However, too often vests are boxy affairs and have no forgiveness for female hips. Determined to find a vest that included that “forgiveness for female hips,” I soon realized one needed to be designed. Thus, the Bramblewood Vest.
Sizes
Finished Bust Size 29 (33, 37, 41, 45, 49, 53)” to fit bust 28 (32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52)”.
1” positive ease with an option for 0” ease through the bust.
Shown in size 36” with 0” ease.
Yarn
Alpaca With A Twist Highlander (45% Baby Alpaca, 45% Merino Wool, 8% Microfiber, 2% Viscose; 145 yards/100 grams): Color #1013 North Sea, 3 (4, 4, 5, 5, 6, 6) skeins.
Needles
US 8 (5 mm): 32” circular or size necessary to obtain gauge.
US 7 (4.5 mm): 32” circular (For optional bust shaping only.)
US 6 ((4 mm): 16” circular
Spare US 8 needle – can be 1, #8 SP or spare #8 circ
Gauge
16 sts and 24 rows = 4” in St st.
Notions
4 stitch markers, 2 stitch holders, tapestry needle, cable needle
Pattern Notes
This pattern is worked from the top down in a quasi-raglan style. It is joined in the round under the arms for a seamless finish. The neck edge and sleeve edges are picked up after the vest is finished and worked in the round. This vest is gently flared to flow smoothly over your hips.
Pattern
With the US#8, 32” circular needle, using the long tail method, CO 2 ( 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2), pm #1, 7 (7, 8, 8, 9, 9, 10), pm #2, 28 (28, 30, 34, 36, 38, 40), pm #3, 7 (7, 8, 8, 9, 9, 10), pm #4, 2 (2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2); 46 (46, 50, 54, 58, 60, 64) sts. P 1 row.
Cable Set Up
Note: Sts in brackets indicate Triple Cross Cable Chart
Row 1 (RS): K1, m1, k1, sm, k1, m1, k to 1 st bef next m, m1, k1, sm, k1, m1, k0 (k0, k1, k3, k4, k5, k6), {p5, k4, p2, k4, p2, k4, p5}, k0 (k0, k1, k3, k4, k5, k6), m1, k1, sm, k1, m1, k to 1 st bef next m, m1, k1, sm, k1, m1, k1; 54 (54, 58, 62, 66, 68, 72) sts.
Row 2 (WS): K the k sts, p the p sts.
Begin Yoke.
Yoke
Note: As you work the yoke, you will work across in St st from the left front edge and marker 1 and between markers 1 & 2. You will work the triple cross cable chart across the center 26 sts of the back (between markers 2 & 3) and St st on all other sts on the back. You will work in St st between markers 3 & 4 and marker 4 and the right front edge.
Simultaneously, you will increase before and after each marker (8 incs in each row) on every RS row. Remember: work the increases in the back section in St st and the center 26 sts according to the triple cross cable chart.
Row 1 (RS – yoke increase row): *K to 1 st bef m, m1, k1, sm, k1, m1*, rep from * 1 more time, k to center 26 sts, work center 26 sts according to triple cross cable chart, **k to 1 st bef m, m1, k1, sm, k1, m1**, rep from ** 1 more time, knit to the end of row.
Row 2 (WS): K the k sts, p the p sts.
Work rows 1 and 2 an additional 4 (6, 6, 7, 9, 9, 10) times; 94 (110, 114, 126, 146, 148, 160) sts.
Sleeve BO Row: K to 1 st bef marker 1, m1, k1, remove marker 1, BO all sts to marker 2, remove marker 2, k1, m1, k to center 26 sts, work across center 26 sts according to triple cross cable chart, k to 1 stitch before marker 3, m1, k1, remove marker 3, BO all sts to marker 4, remove marker 4, k1, m1, k to the end.
You have now bound off the shoulder sts and have the back sts and front sts on your needles; 42 (46, 48, 54, 60, 62, 66) back sts and 9 (11, 11, 12, 14, 14, 15) sts for each front.
Place front sts on separate stitch holders, leaving back sts on your needles. Leave the yarn attached to the right front sts.
Back
Join a new ball of yarn and begin back on the WS.
Row 1 (WS): K the k sts, p the p sts.
Row 2 (RS): K1, m1, k to center 26 sts, work across center 26 sts in triple cross cable chart, k to 1 st before end of row, m1, k1.
Repeat rows 1 and 2 until you have 60 (68, 76, 84, 90, 96, 100) sts
Place back sts on a holder. Cut working yarn leaving enough of a tail to weave in.
Right Front
Row 1 (WS): K the k sts, p the p sts.
Row 2 (RS): K1, m1, k to the end.
Repeat rows 1 and 2 until you have 17 (21, 25, 29, 32, 35, 37) sts
Place right front sts on a holder. Cut the working yarn, leaving a long tail.
Left Front
Attach yarn and begin left front on the WS.
Row 1 (WS): K the k sts, p the p sts.
Row 2 (RS): K to 1 stitch bef the end of row, m1, k1.
