This vest offers a contemporary, structured fit with a masculine-leaning shoulder line and a relaxed, straight silhouette through the body. To ensure an inclusive and comfortable fit, the armhole increases are precisely graded to provide subtle bust shaping while maintaining the garment’s tailored, geometric profile.

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 “

Shoulder Width: 11.75 (12.5, 13.75, 14.75) 16 (17.25, 18, 19.5) 20.75 “

Armhole Circumference: 17.5 (20, 20.5, 22) 22.5 (23.25, 23.75, 25.25) 25.75 “

Length: 19 (21.5, 22, 23) 24 (24.75, 25.5, 26.75) 27 “

Bust: 34.5 (38, 42.75, 46.25) 50 (54.75, 58.25, 62) 66.75 “

Materials

US 6 / 4 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 in Zig Zag 1/1 Cable: 28 stitches by 30 rows
Blocked Twisted Ribbing: 24 stitches

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 & Decreasing 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 (250m/273yds per 50 g) held together with Knitting for Olive No Waste Wool (225m/246yds per 50 g)
Or 2 strands of fingering weight yarn held together = or one strand of Light Dk yarn (259 yards/236 m per 100g):

Total Weight: 285 (350, 400, 450) 495 (555, 600, 670) 720 g
Yardage:735 (906, 1031, 1165) 1280 (1436, 1555, 1728) 1867 yds
Meters: 672 (828, 942, 1065) 1170 (1313, 1421, 1580) 1707 m

Important! If you are holding any KFO together, you will need this total yardage/meters for each strand. The weight/yardage/meters is what is required for a yarn that is 259 yards/236 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