Knitty: Spring 2007

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by Amy King

I've loved Noro striped scarves for a long time. For me making a scarf is about as pleasurable as sticking vinegar soaked toothpicks under my toenails. Ok, maybe not that bad, but close.

But I wanted to capture that stripy look so I created this vest.

To keep the continuity of the colors, the neck is steeked. I know many people are afraid of this technique, but it's really quite simple and this is a good easy piece to practice your skill. Actually, if you swatch and save your swatch, practice your steeking on that and then head for the vest. You'll be a pro in no time.

model & photos: Amy King

SIZE

XS[S, M, L, XL, 2X, 3X]

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Body Circumference: 27[32.5, 36, 40, 43.5, 47, 52.5] inches
Length: 20.5[21.5, 22, 23, 24, 25, 25.5] inches
Note: Measure the circumference of your chest just under your bust. Choose the size with the finished measurement closest to this lower chest measurement.

MATERIALS

Noro Silk Garden [45% silk, 45% mohair, 10% wool; 110yd/100m per 50g skein]; 3[3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 5] skeins each color

[A] #37

[B] #251

1 pair US #5/3.75mm straight needles

1 16-inch US #5/3.75mm circular needle

Stitch holders or waste yarn

Stitch markers

Sewing machine and thread OR sewing needle and thread

Tapestry needle

GAUGE

22 sts / 20 rows = 4 inches in 4x1 Rib

PATTERN NOTES

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

Instructions for sewing and cutting steeks may be found here.

Please note that there are many different methods for knitting and preparing steeks; this pattern is designed to be worked as described in this article.
If you do not have access to a sewing machine, instructions for a hand-sewn steek may be found here.

Three-Needle Bind Off
Hold both pieces of knitting with right sides together.
Insert needle into first st on front needle and first st on back needle, and knit them together. *Repeat this for the next st on the front and back needles. Draw the first st worked over the second st.*
Repeat from * to * until all sts have been bound off. Break yarn and draw through remaining st.

4x1 Rib (Worked over a multiple of 5 sts):
Row 1 [RS]: K2, p1, [k4, p1] to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 2 [WS]: P2, k1, [p4, k1] to last 2 sts, p2.
Repeat these 2 rows for 4x1 Rib.

Stripe Pattern:
Work 2 rows using A.
Work 2 rows using B.
Repeat these 4 rows for Stripe Pattern.

PATTERN

BACK
Using A, CO 75[90, 100, 110, 120, 130, 145] sts.
Work in Stripe Pattern and 4x1 Rib until work measures 13.5[14, 14, 14.5, 15, 15.5, 15.5] inches or desired length to underarm, ending with a WS row.

Shape Armholes
BO 2 sts at beginning of next 6[8, 8, 10, 14, 18, 24] rows. 63[74, 84, 90, 92, 94, 97] sts.
Continue in pattern until work measures 19.75[20.75, 21.25, 22.25, 23.25, 24.25, 24.75] inches (armhole measures 6.25[6.75, 7.25, 7.75, 8.25, 8.75, 9.25] inches), ending with a WS row.
Next Row [RS]: Work 18[18, 20, 20, 22, 22, 24] sts in pattern, place next 27[38, 44, 50, 48, 50, 49] sts on stitch holder or waste yarn. Turn work.

Next Row [WS] BO 3 sts, work in pattern to end.
Next Row [RS]: Work to end of first set of stitches on needle.
Repeat these 2 rows once more.

Place remaining 12[12, 14, 14, 16,16, 18] sts of this shoulder on stitch holder or waste yarn.
Rejoin yarn to remaining sts on needle and work to end.

Work 1 row in pattern.
Next Row [RS]: BO 3 sts, work in pattern to end.
Repeat these 2 rows once more.

Work 1 more row, and place remaining 12[12, 14, 14, 16,16, 18] sts on stitch holder or waste yarn.

FRONT
Work as for Back until work measures 8.5[9, 9, 9.5, 10, 10, 10.5] inches, ending with a WS row.

Begin Steek

Sizes XS, 3X Only:
Next Row [RS]: Work 36[-, -, -, -, -, 71] sts in pattern, place marker, p1, pfb, p1, place marker, work in pattern to end.

Sizes S, M, L, XL, 2X Only:
Next Row [RS]: Work -[44, 49, 54, 59, 64, -] sts in pattern, place marker, [pfb] twice, place marker, work in pattern to end.

All Sizes:
Next Row [WS]: Work in pattern to marker, k4, work in pattern to end.
From this point, work sts between markers in reverse stockinette stitch as set.

Note: Read ahead! Neckline and armhole shaping are worked at the same time.

Shape Neckline
Next Row [RS]: Work in pattern to 3 sts before marker, k2tog, k1, p4, k1, ssk, work in pattern to end.
Work 1 row in pattern.
Repeat these 2 rows 17[23, 26, 29, 28, 29, 28] times more.
AT THE SAME TIME, when work measures 13.5[14, 14, 14.5, 15, 15.5, 15.5] inches or desired length to underarm, ending with a WS row, shape armhole:
BO 2 sts at beginning of next 6[8, 8, 10, 14, 18, 24] rows.

When neckline and armhole shaping are complete, there are 28[28, 32, 32, 36, 36, 40] sts: 12[12, 14, 14, 16, 16, 18] sts for each shoulder, and 4 steek sts.

Continue in pattern until Front measures same as Back to shoulders.

Next Row: Work to marker, BO 4 sts, work to end.
Place sts of each shoulder on stitch holders or waste yarn.

FINISHING

Following the directions in one of the articles listed above, sew and cut the steek.

Attach Front to Back at shoulders using a Three-Needle Bind Off.

Sew side seams.

Neckband
Using circular needle, with RS facing and beginning at front point of V-Neck, pick up and k 4 sts for every 5 rows along right front neckline edge, pick up and k 1 st in each bound off st along right back neckline, k held sts of back neckline, pick up and k sts in the same way along left back and front neckline edge. Do not join.

Work 8 rows back and forth in 4x1 Rib and Stripe Pattern.
Loosely BO all sts in pattern.
Overlap ends of neckband and sew in place.

Armhole Band
Using circular needle, with RS facing and beginning at underarm, pick up and k 1 st in each bound off st and 4 sts for every 5 rows around armhole. Join to work in the round.
Work 8 rounds in 4x1 Rib and Stripe Pattern.
Loosely BO all sts in pattern.
Repeat for other armhole.
Weave in all ends and block as desired.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Amy King is a Crazy Homeschooling mom by day. Whacked out dye maven by night.

All her exploits can be found here.