Repeat rows 1 and 2 until you have 17 (21, 25, 29, 32, 35, 37) sts
Body
Note: Before you begin Body, place right front and back sections on spare US#8 needle.
Beginning on the RS, k across the left front, CO 1 (1, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5) sts, pm, CO 1 (1, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5) sts, k across back section to center 26 sts, work center 26 sts according to triple cross cable chart, k to end of back, CO 1 (1, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5) sts, pm, CO 1 (1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5) sts, k across right front, CO 26 sts, join to left front and pm to indicate beg of rnd; 124 (140, 156, 172, 188, 204, 220) sts.
Your work should now be completely joined and you will begin to work in the rnd. If it helps, place markers on either side of center back 26 sts and center front 26 sts (4 markers placed). These are the sts you will work according to the triple cross cable chart.
If you would like the vest to be a little snug around your bust and under the bust, change to US#7, 32” circ needle before beginning rnd 1 of body.
Rnd 1: K to m, sm, k to center back cable panel, work center back cable panel according to triple cross cable chart, k to m, sm, k to center front cable panel (these are the 26 sts you CO at the center front), work triple cross cable chart across center front 26 sts, beginning with row 1 of triple cross cable chart.
Repeat rnd 1 until piece measures 5.5 (6, 6, 6.5, 6.5, 7, 7)” from underarm CO edge to needles.
Begin Body Shaping
If you changed to a US#7, 32” circ needle at the beginning of Body, change back to a US#8, 32” circ needle before you begin Body Shaping.
Body Shaping
Rnd 1: K to 1 st before m, m1, k1, sm, k1, m1, k to center back cable panel, work center back cable panel according to triple cross cable chart, k to 1 st before m, m1, k1, sm, k1, m1, k to center front cable panel, work center front cable panel according to triple cross cable chart; 4 incs worked.
Rnd 2: K to m, sm, k to center back cable panel, work center back cable panel according to triple cross cable chart, k to m, sm, k to center front cable panel, work triple cross cable chart across center front 26 sts.
Sizes 28, 32, 36 & 40: Work rnd 2, 11 more times, work rnd 1. In total 8 incs worked; 132 (148, 164, 180, x, x, x) sts.
Sizes 44, 48 & 52: *Work rnd 2, 9 more times, work rnd 1*, rep from * 1 more time. In total 12 incs worked; x (x, x, x, 200, 216, 232) sts.
Repeat rnd 2 until piece measures 14 (14.5, 15, 15.5, 16, 16.5, 16.5)” from underarm CO edge to needles.
Body Applied I-Cord Bind Off
CO 4 sts using the Cable CO, *k3, k2tog through the back loop (you will be knitting together the last CO st with a st from the body)* sl the 4 sts back onto your left-hand needle, repeat from * all the way around the bottom edge of the body. When you have worked all body sts, BO 4, cut yarn leaving a long tail.
Armhole Applied I-Cord Bind Off
Using the US#6, 16” circular needle, pick up 1 st for each of the underarm CO st, *1 st in each of the next 3 rows up the back armhole, skip 1 row*, repeat from * up the back of armhole, 1 st for each BO st at the top of the armhole, *1 stitch in each of the next 3 rows down the front of the armhole, skip 1 row*, repeat from * down the front of the armhole.
CO 4 sts using the Cable CO, *k3, k2tog through the back loop (you will be knitting together the last CO st with a st from the body)* place the 4 sts back on the left-hand needle, repeat from * all the way around the armhole. When you have worked all armhole sts, BO 4, cut yarn leaving a long tail.
Repeat for second armhole.
Neck Applied I-Cord Bind Off
Using the US#6, 16” circular needle, pick up 1 st for each back neck CO st, *1 st in each of the next 3 rows, skip 1 row*, repeat from * down the right side of neck, 1 stitch per CO st at the front neck edge, *1 stitch in each of the next 3 rows, skip 1 row*, repeat from * up the left front of the neck.
CO 4 sts using the Cable CO, *k3, k2tog through the back loop (you will be knitting together the last CO st with a st from the body)* place the 4 sts back on the left-hand needle, repeat from * all the way around the armhole. When you reach the end, BO 4, cut yarn leaving a long tail.
Finishing
At the neck edge and each of the underarms, use the long tail and sew the end of the I-Cord BO to the beginning of the I-Cord.
Weave in ends, block to measurements and enjoy!
Schematic
About the Designer: Christina Wall
Christina Wall knits and designs in Indianapolis, Indiana. She has designed for Alpaca With A Twist as well as her local yarn store, Stitches & Scones, Inc. Chronicles of her knitting adventures can be found at www.aknitterslife.blogspot.com as well as more of her designs.
Pattern and images © 2009 Christina Wall. Contact Christina.
This so cute and with a design on both sides one looks great entering and leaving a room. I also love the fact that the design a woman curves rather than think they just disappear. This one will have to made for each season that a hit times… Oh the yarn one needs so great.