The Controversy vest is a wonderful layering piece. Just throw it over your sweater and head outside. Using a good wool yarn will keep you warm. And style it up using a belt.

In this design I have played with 2 different stitch types, which have very different gauges to form the shape. I used stockinette and brioche. The brioche makes a wide and short fabric, and the stockinette makes a more even fabric in height and width. Combining the 2 stitch types obstruct the fabric, and the way I have used them, is giving the vest wider shoulders and bottom, and a more narrow waistline without using decreasing and increasing. Also the sides become longer than the middle part. And the shape becomes deconstructed in its appearance.

The Controversy vest is knitted top down in one piece. There is no seaming together. Begin by knitting the double knitted neckline, pick up stitches and begin knitting top down in brioche with large increases at the shoulders. When the width of the shoulders/sleeves is reached, the fronts and back are separated and each knitted straight down until the sleeve opening is finished. Then the 3 pieces are joined together again, and at the same time the sleeve openings are finished by a clever bind off method. The rest is knit straight down, with small details on the go. It is very interesting and engaging. I hope you will enjoy the knitting.

Size and measurements
This pattern comes in 1 size only, but the size is very generous and spacious. See finished measurements.

If you do wish to change the size, the Controversy vest can easily be modified by changing the gauge a bit using a smaller/larger needle without changing the yarn.

Finished measurements
Bust circumference: 130 cm / 51”
Sleeve circumference: 40 cm / 16”
Length (measured on the back): 95 cm / 37.5”
Shoulder width / sleeve length: 37 cm / 14.5”
Neck width: 21 cm / 8¼”

Gauge
17 sts in stockinette stitches using needle size 5 mm / US 8.
14 sts in brioche stitches using needle size 5 mm / US 8.

Yarn and yardage
Léttlopi by Ístex - 100 m per 50 g (109 yds per 1.76 oz). The sample is knit in Léttlopi using color 9432.
Håndværksgarn by Hjelholts Uldspinderi - 200 m per 100 g (219 yds per 3.53 oz).

Yardage: 1500 m (1640 yds).

Yarnsub.com can be used to find yarn alternatives.

Needles
5 mm / US 8 circular needles in various lengths. Or use the size needed to obtain the gauge,
4,5 mm / US 7 circular needle for cast on,

Techniques
brioche (single colored)
stockinette stitching
double knitted edging
german short rows
kitchener stitch
italian BO