Knit Vest Pattern in the Round

This women's knitted vest is taken to the next level with its bold chevron design.

It's surprisingly hard to find circular knit vests, but this Knit Vest Pattern in the Round fits that bill! This knit vest pattern is perfect for someone's first project using intarsia, as an easy-to-follow intarsia chart makes up the two colored chevrons at the top of the work. The red and blue look amazing together, but we bet that more neutral tones would be a great substitute if the colors are just a little too bold for your tastes. Since this vest is perfectly suited for either work or school, it makes a great gift for your teen or yourself!

Intermediate

Knitting Needle Size8 or 5 mm, Circular Knitting Needles

Yarn Weight(4) Medium Weight/Worsted Weight and Aran (16-20 stitches to 4 inches)

Gauge16 sts = 4" (10 cm); 20 rows = 4" (10 cm) in Stockinette st with larger needles. CHECK YOUR GAUGE. Use any size needles to obtain the gauge giv

Materials List

RED HEART® Soft® yarn:2 (3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 5) balls 4601 Off White (A), 1 ball 4545 Peri (B), 1 ball 9263 Cinnabar (C)
Susan Bates® Circular Knitting Needles: 5 mm [US 8] 16" [40.5 cm] and 36" [91.5 cm]
2 stitch markers in different colors
Stitch holder or waste yarn
Yarn needle

Vest

Sizes

Directions are for size Small. Changes for sizes Medium, Large, XL, 2X, 3X, and 4X are in parentheses. When only 1 number is given, it applies to all sizes.

To Fit Bust: 34 (38, 42, 46, 50, 54, 58)" [86.5 (96.5, 106.5, 117, 127, 137, 147.5) cm]
Finished Bust: 38 (42, 46, 50, 54, 58, 62)" [96.5 (106.5, 117, 127, 137, 147.5, 157.5) cm]
Finished Back Length: 21½ ( 22½, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)" [54.5 (57, 58.5, 61, 63.5, 66, 68.5) cm]

Notes

Vest is worked in the round to armholes and then front and back yoke are worked separately. After sewing shoulder seams, armhole and neckband are picked up and completed.
The chevrons of this vest are worked using intarsia. When working the Intarsia Chart, it will be necessary to work from two balls of each color at the same time. Join colors as necessary and work the stitches in the colors indicated in the chart. Every time you change colors, twist the two colors around each other on the back of the work to avoid holes at color changes.

Pattern Stitches

4x4 Rib (multiple of 8 sts)

Round 1: *K4, p4; repeat from * around.

Repeat Round 1 for 4x4 Rib.
2x2 Rib (multiple of 4 sts)

Round 1: *K2, p2; repeat from * around.

Repeat Round 1 for 2x2 Rib

Special Stitches

ssk (slip, slip, knit) = Slip next 2 stitches, one at a time, as if to knit to right needle, insert point of left needle through front of stitches, knit these sts together through back loop – 1 st decreased.
k2tog = Knit 2 stitches together – 1 st decreased.
ssp (slip, slip, purl) = Slip next 2 stitches, one at a time, as if to knit to right needle, insert point of left needle through front of stitches, purl these sts together through back loop – 1 st decreased.
p2tog = Purl 2 stitches together – 1 st decreased.

Body

With longer needles and A, cast on 76 (84, 92, 100, 108, 116, 124) sts, place marker to indicate side ‘seam’, cast on 76 (84, 92, 100, 108, 116, 124) sts; place marker of a different color to indicate the beginning of the round. Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist stitches – 152 (168, 184, 200, 216, 232, 248) sts.

Work in 4x4 Rib until piece measures 4" [10 cm] from cast on edge.

Change to Stockinette stitch (knit every round) until piece measures 13½ (14, 14, 14 ½, 15, 15½, 16)" [34.5 (35.5, 35.5, 37, 38, 39.5, 40.5) cm] from cast on edge.

Divide Body and Shape Armholes

Division Round: Knit to last 5 (5, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) sts before side ‘seam’ marker, bind off those 5 (5, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9), sts; remove marker and bind off next 5 (5, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) sts. Knit to 5 (5, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) sts before beginning of round marker, bind off next 10 (10, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18) sts, removing marker; knit to across to first set of bound off stitches - 66 (74, 82, 88, 94, 100, 106) sts each, front and back.

