The She’s So Lucky Vest is a cozy cropped turtleneck vest with waist shaping, knit in a bulky weight yarn or marled equivalent from your stash! It knits up so quickly that you may just have to say “Hit me baby, one more time” to this pattern.
This garment is knit bottom-up. You will knit the waistband in a twisted rib, increase for the bust, then divide front and back to create arm holes. You then divide front left and right sides to make the neckline. Straps are joined at the shoulders with three-needle bind-off, and the turtleneck and sleeves are finished off in a simple rib after picking up stitches.
Sizes
XS, (S, M, L, 1X) {2X, 3X, 4X, 5X}, to fit the following body sizes with between 2” of negative ease and 2” of positive ease:
Bust: 28-30 (32-34, 36-38, 40-42, 44-46) {48-50, 52-54, 56-58, 60-62} in.
Waist: 23-24 (25-26.5, 28-30, 32-34, 36-38) {40-42, 44-45, 46-47, 49-50} in.
Gauge
10 stitches x 12 rows = 4” x 4” square in stockinette stitch on US size 11 (8mm) needles. If possible, gauge in the round.
Gauge Notes:
1) I recommend swatching to make sure you are achieving gauge with your general yarn combinations well as your desired drape and density.
2) I am a loose knitter, so gauge is on the looser end. If you knit tighter and are finding a 12 stitch x 12 row gauge is achieving the fabric you desire, expect that it will add approximately 2”-4” more negative ease to your garment (be a little bit tighter fitting). If you do not want this extra negative ease, consider sizing up.
Materials & Yardage
Approximately 300 (315, 330, 345, 360) {375, 390, 410, 430} yards of Bulky weight yarn or equivalent (made by holding 2 or more yarns together).
Yarn Choice Notes:
1) Your yarn combo to achieve bulky gauge is meant to be flexible to fit what is in your stash and what kind of drape you want. Testers achieved their desired drape and fabric density with a range of yarn combinations – so play around with your swatch to see what you like!
2) I knit the pink sample with DK + DK strands held together for a breezier summer texture, but have used Worsted + Worsted wool/alpaca for a cozier full coverage feeling!
3) This represents yardage needed of total bulky weight, not the yardage of each of your individual strands held separately.
4) Allow for extra yardage if you plan to extend length.
Needles & Notions
US size 10.5 (6.5mm) circulars, US size 11 (8mm) circulars
Stitch markers (4)
Tapestry needle for sewing in ends.
Techniques
- German Twisted (or other stretchy) Cast-on
- Binding Off
- Three-needle bind-off
- K1tbl
- K, P
- Kfb
- Sl
- SSK
- K2tog
- Picking up stitches
- Jeny’s Surprisingly Stretchy Bind-off
