The Heritage Tweed Vest is a versatile, unisex pattern designed for bulky yarn, making it a super-cozy layering piece perfect for cooler weather. This vest can be dressed up with a collared shirt for the office or paired with a casual shirt for a relaxed look, ideal for enjoying a mug of hot chocolate.
The vest is knit in the round from the bottom up, then split for the armholes and knit flat. The shoulders are shaped with short rows and finished with a three-needle bind off. The collar and armholes are edged with one-by-one ribbing, picked up and knit around the openings, adding a polished finish to this classic piece.
Time: 20 Hour Pattern
Skill Level: Easy
Sizes written as XS (S, M, L) (XL, 2X, 3X): Finished Bust Size 32, (37, 42, 47.5) (52.5, 57.5, 62.5)” to fit bust/chest 28 (33, 38, 43.5) (48.5, 53.5, 58.5)”
4” positive ease recommended.
Shown in size 37”
Gauge: 11 sts and 20 rows = 4” [10 cm] in St st (unstretched)
Materials
Yarn: Knit Picks City Tweed Aran/HW (55% Merino Wool, 25% Superfine Alpaca, 20% Donegal Tweed; 164 yards [150 meters] / 3.5 ounces [100 grams]): 28203 Harbor Seal (4 (4, 5, 5) (6, 6, 7) balls),
Needles: US size 10 6.0 mm, 24” or 36” circular needles (optional double-pointed needles for armhole edging and neckline)
Notions: Removable stitch markers, stitch holders or scrap yarn, spare needle for three-needle bind off, tapestry/darning needle
Special Stitches
German Short Rows: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U69G7BTxa5I
Pattern Notes
This pattern is knit in the round from the bottom up, then split for the underarms and worked flat (front and back), to the shoulders. Stitches are left live for the neck, and the shoulders are seamed with a three-needle bind off. The armholes and neck are then edged in 1 by 1 ribbing, with stitches picked up around the armholes, and additional stitches picked up as needed around the front neck.
All sizes use a 1 stitch stocking stitch ‘selvedge’ stitch to create a mock side seam. This stitch is not included in the stitch pattern. This one stitch edge is maintained when you shape the underarms, and is, once again, not counted in the stitch pattern instructions.
For some sizes, the stitch count uses half repeats of the stitch pattern. Pay attention to the instructions for when to stop and start the stitch pattern on the body. If you are using the charted instructions, the chart can be read both in the round and flat. The pattern repeat is from stitches 5 to 18 for all sizes.
When shaping the underarms, neck, and shoulders, all decreases are worked as knit decreases on the right side of the work. You will then continue in the stitch pattern as already established. This means you will be working partial repeats of the stitch pattern as you do the shaping – look to the columns of knit stitches as a landmark if you’re unsure if your stitch pattern is lining up properly or not!
Pattern
CO 88 (102, 116, 130) (144, 158, 172) Join in round, do not twist.
Bottom Hem
Round 1: PM for beg of rnd, knit 44 (51, 58, 65) (72, 79, 86), pm for side seam, knit to end.
Round 2: purl
Round 3: knit
Rep rnds 2 and 3 once.
Lattice Stitch Pattern In the Round; Sizes XS (-, M, -) (XL, -, 3XL)
Rounds 1-2: K2, p12.
Round 3: Knit.
Round 4: [K2, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1] twice.
Round 5: K3, p1, k1, p1, k4, [p1, k1] twice
Rounds 6-9: Rep rnds 4-5 twice
Rounds 10-11: P7, k2, p5.
Round 12: Knit.
Round 13: Rep rnd 4.
Round 14: Rep rnd 5.
Rounds 15 – 18: Rep rnds 13-14 twice.
Lattice Stitch Pattern In The Round; Sizes – (S, -, L) (-, 2XL, -)
Rounds 1-2: P4, k2, p12, k2, p1.
Round 3: Knit.
Round 4: [K1, p1, k1, p1, k2, p1] three times.
Round 5: [P1, k1, p1, k4] three times.
Rounds 6-9: Rep rnds 4-5 twice.
Rounds 10-11: P11, k2, p8.
Round 12: Knit.
Round 13: Rep rnd 4.
Round 14: Rep rnd 5.
Rounds 15-18: Rep rnds 13-14 twice.
Body
K1, Work Lattice Stitch Pattern for your size to side seam marker, k1, sm, k1, work Lattice Stitch Pattern to 1 st before end, k1.
Work until piece measures: 15.5 (16, 16.25, 16.75) (17, 17, 17.5)” from cast-on edge, ending with RS of work facing.
Lattice Stitch Pattern Worked Flat (All Sizes)
Row 1 (RS): K2, p12.
Row 2 (WS): K12, p2.
Row 3: Knit.
Row 4: [K1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p2] twice.
Row 5: K3, p1, k1, p1, k4, [p1, k1] twice.
Rows 6-9: Repeat rows 4-5 twice.
Row 10: K5, p2, k7.
Row 11: P7, k2, p5.
Row 12: Purl.
Row 13: [K2, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1] twice.
Row 14: [P1, k1] twice, p4, k1, p1, k1, p3.
Rows 15-18: Repeat rows 13-14 twice.
Back Underarms
Row 1 (RS): BO 2 (3, 3, 4) (5, 6, 7) sts (st on RH needle counts as selvedge stitch), cont. in pattern to last st before marker, k1, turn work.
Row 2 (WS): BO 2 (3, 3, 4) (5, 6, 7) sts, (st on RH needle counts as selvedge stitch) cont. in pattern to last st, p1.
Row 3: BO 2 sts (st on RH needle counts as selvedge stitch), cont. in pattern to last st, k1.
Row 4: BO 2 sts (st on RH needle counts as selvedge stitch), cont. in pattern to last st, p1.
