Backbone Vest

The essence of comfort: a gently oversized vest, perfect for layering, in soothing stockinette stitch with an eye-catching cable panel to provide just enough knitting variety. An (optional) notched hem is a fun and flattering feature, while the attached i-cord edging echoes the intentional simplicity of this design.

The vest is knit flat. The right front, back, and left front are each knit individually at first, joined to create the notched hem, and then the body is worked in one piece up to the armholes. The right front, back, and left front are separated again, each is knit up to the neck, and they are seamed at the shoulders. An attached i-cord edging is worked around each armhole and the body.

Finished Chest Circumference:

37¾ (41¾, 45¾, 49¾, 53¾, 57¾) (61¾, 65¾, 69¾, 73¾)”

96 [106, 116.25, 126.25, 136.5, 146.75] [156.75, 167, 177.25, 187.25] cm

Yarn:

Heavy worsted-weight or light Aran yarn:

  • 530 (595, 655, 735, 820, 900) (970, 1070, 1145, 1245) yds
  • 485 [545, 600, 675, 750, 825] [890, 980, 1050, 1140] m
  • Choose a size that provides approximately 5-6” of positive ease in the chest.

Shown in Peace Fleece Worsted Weight (50% Navajo Rambouillet, 30% fine wool; 20% mohair; 200 yds [183 m] per approx 113 g [4 oz]): “Zarya Fog.”

Needles:

US 8 (5.0 mm): 32” [80 cm] circular needles, or size needed to obtain gauges

US 8 (5.0 mm): 2 double-pointed needles (DPNs) for attached i-cord edging

Notions:

Stitch markers; removable stitch markers; waste yarn; cable needle; yarn needle; crochet hook (for provisional cast-on used in attached i-cord edging)

Gauges:

16 sts / 24 rows = 4″ [10 cm] in stockinette st, after blocking

40 sts / 16 rows = 7¼” [18.5 cm] wide and 2 5/8” [6.75 cm] high in Cable Panel patt, after blocking

A Note about Payments:

Patterns are available as PDF downloads to purchase via Ravelry and pay for via Paypal; you’ll be able to download each file once payment is complete.  You do NOT need an account with either site to purchase any patterns. If you don’t have a Paypal account, you can use your credit card to pay without having a Paypal account.  If you use a Paypal account without funds in it and without an associated credit card, then Paypal will treat your payment as an electronic check.  Questions?  Use the “Contact” tab above to reach me!