Heather’s Ranch Vacation Vest.

Here’s my finished green vest:

It’s a fairly simple pattern, and it’s my own. I cast on during my ranch vacation this fall, and finished it when I got home. I love that – it’s a tangible souvenir of my trip. The cable pattern on the front is from the Barbara Walker patterns, and I also love that.

Here’s the pattern directions. I used four and a bit skeins of Patons Shetland Chunky yarn.

Heather’s Ranch Vacation vest:

Gauge: 4 stitches per inch, 6 rows per inch on US 8 needles. Pattern written for 36″ chest, but the vest is pretty forgiving.

Abbreviations:
st = stitch
k = knit
sl = slip, as if to knit
p = purl

Braid cable:

Row 1: P2, K9, P2.
Row 2: K2, P9, K2.
Row 3: P2, sl 3 sts and hold to front, K3, K3 from cable needle, K3, p2.
Row 4: as row 2.
Row 5: as row 1.
Row 6: as row 2.
Row 7: P2, K3, sl 3 sts and hold to back. K3, K3 from cable needle, p2.

I did the front of the vest first so that I had a chance to end the cable pattern where I wanted it and to make sure I could match the lengths.

Back:

Cast on 72 stitches. Rib in K2, P2 for 2.5 inches. Switch to stockinette stitch and work until piece measures 15 inches.

Arm shaping: Bind off 4 sts at the beginning of the next two rows.

Continue in pattern until piece measures 23.5 inches. Bind off all stitches.

Front:

Cast on 72 stitches. Rib in K2, P2 for 2.5 inches. Switch to stockinette stitch and begin cable pattern on stitch 30. I suggest using stitch markers to define the start and end of the cable pattern until you’re comfortable enough with it (or memorize it).

Work until piece measures 15 inches. Bind off 4 stitches at next two rows.

Neck: When piece measures 18.5 inches, begin neck shaping. Work to center 13 stitches. Attach another ball of yarn and bind off center 13 stitches. Complete row.

Working both sides at once, bind off 2 sts at neck edge 3 times. Then, decrease 1 st at each neck edge every right side row 7 times. Continue until piece measures 23.5 inches.

Seam shoulders (12 stitches) and sides.

Edging for arms: pick up 80 stitches and knit using double pointed or circular needles. Rib in a K2 P2 for 1 inch.

Edging for neck: pick up and knit 108 stitches. Rib in K2 P2 for 1 or 1.5 inches (or as desired).

Notes: I used Patons Shetland Chunky, but a chunky weight yarn will do. I know there are people out there who will howl about knitting with – and wearing – acrylic, but quite frankly, it’s washable, it’s warm, and it goes in the dryer. And the yarn is inexpensive. The cost, in Canadian dollars, worked out to be about $28. In US dollars….oh, hmm. About $28.

I imagine that you could easily alter the pattern for different sizes, but I wrote the pattern out for me, so I didn’t bother working out different sizes. I think the key would be to figure out how much more or less you need in width, and add those stitches on. It’s important to a) keep the cable in the center, remembering that it’s 13 stitches, b) to try to keep the total number of stitches divisible by four so that the K2, P2 ribbing works on the armhole, neck, and bottom edgings. And c) have fun. Vests shouldn’t be stressful.