Row 5: K1, ssk, cont. in pattern to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
Row 6: P1, cont. in pattern to last st, p1.
Repeat Rows 5-6 another 1 (1, 2, 3) (3, 4, 4) times. (32 (37, 42, 45) (50, 53, 58) sts)
Row 1 (RS): K1, cont. in pattern to last st, k1.
Row 2 (WS): P1, cont. in pattern to last st, p1.
Repeat Rows 1-2 until work measures 7.5, (8, 8.5, 9.5) (10, 10.5, 11.5)” from start of underarms, ending with RS of work facing.
Back Shoulders
Row 1 (RS): K1, cont. in pattern to last 3 (4, 4, 4) (4, 4, 4) sts, work German Short Row
Row 2 (WS): Cont. in pattern to last 3 (4, 4, 4) (4, 4, 4) sts, work German Short Row
Row 3: Cont. in pattern to 3 (4, 4, 4) (4, 4, 4) sts before prev short row, work German Short Row
Row 4: Cont. in pattern to 3 (4, 4, 4) (4, 4, 4) sts before prev short row, work German Short Row
Sizes M – 3XL:
Row 1: Cont. in pattern to – (-, 1, 3) (3, 4, 4) sts before prev short row, work German Short Row
Row 2: Cont. in pattern to – (-, 1, 3) (3, 4, 4) sts before prev short row, work German Short Row
All Sizes:
Row 1 (RS): Cont. in pattern, working German Short Rows as needed, to last st, k1.
Row 2 (WS): P1, cont. in pattern, working German Short Rows as needed, to last st, P1.
Place next 8 (10, 12, 14) (14, 15, 15) sts on stitch holder for shoulder. Place next 16 (17, 18, 17) (22 ,23, 28) sts on stitch holder for Back Neck. Place next 8 (10, 12, 14) (14, 15, 15) sts on stitch holder for other shoulder.
Cut yarn.
Front Underarms
Join yarn with RS of work facing, and work as for Back Underarms until work measures 5.5, (6, 6.5, 7.5) (8, 8.5, 9.5)” from start of underarms, ending with RS of the work facing.
Neck Shaping
Next Row (RS): K1, work across next 11 (13, 15, 16) (17, 18, 20) sts, place next 8 (9, 10, 11) (14, 15, 16) sts on stitch holder for Front Neck, turn work.
Row 1 (WS): BO 2 (2, 2, 2) (2, 2, 3) sts, cont. in pattern to last st, p1
Row 2 (RS): K1, cont. in pattern until last 3 sts, k2tog, k1
Row 3: P1, work in patt to last st, p1.
Rep Rows 2-3 another 1 (1, 1, 0) (1, 1, 2) time(s). (8 (10, 12, 14) (14, 15, 15) sts)
Cont. in patt as established until armhole measures 7.5, (8, 8.5, 9.5) (10, 10.5, 11.5)” from start of underarms, ending with RS facing.
Left Shoulder
Row 1 (WS): P1, cont. in patt to last 3 (4, 4, 4) (4, 4, 4) sts, work German Short Row
Row 2 (RS): Cont. in patt to last st, k1
Sizes M – 3XL:
Row 1 (WS): P1, cont. in pattern to – (-, 1, 3) (3, 4, 4) sts before prev short row, work German Short Row
Row 2 (RS): Cont. in patt to last st, k1.
All Sizes:
Row 1 (WS): Cont. in pattern, working German Short Rows as needed, to last st, p1.
Place Stitches on stitch holder.
Cut yarn.
Right Shoulder
Join yarn to shoulder with RS Facing. Note that the WS row has been skipped, please refer to the pattern chart in the round for the correct placement of the stitches. If using the written instructions, work them in reverse, working knits as purls and purls as knits.
Row 1 (RS): K1, cont. in patt to last 3 (4, 4, 4) (4, 4, 4) sts, work German Short Row.
Row 2 (WS): Cont. in patt to last st, p1.
Sizes M – 3XL:
Row 1 (RS): K1, cont. in pattern to – (-, 1, 3) (3, 4, 4) sts before prev short row, work German Short Row.
Row 2 (RS): Cont. in patt to last st, p1.
All Sizes:
Row 1 (RS): Cont. in pattern, working German Short Rows as needed, to last st, k1.
Place Stitches on stitch holder.
Cut yarn.
Neck:
Place Left Shoulder Stitches and Left Back Shoulder Stitches on two needles, with RS facing. BO with three-needle bind off.
Fasten Off.
Rep for Right Shoulder Stitches and Right Back Shoulder Stitches.
Place rem sts from Back Neck onto Needle, PM for beg of rnd. Join yarn, and pick up and knit 1 st between Back Neck sts and Back Shoulder Seam. Pick up and knit 8 sts along neckline, knit across Front Neck sts, pick up and knit 8 sts along neckline, pick up and knit 1 st between Back Neck Sts and Back Shoulder seam, knit across Back Neck. 42 (44, 46, 46) (54 ,56, 62) sts.
Round 1: [K1, p1] to end.
Rep Rnd 1 until ribbing measures 1”.
BO.
Fasten Off.
Armholes
Join yarn at shoulder seam with RS facing. PM for beg of rnd, pick up and knit 16 (17, 19, 21) (23, 24, 25) sts along edge of underarm. Pick up and knit 8 (10, 10, 12) (14, 16, 18) sts in cast off sts at bottom of underarm. Pick up and knit 16 (17, 19, 21) (23, 24, 25) sts along edge of underarm. 40 (44, 48, 54) (60, 64, 68) sts.
Round 1: [K1, p1] to end.
Rep Rnd 1 6 times total.
BO
Fasten Off.
Finishing
Weave in any remaining ends with a tapestry needle.
Wash according to care instructions for chosen yarn.