The Harley Vest is a cabled vest featuring “zig zag” 1x1 cables throughout. It begins at the back of the neck, increases are worked to create the shoulder width (drop-shoulder) and then worked back and forth to shape the back of the armholes. The front chest panels are picked up from each shoulder and worked individually until the neckline and armholes are shaped. Once completed, the front and back panels are joined and worked back and forth until a certain point in which decreases are worked to create an slanted/open bottom. The vest is finished with an applied I-cord hem and neckline with ribbed buttonbands and armholes.

Includes Size Selection Guidance
This pattern features detailed instructions for choosing a size based on your swatch, allowing flexibility for variations in yarn thickness and gauge. With guided, informative notes, it helps you make a confident, informed decision on sizing to achieve your desired fit.

Schematics

Sizes: 1 (2, 3, 4) 5 (6, 7, 8) 9
Positive Ease: 1 - 5” or 2.5 - 13 cm
Sample is worked in size 2, bust is 34”

Neck Width: 5.3 (5.3, 5.7, 5.7) 6 (6.6, 6.6, 7) 7.4” or 13 (13, 14, 14) 15 (17, 17, 18) 19 cm

Armhole Circumference: 18.5 (20.5, 21,22) 23 (24, 25, 26) 27” or 47 (52, 53, 56) 58 (61, 63, 66) 69 cm

Length: 20.25 (20.5, 21.75, 22.75) 23.75 (24.75, 25.5, 26.75) 27.5” or 51 (52, 55, 58) 60 (63, 65, 68) 70 cm

Bust Circumference: 34.5 (38, 42.75, 46.25) 50 (54.75, 58.25, 62) 66.75” or 88 (97, 109, 117) 127 (139, 148, 158) 170 cm

Materials

US 6 / 3.5 mm 16”, 24” and/or 40” circular needles (for body) or needles used to obtain gauge.
US 3 / 3.25 mm (for edgings)
Several removable stitch markers
Tapestry Needle
5-6 ½” buttons

Gauge
4” by 4” in Zig Zag Cable (4-Row Repeat)
Blocked: 28 stitches by 30 rows

Swatching Tips:
Knit a swatch bigger than the gauge to achieve an accurate swatch.
When attempting to count rows, it’s helpful to count the back WS/knit row that runs between cables.

Skills Needed
Reading cables and your knitting
Increasing on RS & WS
Picking up stitches
Working 1/1 cables without a cable needle
Twisted Ribbing
Applied I-cord

Yarn

Yarn: Knitting for Olive Merino (273 yards/250 meters per 50 grams held together with Knitting for Olive No Waste Wool (226 yards/225 meters per 50 grams)

Weight: 315 (350, 405, 460) 510 (575, 630, 695) 765 g
Yardage: 815 (906, 1049, 1191) 1320 (1489, 1632, 1800) 1981 yds
Meters: 745 (828, 959, 1089) 1207 (1362, 1492, 1646) 1811 m

If you are holding any KFO together, you will need this total yardage/meters for both strands. The weight/yardage/meters listed are what are required for a worsted/aran weight yarn that is 259 yards/239 meters per 100 grams.

Yardage needed for up to a 6x6” swatch has been factored in.

If you choose to knit a longer vest, you will need additional yardage per inch of length:

Weight: 12 (13, 15, 16) 17 (19, 20, 21) 23 g
Yardage: 31 (34, 39, 41) 44 (49, 52, 54) 60 yds
Meters: 28 (31, 35, 37) 40 (45, 48, 49) 55 m