At this point, you have separated the Front from the Back and will work back and forth across the front stiches only. Place the back stitches on a holder or length of waste yarn while working the front stitches.
Front Yoke
NOTE: Read ahead as multiple instructions happen at once.

Shape Armholes

Rejoin A and work 1 Wrong Side row.

Bind off 2 (2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4) sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows – 62 (70, 76, 82, 88, 92, 98) sts.

Bind off 0 (0, 0, 2, 3, 3, 4) sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows – 62 (70, 76, 78, 82, 86, 90) sts.

Size S ONLY:

Next Row (Right Side): Ssk, place marker to indicate where you will start working the Intarsia Chart, k58, place marker to indicate the end of the Intarsia Chart, knit to last 2 sts, k2tog – 60 (x, x, x, x, x, x) sts.

Sizes M, L, XL, 2X, 3X, 4X ONLY:

Next Row (Right Side): K1, ssk, k-x (1, 2, 2, 4, 5, 6), place marker to indicate where you will start working the Intarsia Chart, k-x (62, 66, 68, 68, 70, 72), place marker to indicate the end of the Intarsia Chart, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1 – x (68, 70, 76, 80, 84, 88) sts.

All Sizes:

Work 1 Wrong Side row.

SIZE S ONLY:

Next Row (Right Side): Remove markers and ssk, work Intarsia Chart starting with stitch #2, work across chart until 2 sts remain, k2tog – 58 (x, x, x, x, x, x) sts.
Next Row (Wrong Side): Purl across, working Intarsia Chart.Continue without further shaping, following Intarsia Chart and ending after Row 38.

SIZES M (L) ONLY:

Next Row (Right Side): K1, ssk, knit to marker, slip marker, work Intarsia Chart to next marker, slip marker, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1 - x (66, 68, x, x, x, x) sts.
Next Row (Wrong Side): Purl across, working Intarsia Chart between markers.

Repeat last 2 rows, 2 (1) time(s) – x (62, 66, x, x, x, x) sts.

Continue without further shaping, following Intarsia Chart and ending after Row 38.

SIZE XL ONLY:

Next Row (Right Side): With A, K1, ssk, knit to marker, slip marker, knit to next marker, slip marker, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1 - x (x, x, 74, x, x, x) sts.
Next Row (Wrong Side): Purl across.
Next Row (Right Side): K1, ssk, knit to marker, slip marker, work Intarsia Chart to next marker, slip marker, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1 - x (x, x, 72, x, x, x) sts.
Next Row (Wrong Side): Purl across, working Intarsia Chart between markers.Repeat last 2 rows, 2 times – x (x, x, 68, x, x, x) sts.

Continue without further shaping, following Intarsia Chart and ending after Row 38.

SIZE 2X ONLY:

Next Row (Right Side): With A, K1, ssk, knit to marker, slip marker, knit to next marker, slip marker, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1 - x (x, x, x, 78, x, x) sts.
Next Row (Wrong Side): Purl across.

Repeat last 2 rows, 2 times – x (x, x, x, 74, x, x) sts.

Next Row (Right Side): K1, ssk, knit to marker, slip marker, work Intarsia Chart to next marker, slip marker, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1 - x (x, x, x, 72, x, x) sts.
Next Row (Wrong Side): Purl across, working Intarsia Chart between markers.

Repeat last 2 rows, 2 times – x (x, x, x, 68, x, x) sts.

Continue without further shaping, following Intarsia Chart and ending after Row 38.

SIZE 3X (4X) ONLY:

Next Row (Right Side): With A, K1, ssk, knit to marker, slip marker, knit to next marker, slip marker, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1 - x (x, x, x, x, 82, 86) sts.
Next Row (Wrong Side): Purl across.

Repeat last 2 rows, 3 times – x (x, x, x, x, 76, 80) sts.

Next Row (Right Side): K1, ssk, knit to marker, slip marker, work Intarsia Chart to next marker, slip marker, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1 - x (x, x, x, x, 74, 78) sts.
Next Row (Wrong Side): Purl across, working Intarsia Chart between markers.Repeat last 2 rows, 2 (3) times – x (x, x, x, x, 70, 72) sts.

