Rousabout Vest - Free Pattern September 15, 2022 07:00

Layer with your favorite long-sleeve top, or over something dressy, Rousabout is perfect for a bit of added warmth. This simple vest is knit seamlessly and worked from the top down, adding interest to the knitting process, and making it easy to customize. Try it on as you knit and adjust the length as necessary to fit your body.

Originally published in Knitting Maine.

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Finished Measurements:
About 30 (33, 36½, 39½, 42½, 46, 49, 52)" (76 [84, 92.5, 100.5, 108, 117, 124.5, 132] cm)  bust circumference, with 6 (6, 6½, 6½, 6½, 7, 7, 7)" (15 [15, 16.5, 16.5, 16.5, 18, 18, 18] cm) opening in front.

Shown in 39½" (100.5 cm) size.

Yarn:
Shown in: Romney Ridge Worsted (100% Maine-grown wool; 4 oz skein = approx 250 yards / 229 m)
2 (2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3) skeins in undyed color, or approx 430 (480, 530, 580, 620, 680, 730, 750) yards in a comparable earth-friendly yarn



Knitting Needles:
Size US 7 (4.5 mm): straight, 32" (80 cm) circular and set of 4 or 5 double pointed (dpn). Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.

Notions:
Stitch markers; tapestry needle

Gauge:
16 sts and 24 rows = 4" (10 cm) in St st. Take time to save time, check your gauge.

 

Upper Back

With straight needles, CO 46 (48, 52, 54, 56, 60, 62, 64) sts.

Shape Shoulders and Neck with short rows
Work wraps together with the sts they wrap as they appear:
Short Row 1 (WS): P11 (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18), wrap next st and turn so RS is facing.
Short Row 2 (RS): K4 (4, 5, 5, 5, 6, 6, 6), wrap next st and turn so WS is facing.
Short Row 3: P6 (6, 7, 7, 7, 8, 8, 8), wrap next st and turn so RS is facing.
Short Row 4: K10 (10, 11, 12, 12, 13, 14, 14) wrap next st and turn so WS is facing.
Short Row 5: P38 (38, 42, 43, 43, 47, 48, 48), wrap next st and turn so RS is facing.
Short Row 6: K4 (4, 5, 5, 5, 6, 6, 6), wrap next st and turn so WS is facing.
Short Row 7: P8 (8, 9, 10, 10, 11, 12, 12), wrap next st and turn so RS is facing.
Short Row 8: K10 (10, 11, 12, 12, 13, 14, 14), wrap next st and turn so WS is facing.
Short Row 9: Purl to end.

Cont to work in St st (knit on RS, purl on WS) until piece meas 5¾ (5¼, 5½, 4½, 4, 3¾, 3½, 2½)" (14.5 [13.5, 14, 11.5, 10, 9.5, 9, 6.5] cm) along side edges, ending after a WS row.



Shape Armholes
Inc Row (RS): K1, RLI, knit to last st, LLI, k1—2 sts inc’d.
Work 3 rows even.
Rep the last 4 rows 0 (1, 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8) more times—48 (52, 56, 62, 66, 72, 76, 82) sts.

Inc Row (RS): K1, RLI, knit to last st, LLI, k1—2 sts inc’d.
Work 1 row even.
Rep the last 2 rows 1 more time—52 (56, 60, 66, 70, 76, 80, 86) sts.
Slip back sts to circular needle. Break yarn.

Right Front

With RS of back facing, beg at armhole edge, use straight needles to pick up and knit 11 (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18) sts (1 st in each CO st) along the right shoulder.

Shape Right Shoulder with Short rows
Work wraps together with the sts they wrap as they appear:
Short Row 1 (WS): P4 (4, 5, 5, 5, 6, 6, 6), wrap next st and turn so RS is facing.
Short Row 2 (RS): Knit to end.
Short Row 3: P8 (8, 9, 10, 10, 11, 12, 12), wrap next st and turn so RS is facing.
Short Row 4: Knit to end.
Next Row: Purl to end.

Cont working in St st until piece meas 5¾ (5¼, 5½, 4½, 4, 3¾, 3½, 2½)" (14.5 [13.5, 14, 11.5, 10, 9.5, 9, 6.5] cm) from pick-up row at shoulder, measuring along armhole edge, end after a WS row.

Shape Armhole
Inc Row (RS): K1, RLI, knit to end—1 st inc’d.
Work 3 rows even.
Rep the last 4 rows 0 (1, 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8) more times—12 (14, 15, 18, 20, 22, 24, 27) sts.

Inc Row (RS): K1, RLI, knit to end—1 st inc’d.
Work 1 row even.
Rep the last 2 rows 1 more time—14 (16, 17, 20, 22, 24, 26, 29) sts.

Slip right front sts to circular needle with back. Break yarn.

Left Front

With RS of back facing, beg 11 (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18) sts in from left armhole edge, pick up and knit 11 (12, 13, 14, 15, 16,1 7, 18) sts (1 st in each CO st) along left back shoulder.
Purl 1 WS row.

Shape Left Shoulder with Short Rows
Work wraps together with the sts they wrap as they appear:
Short Row 1 (RS): K4 (4, 5, 5, 5, 6, 6, 6), wrap next st and turn so WS is facing.
Short Row 2 (WS): Purl to end.
Short Row 3: K8 (8, 9, 10, 10, 11, 12, 12), wrap next st and turn so WS is facing.
Short Row 4: Purl to end.
Next Row: Knit to end.

Cont working in St st until piece meas 5¾ (5¼, 5½, 4½, 4, 3¾, 3½, 2½)" (14.5 [13.5, 14, 11.5, 10, 9.5, 9, 6.5] cm) from shoulder, measuring along armhole edge, end after a WS row.

