Very British Vest Pattern #359

Printer-friendly versionPrinter-friendly version
This free pattern originally published in: 
Spool Cotton #148, Men's Sweaters
Very British Vest Pattern #359

MATERIALS: Chadwick's Red Heart Sports Yarn, 9 balls (1 oz. balls) of White and 1 ball each of Red and Blue for sizes 36 and 38; 10 balls of White and 1 ball each of Red and Blue for sizes 40 and 42.
Milward's Phantom Knitting Pins, 1 pair No. 1 (2½ mm. size) and 1 pair No. 3 (3 mm. size).

MEASUREMENTS FOR BLOCKING:

Sizes
36
38
40
42
Chest
36"
38"
40"
42"
Length from top of shoulder
26"
26"
27"
27"
Width across back or front at shoulders
13"
13½"
14"
14½"
Length from underarm to lower edge
17"
17"
17½"
17½"
Gauge: 1 pattern (15 sts) makes 1¾ inches; 10 rows make 1 inch.
CABLE PATTERN … (A multiple of 15 sts, plus 1) 1st row: (Wrong side) P 2, * k 3, p 6, k 3, p 3. Repeat from * across, ending with p 2 instead of p 3. 2nd row: K 2, * p 3, k 6, p 3, k 3. Repeat from * across, ending with k 2 instead of k 3. 3rd and 4th rows: Repeat 1st and 2nd rows. 5th row: Repeat 1st row. 6th row: K 2, * p 3, slip the next 3 sts onto a double-pointed needle and hold at back of work; k the next 3 sts, then k the 3 sts from double-pointed needle; p 3, k 3. Repeat from * across, ending with k 2. Repeat these 6 rows for pattern.
Sizes
36
38
40
42
BACK … With No. 1 needles and Blue, cast on loosely
140 sts
148 sts
156 sts
164 sts
Work in ribbing of k 2, p 2, changing colors as follows: 2 rows Blue, 2 rows Red, 6 White, 2 Red, 4 Blue, 2 Red, 2 White, 2 Red, 4 Blue, 2 Red, 6 White, 2 Red and 3 Blue.
All sizes
Break off Red and Blue; change to No. 3 needles and White, increasing evenly across row to
151 sts
166 sts
166 sts
181 sts
Work in pattern until piece measures, in all
16"
16"
16½"
16½"
There should now be completed
21 cables
21 cables
22 cables
22 cables
To shape armholes: Bind off at beginning of next 2 rows
10 sts
12 sts
11 sts
12 sts
Bind off at beginning of following 4 rows
4 sts
5 sts
4 sts
5 sts
Dec. 1 st at beginning of each row until there remain
99 sts
106 sts
112 sts
121 sts
Work straight until piece measures, from 1st row of armhole shaping
9½"
9½"
10"
10"
OR
Until there are in all
37 cables
37 cables
39 cables
39 cables
To shape shoulders: Bind off at beginning of next 4 rows
8 sts
8 sts
9 sts
9 sts
Then bind off at beginning of next 2 rows
7 sts
10 sts
11 sts
12 sts
For back of neck bind off remaining
53 sts
54 sts
54 sts
61 sts
FRONT … Work ribbing as for Back.
All sizes
Change to No. 3 needles and White, and inc. evenly across row to
166 sts
166 sts
181 sts
181 sts
Work in pattern as on Back to underarm. To shape armholes: Bind off at beginning of next 2 rows
10 sts
12 sts
11 sts
12 sts
Then bind off at beginning of next 4 rows
4 sts
5 sts
4 sts
5 sts
To shape neck: Work to center front and divide work in half (on sizes 36 and 38 this will be in center of a cable; on sizes 40 and 42 division will be between cables). Take half the sts off on a stitch holder and work only over remaining
65 sts
61 sts
71 sts
68 sts
Dec. 1 st at both ends of every other row until there remain
49 sts
45 sts
55 sts
52 sts
Work armhole edge straight, but dec. 1 st at neck edge every
2nd row
3rd row
2nd row
3rd row
until there remain
23 sts
27 sts
29 sts
30 sts
Work straight until armhole measures same as Back armhole.
All sizes
To shape shoulder: Bind off at armhole edge, every other row, twice
8 sts
8 sts
9 sts
9 sts
Bind off the remaining
7 sts
11 sts
11 sts
12 sts
Pick up the sts from holder (since sizes 40 and 42 have 1 st more than for 1st Front, dec. this 1 st), and work 2nd Front to correspond.
All sizes
NECK BAND … With No. 1 needles and White, cast on
216 sts
216 sts
224 sts
232 sts
Work in ribbing of k 2, p 2, changing colors as follows: 1 row White, 2 Red, 4 Blue, 2 Red and 3 White. Bind off loosely in ribbing.
All sizes
ARMHOLE BANDS (Make 2) … Sew up shoulder seams. With right side facing, using No. 1 needles and White, pick up
204 sts
208 sts
212 sts
216 sts
Work 9 rows in ribbing of k 2, p 2. Bind off loosely in ribbing.
All sizes
Block pieces, following measurements for blocking given at beginning of directions.
Sew band to neck, center of band at center back of neck; sew a seam diagonal to ribbing where ends meet at center front; fold back the free ends of band, and tack. Sew up underarm seams.
other patterns in leaflet: 

Solid Citizen Cardigan Pattern
Junior Partner Vest Pattern
Top Man Vest Pattern
Fish Story Cardigan Pattern
Westward Ho! Pullover Pattern
Very British Vest Pattern
Man of Action Pullover Pattern
Forest Hills Vest Pattern
Go-Getter Gloves and Scarf Pattern
Standby Socks Pattern
Champion Pullover Pattern
Standpatter Vest Pattern
Campus Hero Pullover Pattern
North and South Vest Pattern
Tradition Vest Pattern
Fairway Pullover Pattern
Commuter Gloves and Scarf Pattern