Classic Men's Vest Knitting Pattern

Back
** Cast on 99 (107, 115, 123, 131) sts. Work in ribbing as follows:
Row 1 (Right Side): *K1, p1; repeat from * across, end k1.
Row 2: *P1, k1; repeat from * across, end p1.
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 for ribbing for 1½ (1½, 1¾, 1¾, 2)”, end by working Row 2.
Now work in Basketweave Stitch pattern as follows:
Row 1 (Right Side): Knit.
Row 2: K4, p3, *k5, p3; repeat from * across, end k4.
Row 3: P4, k3, *p5, k3; repeat from * across, end p4.
Row 4: Repeat Row 2.
Row 5: Knit.
Row 6: P3, *k5, p3; repeat from * across.
Row 7: K3, *p5, k3; repeat from * across.
Row 8: Repeat Row 6.
Repeat rows 1-8 for Basketweave Stitch pattern until 14½ (15, 15½, 16, 16½)” from beginning, end by working Row 2.**

Shape Armholes
Keeping continuity of pattern, bind off 2 (4, 4, 6, 6) sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows – 95 (99, 107, 111, 119) sts. Then decrease 2 sts at the beginning of the next 4 rows – 87 (91, 99, 103, 111) sts. Work until armhole peasures 9 (9½, 10, 10½, 10½)”. End by working a wrong side row.

Shape Back Neck and Shoulders
Keeping continuity of pattern across 28 (28, 30, 31, 33) sts, join another ball of yarn and bind off center 31 (35, 39, 41, 45) sts, continue to work in pattern across remaining 28 (28, 30, 31, 33) sts. Working both shoulders at once.
Work one row even.
Next Row: Dec 1 st at each neck edge – 27 (27, 29, 30, 32) sts each shoulder. Work one row even. Bind off 14 (14, 15, 15, 16) sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows. Bind off 13 (13, 14, 15, 16) sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows.

Front
Work same as Back from ** to **

Shape Armholes, V-Neck, and Shoulders
Work armhole shaping same as for Back, AND AT THE SAME TIME, on first row of armhole shaping, slip the center front st onto a holder, join another ball of yarn and continue to work in pattern to end. Work both sides at once.
Next Row: Bind off 1 st at each edge of V-neck every other row 6 (7, 8, 9, 11) times, then every 4th row 10 (11, 12, 12, 12) times – 27 (27, 29, 30, 32) sts each shoulder.
Work even until armhole measures same as Back, end by working a wrong side row.

Neckband
Sew shoulder and side seams.
With right side facing and circular needle, beginning at right shoulder seam, pick up and K37 (43, 45, 47, 51) sts across back neck edge, 44 (46, 48, 50, 50) sts down left front neck edge, place marker, 1 st from stitch holder, place marker, and 44 (46, 48, 50, 50) sts up right front neck edge – 126 (136, 142, 148, 152) sts. Place double markers for beginning of round.
Round 1: Work in K1, P1 ribbing to 2 sts before marker, P2tog, slip marker, K1, slip marker, P2tog, work K1, P1 to end of round.
Round 2: Working in established ribbing pattern until 2 sts before marker, ssk, slip marker, K1, slip marker, K2tog, work to end of round.
Repeat rounds 1 and 2, once more. Bind off in ribbing, remove markers.

Armbands
With right side facing and circular needle, pick up 108 (112, 116, 120, 120) sts evenly around armhole edge. Work in ribbing for 4 (4, 4, 5, 5) rounds.
Bind off in ribbing.