Carraig Fhada

Striking, stranded vest with a choice of two colourways and crew or V neck options.

Sizes
Chest 32 (33¼, 36, 38½, 40, 42¼, 44, 46, 48, 51¾., 55½, 60) in / 81.5 (84.5, 91.5, 97.5, 101.5, 107.5, 112, 117, 122, 131.5, 140.5 152.5) cm

Fit
Knit the size above your actual chest measurements with the amount of ease preferred (between 0 and 2½ ins). Shown in the first size with zero ease (grey / crew neck version) and fifth size with 1½ ins of positive ease (blue / v neck version). A fitted waist can be achieved by reducing needle size and blocking the vest over a dress form (this was done in the grey sample).

Yarn
Buachaille (100% Scottish Wool; 110m 120yds per 50g skein)
Blue colourway:
Yarn A: Moonlicht Nicht; 3 (3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 6, 6, 6) x 50g skeins
Yarn B: Ptarmigan; 3 (3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 4, 5, 6, 6, 7, 6) x 50g skeins
Yarn C: Between Weathers; 1 x 50g skeins for all sizes
Yarn D: Islay; 1 x 50g skeins for all sizes
Yarn E: Yaffle; 1 x 50g skeins for all sizes
Yarn F: Furze; 1 x 50g skeins for all sizes

Grey colourway:
Yarn A: Squall; 4 (5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7, 7, 8, 9, 9, 9) x 50g skeins
Yarn B: Haar; 1 (2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3) x 50g skeins
Yarn C: Ptarmigan; 1 (1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2) x 50g skeins
Yarn D: Islay; 1 x 50g skeins for all sizes

In some cases smaller sizes require more yarn than larger sizes, this is due to the differing gauges that each size requires.

Needles and Notions
80cm 32in Gauge-size needle for working body
80cm 32in Below-gauge-size needle for working rib
40cm 16in Below-gauge-size needle for working neck and armscye ribbing
Two sets of stitch markers, x and y
Crochet hook (if working crocheted steek reinforcements). Tapestry needle. Waste yarn (for holding sts and steek reinforcements). Ribbon or tape for finishing internal steeked edges (optional)

Gauge
You must match the correct gauge for your size, or your vest will not fit.
Sts to 4in using gauge-size needle: 24 (26, 24, 25, 24, 25, 24, 25, 26, 26, 26, 24)
Rounds to 4in using gauge-size needle 32 (34, 32, 33, 32, 33, 32, 33, 34, 34, 34, 32)

For reference, gauge for the fifth size (24 sts / 32 rounds to 4 ins) was achieved on a 3.5mm needle.

Pattern Notes
This vest is knitted from the bottom up. The hem is worked in twisted rib, then the body is worked in stranded colourwork to the underarms. Sts are set aside at the underarms and steek bridges are created for the armscye shaping. Steek sts are added at the front neck and shaping is worked (following your choice of crew neck or V-neck instructions). Steek sts are then bound off, and shoulders joined using the three-needle bind-off method. The steeks are then cut, and reinforced before a twisted rib edging is picked up and added to neck and armscyes. Finally, the steek edges can be finished if desired by covering with a facing.