INTRODUCTION

Opportune

by Emily Ringelman

This lace vest/cardigan is pretty straightforward to knit. The lace pattern is a simple, easy-to-memorize four row repeat, perfect for tv or knit night knitting! It's worked in three pieces- two fronts and a back. Once the pieces are seamed, you pick up stitches for a hood, then finally, you knit garter stitch bands all around the front and the armholes. An i-cord tie finishes the vest off, or you could make a long twisted or braided cord, or just use a thin belt.

If you'd like to make it a swimsuit coverup instead, lengthen the fronts and back by 8-10 inches/18-25 cm, then follow all other directions as written. You will need to plan for extra yarn if you plan to lengthen the body. If you don't want to knit the tie, this is a great opportunity to use a shawl pin to close the front of the cardigan, or you can simply wear it open.


model: Emily Ringelman

photos: Jim Ringelman

SIZE

XS[S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X]
shown in size M with 13 inches/33 cm of ease around the fullest part of bust


FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Chest/Bust: 44.5[46.5, 50.5, 56, 60.5, 64.5, 67.5] inches/ 113[118, 128.5, 142, 153.5, 164, 171.5] cm
Length of back measured from shoulder: 24[25, 25, 26, 26, 27, 27] inches/ 61[63.5, 63.5, 66, 66, 68.5, 68.5cm]

MATERIALS

Yarn
Kraemer Yarns Tatamy Tweed DK [45% cotton, 55% acrylic; 250 yds/229 m per 3.53 oz/100 g skein]; color: Ginger; 3[4, 4, 5, 5, 6, 7] skeins

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below - every knitter's gauge is unique]
1 set US #7/4.5mm needles for working flat
US #7/4.5mm circular needle, 16 inch/4o cm
US #7/4.5mm circular needle, 60 inch/150 cm or longer
A pair of DPNs or short circular needle for working i-cord

Notions
stitch markers
removable markers or safety pins
yarn needle

GAUGE

20 sts/28 rows = 4 inches/10 cm in stockinette stitch
15 sts/28 rows = 4 inches/10 cm in Lace Pattern

Note: gauge is always taken after blocking.

PATTERN NOTES

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

This pattern features short rows in garter stitch. There is no need to pick up the wraps; the garter stitch hides them.

Lace Pattern - Body
Row 1 [RS]: K2, (yo, k2tog) to last st, k1.
Row 2 [WS]: Purl.
Row 3: K1, (ssk, yo) to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 4: Purl.
Repeat Rows 1-4 for pattern.

Lace Pattern - Hood
Row 1 [RS]: K1, (yo, k2tog) to end.
Row 2 [WS]: Purl.
Row 3: (Ssk, yo) to last st, k1.
Row 4: Purl.
Repeat Rows 1-4 for pattern.

DIRECTIONS

Left Front
CO 35[37, 41, 45, 49, 53, 55] .
Knit 14 rows – 7 garter stitch ridges.
Next Row [WS]: Purl.
Beginning with Row 1, work Lace Pattern – Body until piece measures 20.5[21.5, 21.5, 22.5, 22.5, 23.5, 23.5] ins/ 52[54.5, 54.5, 57, 57, 59.5, 59.5] cm from cast on edge, ending after Row 2 or 4 of lace pattern.**

Shape neck and shoulder:
Next Row [RS]: Knit.
Next Row [WS]: BO 4[5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7] , k to end.
Next Row: K to last 2 sts, k2tog. 1 st decreased.
Short Row 1: K to last 4 sts, w&t.
Short Row 2: k to last 2 sts, k2tog. 1 st decreased.
Short Row 3: K to last 8 sts, w&t.
Short Row 4: K to last 2 sts, k2tog. 1 st decreased.
Short Row 5: K to last 12 sts, w&t.
Short Row 6: K to end.
Knit 2 rows without picking up wraps.
BO rem 28[29, 33, 36, 40, 43, 45] sts.

Right Front
Work as for Left Front to **.

Shape neck and shoulder:
Next Row [RS]: BO 4[5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7] , k to end.
Next Row [WS]: K to last 2 sts, ssk. 1 st decreased.

Short Row 1: K to last 4 sts, w&t.
Short Row 2: K to last 2 sts, ssk. 1 st decreased.
Short Row 3: K to last 8 sts, w&t.
Short Row 4: K to last 2 sts, ssk. 1 st decreased.
Short Row 5: K to last 12 sts, w&t.
Short Row 6: K to end.
Knit 3 rows without picking up wraps. BO rem 28[29, 33, 36, 40, 43, 45] sts.

Back
CO 83[87, 95, 105, 113, 121, 127] . Knit 18 rows (9 garter ridges.)
Next Row [WS]: Purl.

Beginning with Row 1, work Lace Pattern – Body until piece measures 22.5[23.5, 23.5, 24.5, 24.5, 25.5, 25.5] ins/ 57[59.5, 59.5, 62.25, 62.25, 64.75, 64.75] cm from cast on edge, ending after Row 1 or 3 of Lace Pattern – Body.

Shape neck and shoulders:
Next Row [WS]: Knit.

Short Row 1: K to last 4 sts, w&t.
Short Row 2: K to last 4 sts, w&t.
Short Row 3: K to last 8 sts, w&t.
Short Row 4: K to last 8 sts, w&t.
Short Row 5: K to last 12 sts, w&t.
Short Row 6: K to last 12 sts, w&t.

Knit 1 row; there is no need to pick up wraps in garter stitch.

