Raincheck by Elizabeth Smith

Raincheck

Knitting
July 2020
Aran (8 wpi) ?
14 stitches and 21 rows = 4 inches
in Stockinette stitch
US 10 - 6.0 mm
350 - 850 yards (320 - 777 m)
1 (2, 3, 4, 5) (6, 7, 8, 9)
English
This pattern is available for $6.50 USD buy it now

Raincheck is a simple summertime vest (although you can wear it all year too!). It’s knit seamlessly and all in one-piece, and features A-line body shaping and a pretty diagonal of eyelet stitches along just the left front for some asymmetrical visual interest.

It calls for aran-weight linen or cotton blend yarn so it also knits up super fast too! I knit up 2 samples so you can see it knit up in 2 different summer-friendly non-wool yarns: Berroco Remix and Quince & Co Kestrel.

Pattern includes links to lots of video tutorials as well, so it’s a great beginner-friendly project! Also, if you would like to not have your edges “raw” (in case you use a yarn that will curl more at the edges), make sure to to follow my tip below before you get started (scroll below pattern info).

PATTERN INFORMATION:

Sizes: 1 (2, 3, 4, 5) (6, 7, 8, 9)

Finished Bust Measurement (with Fronts overlapping): 32 (36.5, 40, 44.5, 48) (52.5, 56, 60.5, 64)”/81 (93, 102, 113, 122) (133, 142, 154, 163) cm

Picking Your Size: Pick a size that is approx 1-4”/2.5-10 cm larger than your actual bust measurement. Shown in Size 2, being worn with approx. 3”/7.5 cm of positive ease at the bust.

Yarn/Yardage: Approx 350 (400, 465, 525, 600) (650, 725, 790, 850) yds of aran-weight yarn, shown in:

  • Remix by Berroco (30% Nylon, 27% Cotton, 24% Acrylic, 10% Silk, 9% Linen; 100g = 216 yds), 2 (2, 3, 3, 3) (4, 4, 4, 5) skeins. Shown in Smoke (gray color).
  • Kestrel by Quince & Co (100% Organic Linen; 50g = 76 yds), 5 (6, 7, 7, 8) (9, 10, 11, 12) skeins. Shown in Lira (copper color).

Gauge: 14 sts & 21 rows = 4”/10 cm in St st after blocking

Needles & Supplies:

  • US 10/6 mm 32”/80 cm circ needle, or size needed to obtain gauge.
  • Extra US 10/6 mm 24”/60 cm OR 32”/80 cm, or same size used to obtain gauge
  • US 10.5/6.5 mm 24”/60 cm or 32”/80 cm circ, or 1 needle size larger than that used to obtain gauge (to be used during Three Needle BO).
  • Stitch markers.
  • Removable stitch marker.
  • Tapestry needle.
  • Scrap yarn or stitch holders.

Construction: 

  • Raincheck is knit from the bottom-up and features A-line shaping in the body
  • At the underarm the Fronts and Back are split and worked separately to the shoulders.
  • Then shoulders are attached using the Three Needle Bind-Off technique.

Tip for Adding Edging to Avoid Curling Hem/Fronts:
If you are using a yarn that may curl, add some edging at the hem and front edges - here are some tips for that:

  • After cast-on, work a Garter stitch trim for about 1” (or more, depending on your desired look). A Garter stitch trim is just knitting every row. Then after you have your desired Garter hem length, you will proceed with rows 1-3 in the “Hem” section of the pattern.
  • After your vest is complete (so after your shoulders are attached together), you will pick up stitches along the fronts in the following way:
  • Step 1: Using a needle size smaller than the one you used to knit the vest, join yarn at the bottom hem of the Right Front (“Right” from the perspective of wearing the garment) and pick up and knit 2 stitches for every 3 rows up the entire side until you get to the back of neck. And then pick up the same number of stitches going down the Left Front (at the same ratio).
  • Step 2: Work in Garter stitch (so knitting every row) for about 1” (a little less would be fine as well - I’d say just at least 1/2” worth), ending after working a RS row.
  • Step 3: BO all sts knitwise on a WS row.