Continue without further shaping, following Intarsia Chart and ending after Row 38 (Wrong Side).

Neck Shaping

Row 39 of Intarsia Chart (Right Side): Continuing in Intarsia Chart as established, k19 (21, 23, 24, 24, 25, 26), join another ball of A and bind off next 20 sts, knit to end of row, adding another ball of C as shown on Intarsia Chart.
Row 40 (Wrong Side): Purl across right shoulder; bind off 4 sts and then p15 (17, 19, 20, 20, 21, 22) sts for left shoulder.
Row 41 (Right Side): Knit across left shoulder; bind off 4 sts and then k15 (17, 19, 20, 20, 21, 22) sts for right shoulder.
Row 42 (Wrong Side): Purl across right shoulder; bind off 4 sts and then p11 (13, 15, 16, 16, 17, 18) sts.
Row 43 (Right Side): Knit across left shoulder; bind off 4 sts and then k11 (13, 15, 16, 16, 17, 18) sts

SIZE S ONLY:

Bind off.

Sizes M, L, XL, 2X, 3X, 4X ONLY:

Row 44 (Wrong Side): Purl across right shoulder; bind off 2 sts and then p- (11, 13, 14, 14, 15, 16) sts.
Row 45 (Right Side): Knit across left shoulder; bind off 2 sts and then k- (11, 13, 14, 14, 15, 16) sts.

SIZE M ONLY:Bind off.

Sizes L, XL, 2X, 3X, 4X ONLY:

Row 46 (Wrong Side): Purl across right shoulder to last 2 sts, ssp; bind off 2 sts, p2tog and then p- (-, 12, 13, 13, 14, 15) sts.
Row 47 (Right Side): Knit across both shoulders, with no further shaping.Row 48 (Wrong Side): Purl across.

Bind off.
Back Yoke

Return 66 (74, 82, 88, 94, 100, 106) held stitches to working needle and rejoin Ato Back with Wrong Side facing.

Shape Armholes

Work 1 Wrong Side row.

Bind off 2 (2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4) sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows – 62 (70, 76, 82, 88, 92, 98) sts.

Bind off 0 (0, 0, 2, 3, 3, 4) sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows – 62 (70, 76, 78, 82, 86, 90) sts.

Next Row (Right Side): K1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1 - 2 sts decreased.

Work 1 Wrong Side row.

Repeat last 2 rows, 1 (3, 4, 4, 6, 7, 8) more time(s) - 58 (62, 66, 68, 68, 70, 72) sts remain for Back.

Continue in Stockinette stitch until Back measures 4 rows less than Front, ending with a Wrong Side row.

Divide for Neck
Row 1 (Right Side): K12 (12, 13, 14, 14, 15, 16), bind off 34 (38, 40, 40, 40, 40, 40) sts, knit to end – 12 (12, 13, 14, 14, 15, 16) sts for each shoulder.
Row 1 (Wrong Side): Purl to gap; join a second ball of A and purl to end.From this point on, work both shoulders at the same time using separate balls of yarn.
Row 2 (Right Side): K9 (9, 10, 11, 11, 12, 13), k2tog, k1; k1, ssk, knit to end—11 (11, 12, 13, 13, 14, 15) sts for each shoulder.
Row 3: Purl across all stitches.
Row 4: Bind off all stitches.

Finishing

Sew shoulder seams.

Neckband

With Right Side facing, using shorter needles and A, begin at left shoulder seam and pick up and knit 44 (48, 54, 54, 54, 54, 54) sts across front neck and 40 (44, 46, 46, 46, 46, 46) sts across back neck - 84 (92, 100, 100, 100, 100, 100) sts.

Place marker to indicate beginning of round.

Round 1: Work 2x2 Rib.

Repeat Round 1, 2 more times.

Bind off very loosely in pattern.
Armhole Edge

With Right Side facing, using shorter needles and A, begin at center of underarm and pick up and knit 72 (76, 60, 88, 92, 100, 104) evenly spaced around armhole edge.

Place marker to indicate beginning of round.

Round 1: Work 2x2 Rib.Repeat Round 1, 4 more times.

Bind off very loosely in pattern.

Weave in ends