle with WS facing. Join yarn at neck edge.
Row 1 [WS]: Work even in patt.
Row 2 [RS]: Patt to last 4 sts, k2tog, k2. 1 st decreased.
Rep last 2 rows 4[5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7, 8] times more. 24[24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 33, 33] sts.
Work even in patt (keeping 3 sts at each end of row in MC) until work measures 7.5[8, 8.75, 9.5, 10, 10.5, 11, 11.5] inches / 19[20.5, 22, 24, 25.5, 26.5, 28, 29] cm from armhole BO, ending after a WS row.
FINISHING
Join front and back shoulders on WS using 3-needle bind off.
Seam sides using mattress stitch.
Armhole Edging
With smaller circ, pick up and knit an even number of sts around armhole, picking up 1 st for every st and 3 sts for every 4 rows. Join to work in the rnd and PM for beg of rnd.
Rib rnd: (K1, P1) around.
Rep this rnd until edging measures 1 inch/2.5 cm. BO using sewn bind off method.
Repeat for other armhole.
Neck Edging
Work as for Armhole Edging.
Hem
With smaller circ, pick up and knit 238[254, 270, 286, 318, 350, 382, 414] sts. Join to work in the rnd and PM for beg of rnd.
Rib rnd: (K1, P1) around.
Rep this rnd until work measures 2.75 inches/7 cm from pick-up. BO using sewn bind off method.
Block piece to correct measurements.
A: Bust Circumference: 30[32, 34, 36, 40.25, 44.25, 48.5, 52.5] inches / 76[81.5, 86.5, 91.5, 102, 112.5, 123, 133.5] cm
B: Body Length: 9[9.25, 9.75, 10.25, 10.5, 11, 12, 12] inches / 23[23.5, 25, 26, 26.5, 28, 30.5, 30.5] cm
C: Armhole Length: 7.5[8, 8.75, 9.5, 10, 10.5, 11, 11.5] inches / 19[20.5, 22, 24, 25.5, 26.5, 28, 29] cm
D: Cross Back Width: 12.5[13, 14, 14.75, 16.25, 17.25, 17.75, 18.25] inches / 32[33, 35.5, 37.5, 41.5, 44, 45, 46.5] cm
E: Shoulder Width: 3[3, 3.25, 3.5, 3.75, 4, 4.25, 4.25] inches / 7.5[7.5, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 11, 11] cm
F: Back Neck Width: 6.5[7, 7.5, 7.75, 8.75, 9.25, 9.5, 10] inches / 16.5[18, 19, 19.5, 22, 23.5, 24, 25.5] cm
ABOUT THE DESIGNER
Krista Ann has been knitting nearly non-stop since the first knitting class she took nearly 13 years ago. She holds the title for LA’s Fastest Knitter and has built a solid reputation as the knitter to go to when a piece is needed “yesterday.”
She launched her KnitsyKnits brand and website in October 2014 and has been enjoying working with so many creative people. Lately, she has been knitting for fashion designers and stylists, as well as working on tight deadlines to create custom pieces for costume designers (most recently, she has knit many pieces for Mindy Kaling to wear on Hulu’s The Mindy Project.) She loves a challenge and enjoys sharing her skills and knowledge with others!
Find her on Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr and her own website.
Pattern & images © 2017 Krista Ann. Contact Krista Ann