Tsibulak Vest is a slightly cropped & boxy vest featuring elegant Roosimine colourwork and a deep V-neck. The name Tsibulak comes from the Czech word cibulák—a term used for traditional Bohemian porcelain decorated with delicate floral motifs. Cibule means “onion,” which is why this style is often called “onion porcelain,” known for its charming mix of flowers, stems, and onion-like shapes.

The inspiration for this vest had been resting in my drawer for almost two years before I finally found the perfect yarn and cast on without hesitation. With this design, I wanted to bring a piece of Czech cultural heritage into modern knitting—merging folk inspired ornamentation with a contemporary silhouette.

The vest is worked from the bottom up, the V-necks on both front and back are shaped with simple decreases, and the edges are finished neatly with an I-cord.

SIZES: 1–9 (see the schematic)

EASE: 8–10 cm / 3.25–4” of positive ease

BODY CIRC.: 85.5 (93.5, 102, 112.5, 121), 131.5, 140, 150.5, 161 cm / 33.75 (36.75, 40.25, 44.25, 47.75), 51.75, 55, 59.25, 63.5 “

BODY LENGTH: 44 (44, 44.5, 44.5, 45.5), 46, 46, 47, 47 cm / 17.25 (17.25, 17.5, 17.5, 18), 18, 18, 18.5, 18.5 “

V-NECK DEPTH:
23.5 (23.5, 24.5, 24.5, 25), 26, 26, 27, 27 cm / 9.25 (9.25, 9.75, 9.75, 9.75), 10.25, 10.25, 10.75, 10.75 “

ARMHOLE DEPTH: 19 (19.5, 20.5, 22, 22.5), 26.5, 26.5, 28.5, 29 cm / 7.5 (7.75, 8, 8.75, 8.75), 10.5, 10.5, 11.25, 11.5 “

SHOULDER WIDTH: 36.5 (37.5, 39.5, 40.5, 42.5), 43.5, 47, 47, 49 cm / 14.25 (14.75, 15.5, 16, 16.75), 17.25, 18.5, 19, 19.25 “

NECK WIDTH: 25 (26, 26, 27, 27), 28, 29, 30, 31 cm / 9.75 (10.25, 10.25, 10.75, 10.75), 11, 11.5, 11.75, 12.25 “

STRAP WIDTH: 6 (6, 7.5, 7.5, 8.5), 8.5, 9.5, 9.5, 9.5 cm / 2.25 (2.25, 3, 3, 3.25), 3.25, 3.75, 3.75, 3.75 “

The vest shown is a size 2 on a 157 cm / 5.2 ft tall model with 87 cm / 34.25” bust circumference.

YARN: 3 (4, 4, 4, 4), 5, 5, 5, 5 skeins of DK base by Abenaia Yarn (135 m / 148 yds / 50 g, 100% merino from sheep raised in Serra de São Mamede Natural Park) for the MC and 1 skeins of the same base in a different colourway for the CC or approx. 390 (410, 460, 490, 530), 560, 590, 640, 680 m / 425 (450, 500, 535, 580), 610, 645, 700, 745 yds for the MC and approx. 100 m / 110 yds for the CC (see the information below).

The sample is knitted with DK base by Abenaia Yarn in the colourway Rosemary (MC) and Madder (CC).
The CC for the roosimine pattern is held double. The CC for the edging uses one strand only.

For the roosimine pattern you need approx. 25 g / 68 m / 74 yds of yarn. For the edges you need between 10–15 g / 27–40 m / 30–44 yds of yarn.

Please be aware that adjusting the length of the garment or the needle size you need to achieve the stated gauge will also affect the amount of yarn needed to finish the project.

NEEDLES: 4 mm / 6 US circular needles with a cable of at least 80 cm / 32”

GAUGE: 19 sts & 27 rows = 10 cm / 4” in stockinette stitch worked both in the round and flat, after washing and blocking

Please note that for this pattern both stitch gauge and round/row gauge is important. Your round gauge should therefore fall between 26 and 28 rounds/rows.

NOTIONS
stitch markers
tapestry needle
one extra needle for the Three-Needle Bind-Off
blocking tools

HOW TO CHOOSE THE CORRECT SIZE & MODIFICATIONS

For the best fit, choose your vest size based on your shoulder width rather than your bust circumference. To find your shoulder width, measure across the back from the tip of one collarbone to the tip of the other. Modifications are explained in the pattern.