Shape Armhole
Inc Row (RS): Knit to last st, LLI, k1—1 st inc’d.
Work 3 rows even.
Rep the last 4 rows 0 (1, 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8) times—12 (14, 15, 18, 20, 22, 24, 27) sts.

Inc Row (RS): K1, RLI, knit to end—1 st inc’d.
Work 1 row even.
Rep the last 2 rows 1 time—14 (16, 17, 20, 22, 24, 26, 29) sts.

Place sts onto cir needle with back and right front, but do NOT break yarn.

Body

Joining Row (RS): With circular, k14 (16, 17, 20, 22, 24, 26, 29) left front sts, pm, use the Backwards Loop method to CO 8 (10, 13, 13, 15, 16, 18, 18) sts, pm, work 52 (56, 60, 66, 70, 76, 80, 86) back sts, pm, CO 8 (10, 13, 13, 15, 16, 18, 18) sts, pm, work 14 (16, 17, 20, 22, 24, 26, 29) right front sts—96 (108, 120, 132, 144, 156, 168, 180) sts.

Shape Waist
Work 13 (9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9) rows even in St st, ending after a WS row.
Dec Row (RS): *Knit to first m, sl m, ssk, knit to 2 sts before next m, k2tog, sl m; rep from * once more, knit to end—4 sts dec’d.
Rep the last 14 (10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10) rows 2 (3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3) more times—84 (92, 104, 116, 128, 140, 152, 164) sts rem.

Est Back Ribbing (WS): Purl to second m, p15 (17, 17, 20, 22, 23, 25, 28), pm for back ribbing, [k2, p2] 5 (5, 6, 6, 6, 7, 7, 7) times, k2, pm for back ribbing, purl to end.

Next Row (RS): Knit to first back ribbing m, sl m, [p2, k2] 5 (5, 6, 6, 6, 7, 7, 7) times, p2, sl m, knit to end.

Cont as est until piece meas 9¼" (23.5 cm) from joining row, ending after a WS row.

Remove the 2 back ribbing markers on last row, keeping side markers in place.

Change to St st and inc waist:
Inc Row (RS): *Knit to first m, sl m, k1, LLI, knit to 1 st before next m, RLI, k1, sl m; rep from * once more, knit to end—4 sts inc’d.
Work 13 (9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9) rows even in St st, ending after a WS row.
Rep the last 14 (10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10) rows 1 (2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2) more times, then rep inc row again—96 (108, 120, 132, 144, 156, 168, 180) sts.

Est Lower Ribbing (WS): P3, *k2, p2; rep from * to last st, p1.
Next Row (RS): K3, *p2, k2; rep from * to last st, k1.
Cont as est for 1". BO all sts in ribbing.

Finishing

Block piece to measurements.

Front Trim: With RS facing and circular needle, beg at lower right front edge, pick up and knit 87 (88, 89, 91, 92, 93, 95, 96) sts evenly along  right front to shoulder, 24 (24, 26, 26, 26, 28, 28, 28) sts along back neck, then 87 (88, 89, 91, 92, 93, 95, 96) sts evenly along left front—198 (200, 204, 208, 210, 214, 218, 220) sts. Do not join, work back and forth in rows.
Work 3 rows even in St st, ending after a WS row.
Work 2 rows even in Rev St st, ending after a WS row.
BO all sts pwise with RS facing.

Armhole Trim: With RS facing and dpns, beg at center of underarm, pick up and knit 62 (64, 66, 68, 70, 74, 76, 80) sts evenly around.
Pm for beg of rnd.
Work 3 rnds in St st.
Work 2 rnds in Rev St st.
BO all sts pwise.

Work second armhole trim the same as the first.

Weave in ends.

 

Pattern Stitches

Short-Rows / Wrap and turn:
Knit row—Wyb, slip next st purlwise onto right needle, bring yarn to front of work, return slipped st to left needle, bring yarn to back of work, then turn work.
Purl row—Wyf slip next st purlwise onto right needle, bring yarn to back of work, return slipped st to left needle, bring yarn to front of work, then turn work.
Short Rows / Hide Wraps:
Knit row—Pick up the wrap from the front with the right needle and knit together with the st it wraps.
Purl row—pick up the wrap through back of loop with right needle and purl together with the st it wraps.
Backward Loop Cast-on Method:

*Wrap yarn around left thumb from front to back and secure in palm with other fingers, insert right needle upwards through strand on thumb, slip loop from thumb onto needle, pulling yarn to tighten; rep from * for desired number of sts.

 

 

Stockinette Stitch (St st)
Knit on RS, purl on WS.

Reverse Stockinette Stitch (Rev St st)
Purl on RS, knit on WS.

 

Abbreviations

beg: begin(ning)

BO: bind off

CO: cast on

cont: continue

dec('d): decrease(d)

dpn(s): double-pointed needle(s)

inc('d): increase(d)

k: knit

k2tog: knit two together (right- slanting decrease)

LLI:  Left Lifted Increase: Insert the tip of left needle from behind into stitch 2 rows below last stitch on right needle and knit into the back of this stitch.

m: marker

meas: measure(s)

p: purl

pm: place marker

pwise: purlwise

RLI:  Right Lifted Increase: Knit into the front loop of the stitch below the next stitch on left needle.

rem: remain(ing)

rep: repeat

RS: right side

sl: slip

ssk: slip 2 stitches individually as if to knit, then knit those 2 stitches together through the back loops (left-slanting decrease)

st(s): stitch(es)

WS: wrong side