Trebizond uses two yarns: a rich crimson, and a subdued brown, in a variety of combinations and textures, to emphasise the jewel-like quality of the crimson, and to invoke the richness of decoration found in so many eastern cultures. Where better to start than the ancient Turkish city of Trebizond on the silk road…
Trebizond is a women’s vest (or waistcoat, if you hail from the UK), which is shaped at the waist using ordinary decreasing/increasing to create darts on the front, and short-row shaping to create darts on the back. The back is worked in two pieces, and from side to side rather than from bottom to top. Once the centre back seam has been sewn, the yoke is started by picking up stitches from along the top of the back.
As many different decorative elements have been incorporated as possible, but the only stranded colourwork in the piece is in the yoke. The two-coloured border on the front pieces is an example of colour slip-stitch, or ‘mosaic’, knitting, which requires only one colour per row. The picot edging round the armholes, and the pigtail edging worked around the bottom edge, are both crocheted. The ribbed edging at the front opening is integral to the front pieces, and not worked separately, but is kept to the correct length in places using short-row shaping. Short-row shaping is also used to achieve a slope at the shoulders.
The pattern is fully written out, with no charts to follow, and instructions for the various techniques involved are included.
All you need for this project is a little bravery in the short-row shaping department, if you haven’t tried it before, and some gorgeous glass buttons in your chosen color. Go for it!

Finished garment measurements:
Chest: 31 (35.1, 39.2, 42.8, 46.9, 51, 54.5, 58.6, 62.7) inches / 78.7 (89.1, 99.5, 108.6, 119, 129.4, 138.5, 148.9, 159.3) cm
Length (including 2 inch/5 cm fringe): 21.1 (22, 22.5, 23.2, 23.7, 24.4, 24.4, 25.3, 25.4) inches / 53.5 (55.8, 57.2, 58.9, 60.3, 61.9, 61.9, 64.3, 64.6) cm
The garment has around 1.7 inches / 4.4 cm of ease at the bust, waist and hem.

Shown in size M.

Yarn requirements:
Main colour: #281103 Brown; 4 (5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7, 8, 9) balls
Contrasting colour: #281105 Crimson; 2 (2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4) balls

Recommended needles:
1 set US #8/5mm straight needles for fronts
A single US #11/8mm straight needle for casting on loose edges
1 16 inch/40cm US #8/5mm circular needle for back and yoke
1 US #J-10/6mm crochet hook for armhole and hem edgings
1 smaller crochet hook, eg US #D-3/3.25mm, to initially pull crochet loops through edges of armholes and hem (optional)

Notions required:
Row counter
Yarn needle
1 small st holder for left front shoulder
Four glass buttons in CC, 5/8 inch/15mm diameter

Gauge:
(Using US #8/5mm needles)
After wet-blocking:
Stockinette stitch: 16 sts & 22.5 rows = 4” / 15.75 sts & 22 rows = 10cm
Garter stitch: 14.75 sts & 30.5 rows = 4” / 14.5 sts & 30 rows = 10cm
Garter slip stitch : 20 sts & 35.5 rows = 4” / 19.75 sts & 35 rows = 10cm
Corrugated ribbing: 22.5 sts & 20.75 rows = 4” / 22 sts & 20.5 rows = 10cm