Next Row: K 28[29, 33, 36, 40, 43, 45] , place a removable m, k 27[29, 29, 33, 33, 35, 37] (this is the back neck), place a removable m, k to end.
BO knitwise, leaving markers in fabric to help you seam the shoulders.

Seam shoulders, using markers in back as a guide. Remove markers when done seaming.

Measure down 8[8.5, 9, 9, 9.25, 9.5, 9.5] ins/ 20.25[21.5, 22.75, 22.75, 23.5, 24, 24] cm from shoulder seam on both fronts and back. Place a removable marker or safety pin in fabric. Cut a length of yarn about two yards long and thread the tapestry needle. Beginning at marked point, use the mattress stitch to seam fronts to back, ending seam 2 ins/5cm above bottom edge of fronts. There will be a small slit in the bottom of each side, and the back will be slightly longer than the front.

Hood
Using circular needle, and beginning at front edge of right neck, with RS of work facing, pick up and knit 11[12, 12, 12, 12, 13, 14] sts up to shoulder seam, then 27[29, 29, 33, 33, 35, 37] sts across back neck (1 in every bound-off st), then 11[12, 12, 12, 12, 13, 14] sts in left front neck edge — 49[53, 53, 57, 57, 61, 65] sts.
Row 1 [WS]: P 22[24, 24, 26, 26, 28, 30] , pm, k5, pm, p to end.
Row 2 [RS]: K1, work Row 1 Lace Pattern – Hood to m, sm, k5, sm, work Row 1 of Lace Pattern – Hood to last st, k1.
Repeat Row 1.

Inc Row: K1, work as established in Lace Pattern – Hood to m, M1R, sm, k5, sm, M1L, work as established in Lace Pattern – Hood to last st, k1. 2 sts increased.
Note: work new sts into lace pattern. If there is only 1 new st, work that st in St st until there are 2 new sts, then work those 2 sts into lace pattern.

Repeat the Inc Row every 6th row three more times. 57[61, 61, 67, 67, 71, 73] sts.

Work even as established until hood measures 10.5 ins from back neck, ending after a WS row.

Dec Row [RS]: Work as established to 2 sts before m, k2tog, k to m, ssk, work as est to end. 2 sts decreased.
Repeat the Dec Row every RS row 6 more times. 43[47, 47, 53, 53, 57, 59] sts.
Next Row [WS]: Work as established.
Dec Row [RS]: Work as established to m, sm, k2tog, k1, ssk, sm, work as established to end. 41[45, 45, 51, 51, 55, 57] sts.
Next Row [WS]: Work as established.
Next Row [RS]: Work as established to m, sm, slip 1-k2tog-psso, sm, work as established to end. 39[43, 43, 49, 49, 53, 55] sts.

Fold hood in half, right sides together, making sure that the extra st between the m is on the back needle. Hold needle tips together and pointing to your right. Work a three-needle bind-off * until only the extra st on the back needle remains. Knit that st, pass the second st on the right needle over the last st. Break yarn and draw through last st.

Armhole Edging
With RS facing, begin at bottom seam of armhole, using shorter circular needle, rejoin yarn and pick up and knit 2 sts for every 3 rows all around armhole edge. Join to work in the round. Exact st count is not important.
Round 1: Purl.
Round 2: Knit.
Repeat Rounds 1-2 4 more times. BO knitwise.

Front Band
Using longer circular needle, with RS facing, begin at bottom right edge. Rejoin yarn and pick up and knit the first st at the very edge of the front. Pick up and knit 1 st in each garter ridge, then 2 sts for every 3 rows in the lace all the way up the right front, all around hood, and all down left front to garter bottom of left front, then 1 st in each garter ridge, being sure to pick up last st in very bottom edge. Exact st count is not important.
Knit 10 rows (5 garter ridges.)
BO knitwise.

FINISHING

Block and weave in ends.

Tie
Try on sweater and mark natural waist point at side seams.

Using a DPN, rejoin yarn and pick up and knit 3 sts from one side seam at the natural waist point. With a second DPN, *k3. Do not turn; slide sts to left end of DPN. Pull working yarn tight across back of sts and k3. Repeat from * to form i-cord. Knit each icord for about 30 ins/75 cm (exact length is not important), then BO.

A: Front Width: 9.25[9.75, 11, 12, 13, 14.25, 14.75] inches /23.5[25, 28, 30.5, 33, 36, 37.5] cm
B: Body Circumference: 42.75[44.75, 49.25, 54, 58.25, 62.75, 65.25] inches /108.5[113.5, 125, 137, 148, 159.5, 165.5] cm
C: Armhole Depth: 8[8.5, 9, 9, 9.25, 9.5, 9.5] inches /20.5[21.5, 23, 23, 23.5, 24, 24] cm
D: Back Width: 22.25[23.25, 25.25, 28, 30.25, 32.25, 33.75] inches /56.5[59, 64, 71, 77, 82, 85.5] cm
E: Body Length (measured along back): 24[25, 25, 26, 26, 27, 27] inches /61[63.5, 63.5, 66, 66, 68.5, 68.5] cm
F: Hood length: 11.5 inches/29 cm
G: Back Neck Width: 7.25[7.75, 7.75, 8.75, 8.75, 9.25, 9.75] inches/ 18.5[19.5, 19.5, 22, 22, 23.5, 25] cm

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Emily is a Midwest-born Californian now living in Baton Rouge, LA. Opportunities for wearing handknits in Lousiana are slim, but she keeps on knitting.

Find her on Ravelry as EmilyRingelman.

Pattern & images © 2019 Emily Ringelman.