A classic, straightforward top with clean finishes and neat details? It’s Simply the Vest! This pattern is a great canvas for hand-dyed yarns, stripes, or using up scraps. Easily customizable and ready to be styled in myriad ways, this versatile vest top is about to become an essential wardrobe staple.

Skill Level: Intermediate

Yarn
DK, 100% superwash merino
451 (524, 605, 663, 732), 826 (900, 1043, 1147, 1255) yds
412 (479, 553, 606, 669), 755 (823, 953, 1048, 1147) m
For contrast collar and cuffs:
Replace 46 (48, 50, 52, 53), 54 (57, 58, 60, 62) yds of MC with CC.
Or 42 (44, 46, 48, 48), 49 (52, 53, 55, 57) m of MC with CC.

Sample 1 (Brown):

• MC: Leading Men Fiber Arts Dramaturg (100% superwash merino; DK; 250yds/115g). Colorway “Burnt Ends”.
• CC: Hobbii Friends Extra Fine Merino (100% superwash merino; Sport; 180yds/50g). Colorway 12 ‘Chocolate’.

Sample 2 (Green):
Honey & Quill Classic DK (100% superwash merino; DK; 246yds/100g). Colorway “Sagebrush”.

Alternate Yarn Suggestions:

• KnitPicks Swish DK (100% superwash merino; DK; 123yds/50g).
• Drops Baby Merino (100% superwash merino; sport; 191yds/50g).
• Valley Yarns Northfield (70% merino, 20% baby alpaca, 10% silk; DK; 124yds/50g).

Needles

• 4mm (US 6) 24-40” (60-100cm) circular needles, or size to obtain gauge
• 3.5mm (US 4) 24-36” (60-90cm) circular needles, or size to obtain gauge (0.5mm smaller than main needle)
• Additional 3mm (US 2.5) circular needle to pick up sts on crochet edge (optional, but recommended)

Notions

• Yarn needle
• Stitch marker
• Scrap yarn for provisional cast on
• 3.5mm crochet hook

Gauge
* 41 sts and 60 rows = 8” in St st
knit flat on 4mm needles, blocked
(Note: these numbers are measured over
8” rather than the standard 4”. Please
ensure you make a large enough swatch
to measure correctly!)

Finished Measurements

• Sizes 1 (2, 3, 4, 5), 6 (7, 8, 9, 10)
• To fit bust: 32 (36, 40, 44, 48), 52 (56, 60, 64, 68)”
• To fit bust: 80 (90, 100, 110, 120), 130 (140, 150, 160, 170)cm
• Garment bust measurement: 30.5 (34.5, 38, 43, 47), 50.5 (54.5, 58.5, 62.5, 66.5)”; garment is meant to be worn with 0-2” of negative ease
• Garment bust measurement: 76.5 (86.5, 95, 107.5, 117.5), 126.5 (136.5, 146.5, 156.5, 166.5)cm; garment is meant to be worn with 0-5cm of negative ease
• Sample shown is Size 3 on 39”/99cm bust

This vest is knit top down from the shoulders. The shoulders feature a provisional cast on which is then used to graft front and back together. The top is worked flat to the underarms and then joined in the round. The collar and armhole cuffs are picked up using a crochet slipped stitch and then knit in the round. Each cuff and hem features a tubular bind off for a professional finish. Version 1 features wider shoulders, a deeper and narrower front neck, and consistent, gradual increases from shoulder to underarm. Version 2 features narrower shoulders, a higher and wider front neck, and steeper increases concentrated closer to the underarms.