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The Cold Front Vest is a sleeveless vest with a double-thick collar that reaches mid-neck and options for a full- or half-zip front. It is knit in reverse stockinette stitch with two yarns held together, a Merino bouclé and a Suri alpaca lace, to create a soft, fluffy, and ultra-cozy fabric.

The vest is constructed seamlessly from the top down, starting with the back panel. Stitches are cast on for the back neck, then short rows are worked to shape the back neck and shoulders. The back panel is knit flat with increases worked to shape the armholes, then placed on hold. Stitches are picked up for the right shoulder, then short rows and increases are worked to shape the neck and shoulder before the panel is knit to the same length and with the same armhole shaping as the back. The left panel is then worked in the same fashion to mirror the right. These sections are then joined together with stitches cast on for the underarms and knit either flat (for a full-zip) or joined in the round and worked inside out (for a half-zip) to the desired body length and finished with a 1x1 ribbing for the hem. Stitches are picked up around the neckline to work a folded collar in 1x1 ribbing, then around the armholes to work a short 1x1 ribbing as well. To finish, a zipper is sewn along the front edges.

Sizes
1 (2, 3, 4) (5, 6, 7) (8, 9, 10)

Finished bust/body circumference
32 (36, 40, 44) (48, 52, 56) (60, 64, 68)” /
81.5 (91.5, 101.5, 112) (122, 132,142) (152.5, 162.5, 173) cm

This vest is designed to be worn with 2-4” / 5-10 cm positive ease at the bust. If you are knitting for a body with greater than a 3” / 7.5 cm difference between the full and upper bust measurements, using the upper bust measurement can help you choose a size that will achieve the desired fit. As this is a slimmer fitting vest, I recommend sizing up if you are between sizes or prefer a more oversized fit. The samples show two different sizes to help demonstrate the fit with different amounts of ease.

Samples shown on a 40” / 101.5 cm full bust, 37” / 94 cm upper bust circumference.

Blue sample shown in Size 3 (full-zip) with 1” / 2.5 cm extra ease added at the underarm for 1” / 2.5 cm positive ease at the full bust.

Brown sample shown in Size 4 (half-zip) for 4” / 10 cm positive ease at the full bust.

Suggested Needles
Main: US 6 / 4.0 mm
Ribbing: US 5 / 3.75 mm
Use the needle size you need to achieve gauge and a fabric you love.

Yarn
Yarn A: 445 (495, 550, 600) (660, 705, 770) (820, 885, 945) yds /
407 (453, 503, 549) (604, 645, 704) (750, 809, 864) m DK weight bouclé yarn

Yarn B: 465 (515, 570, 630) (685, 735, 800) (855, 920, 985) yds /
425 (471, 521, 576) (626, 672, 732) (782, 841, 901) m lace weight yarn

Both yarns are held together throughout.

These are just approximations. The total amount used will depend on the yarn you use, your gauge, and any modifications you may make.

Recommended yarn
Yarn A: Explorer Knits and Fibers Bouclé DK (100% Superwash Merino, 240 yds / 219 m per 100g)
Yarn B: Explorer Knits and Fibers Suri Alpaca Lace (74% Baby Suri Alpaca / 26% Mulberry silk, 328 yds / 300 m per 50g)

Blue sample uses Bouclé DK and Suri Alpaca Lace in “Vatnajökull”
Brown sample uses Bouclé DK and Suri Alpaca Lace in “Tölt”

Notions

• 2 removable stitch markers
• Spare needle, spare yarn, or barber cords for placing stitches on hold
• Tapestry needle for weaving in ends
• Scissors
• 20” / 50 cm (full-zip) or 10” / 25 cm (half-zip) zipper (or desired * length)
• Sewing needle
• Sewing thread matching your yarn, or invisible thread
• Straight pins

Gauge
17 sts & 30 rows = 4” / 10 cm on Main needle
Measured over reverse stockinette stitch knit flat, after blocking

17 sts & 32 rows = 4” / 10 cm on Ribbing needle, measured over 1x1 ribbing knit flat, after blocking

Techniques Used

• Long Tail cast on
• Backwards loop cast on
• Knitted cast on
• German Short Rows
• Increasing
• Using multiple yarns held together
• Binding off
• Binding off a folded collar
• Sewing on a zipper

Note: Sizes 8, 9, and 10 have not been tested. If you’re interested in knitting one of these sizes and would like to receive the pattern in exchange for feedback, please reach out to me!