Tutorial Session 14
Session 14
This is our last session in the series. It has been a pleasure! I hope you’ve enjoyed these techniques. More ideas and projects are available in my book Modular Knits (July 2005).
Today’s project is a simple 2-piece vest that uses short row “unmitered”
squares, 4 in each piece. A special edging is formed as you knit this, so
you will not need to finish it off with any additional crocheting or
picking up of stitches. Measure how wide you’d like the vest to be from
the side (under your arms) to the center. Buttons are optional, and if
you’d like them add an extra ½ inch for them.
Materials: Approx 600 yds worsted weight yarn (for medium size) [Artyarns Supermerino or Ultramerino is perfect for this project]
Size 9 US Knitting Needles
Stitch Markers
Stitch Holders
Extra needle for 3-needle bind-off
Abbreviations:
K1inc1/po: K into the front of the next st leaving st on needle, pass
previously slipped stitch over st just knitted, and then k into the back
of the same st that was left on needle for total of 2 sts (slipping the
previous row’s last stitch over the first stitch of the new k1inc1 is used
to give a nice cast-off edging to the sides of the vest)
K1inc1: Knit once into the front and once into the back of the same st,
creating 2 sts out of 1 st
SKP: S1, k1, pass S1 stitch over k1 stitch, creating 1 st out of 2 sts
PM: Place marker
RM: Remove marker
YO: Yarn over
Cast on 2 sts.
Square 1 (Front base square):
Row 1: K1inc1, k1-3 sts
Row 2: K1inc1, k1inc1, k1-5 sts
Row 3: K1inc1, k1inc1, pm, k2, s1-7 sts
Rows 4-6: S1, k1inc1/po, k to marker, rm, k1inc1, pm, k to last 1 st, s1
Row 7: S1, k1inc1/po, *yo, k1; rep from * to marker, rm, yo, k1inc1, pm
*yo, k1, rep to last 1 st, s1
Row 8: Dropping all yo’s, s1, k1inc1/po, k to marker, rm, k1inc1, pm, k1,
k to last 1 st, s1
Rows 9-13: S1, k1inc1/po, k to marker, rm, k1inc1, pm, k to last 1 st, s1
Repeat rows 7-13 until the first square is as wide as you would like it to
comfortably fit you from the side (under your arms) to the middle,
allowing an additional ½ inch for buttons if you desire. The first square
size will determine the size of all the other squares which will be
proportional to the first one, so this is an important measurement. For a
medium size vest, repeat rows 7-13 eight more times, ending with row 13
(allow about 12” width x 12” height for the first square).
Square 2 (Front Top Square–smaller square knitted directly above Square 1):
Row 1: S1, k1inc1/po, k1inc1, k1; turn; s1, k1inc1, k2, s1
Row 2: S1, k1inc1/po, k1, k1inc1, pm, k1, skp, turn; s1, pm, k to marker,
rm, k1inc1, pm, k to last 1 st, s1
Row 3: S1, k1inc1/po, k to marker, rm, k1inc1, pm, k to marker, rm, skp,
turn; s1, pm, k to marker, rm, k1inc1, pm, k to last 1 st, s1
Rows 4-5: Repeat Row 3
Row 6: S1, k1inc1/po, *yo, k1; rep from * to marker, rm, yo, k1inc1, pm;
*yo, k1, rep from * to marker, rm, skp, turn: Dropping all yo’s, s1, pm k
to marker, rm, k1inc1, pm, k to last 1 st, s1
Rep rows 3-6, six more times, ending with row 5 for medium-size vest, or
approximately 9” width x 9” height (for other sizes, make this square
approximately ¾ of Square 1).
To end square 2, Bind off 14 sts, k to marker, rm, k1. Place all sts just
knitted on stitch holder-16 sts for medium size vest (these will be used
to attach other side’s square and will fit on shoulder). Bind off
remaining stitches of Square 2, and bind off all stitches at the top of
Square 1-8 sts for medium size vest (for armhole) to marker. Knit
remaining stitches down the side of Square 1, slipping the last stitch to
position for Square 3.
Square 3 (Back base square-2 markers, 1 to identify “k1inc1” position and
1 to identify “skp” position)
Row 1: S1, k1inc1/po, k1; turn; k1inc1, k1, s1
Row 2: S1, k1inc1/po, k1inc1, skp; turn; s1, k1inc1, k2, s1
Row 3: S1, k1inc1/po, k1, k1inc1, pm, k1, skp; turn; s1, pm, k to marker,
rm, k1inc1, pm, k to last 1 st, s1
Row 4-5: S1, k1inc1/po, k to marker, rm, k1inc1, pm, k to marker, rm,
skp; turn; s1, pm, k to marker, rm, k1inc1, pm, k to last 1 st, s1
Row 6: S1, k1inc1/po, *yo, k1; rep from * to marker, rm, yo, k1inc1, pm;
*yo, k1, rep from * to marker, rm, skp, turn: Dropping all yo’s, s1, pm k
to marker, rm, k1inc1, pm, k to last 1 st, s1
Repeat Rows 3-6, ending as follows when Square 3 is identical in size to
Square 1 and lines up exactly:
Last Row: S1, k1inc1/po, k to marker, k1inc1, k to marker, skp
Bind off sts for armhole to match number used on other side Square 2
instructions-8 sts for medium size vest. Now you are in position for
Square 4.
Square 4 (Back Top Square)
Repeat Rows 1-6 of Square 2, and then rep rows 3-6, six more times, ending
with row 5 to match Square 2. K across top of shoulder (16 sts for medium
size vest). Using 3-needle bind-off method, attach these sts to the
matching sts on the stitch holder from Square 2. Bind off remaining sts
to marker, rm, k to end. Place these sts on stitch holder. Later these
will be attached to other side of vest.
Repeat the above instructions to make another set of 4 squares for the
other half of the vest. Using the 3-needle bind-off method, attach all
the stitches left on holders together to join vest on the wrong side. The
elongated stitches caused by the yarn overs can serve as buttonholes if
you wish to add buttons to the front.
Iris Schreier