Button Up Vest
Perfect for spring or autumn, the cozy Button Up Vest is a great way to stay warm when the temperature isnt too cold. Throw this vest over your outfit if youre making a quick trip outdoors during the winter. This vest pattern is the perfect compromise for knitters who dont quite want to tackle a whole sweater; vests leave out the most tedious part of sweaters, the sleeves, and get right down to brass tacks. Try knitting a vest to work your way up to a sweater.
Knitting Needle Size9 or 5.5 mm
Yarn Weight(5) Bulky/Chunky (12-15 stitches for 4 inches)
TENSION
15 sts and 20 rows = 4 ins [10 cm] with larger needles in stocking st.
MATERIALS
- Patons® Shetland Chunky (100 g/3.5 oz) or Patons® Shetland Chunky Tweeds (85 g/3 oz) any color of your choice: 5 (5, 6, 6, 7, 7, 8, 8, 9) balls
- Sizes 5.5 mm (U.S. 9) and 6 mm (U.S. 10) knitting needles or size needed to obtain tension.
- 1st holder.
- 5 (5-5-5-5-6-6-6-6) buttons (approx 1½ ins [4 cm] in diameter).
INSTRUCTIONS
The instructions are written for smallest size. If changes are necessary for larger sizes the instructions will be written thus ( ). When only one number is given, it applies to all sizes. For ease in working, circle all numbers pertaining to your size.
BACK
Sizes XS-XL only
With smaller needles, cast on 62 (70-78-86-94) sts.
1st row: (RS). K2. *P2. K2. Rep from * to end of row.
2nd row: P2. *K2. P2. Rep from * to end of row.Rep last 2 rows of (K2. P2) ribbing until work from beg measures 2½ ins [6 cm], ending with a 2nd row and increase (inc) 2 (0-0-0-0) sts evenly across last row. 64 (70-78-86-94) sts.
Change to larger needles and beg with a knit row, proceed in stocking st until work from beg measures 12½ins [32 cm], ending with RS facing for next row.
Shape armholes: Cast off 4 (5-6-8-10) sts beg next 2 rows. 56 (60-66-70-74) sts.
Next row: (RS). K2. K2tog. Knit to last 4 sts. Sl1. K1. psso. K2.
Next row: P2. P2togtbl. Purl to last 4 sts. P2tog. P2.
Rep last 2 rows 0 (0-0-0-1) time more. 52 (56-62-66-66) sts.
Next row: (RS). K2. K2tog. Knit to last 4 sts. Sl1. K1. psso. K2.
Next row: Purl.
Rep last 2 rows 1 (2-4-5-5) time(s) more. 48 (50-52-54-54) sts.
Cont even until armhole measures 8 (8-8½-9-9½) ins [20.5 (20.5-21.5-23-24) cm], ending with RS facing for next row.
Shape shoulders: Cast off 5 (6-6-7-7) sts beg next 2 rows, then 6 (6-7-7-7) sts beg following 2 rows. Leave rem 26 sts on a st holder.
BACK
Sizes 2XL-5XL only
With smaller needles, cast on 98 (106-114-122) sts.
1st row: (RS). K2. *P2. K2. Rep from * to end of row.
2nd row: P2. *K2. P2. Rep from * to end of row.
Rep last 2 rows of (K2. P2) ribbing until work from beg measures 2½ ins [6 cm], ending with a 2nd row and increase (inc) 2 (2-2-0) sts evenly across last row. 100 (108-116-122) sts.
Change to larger needles and beg with a knit row, proceed in stocking st until work from beg measures 14 ins [35.5 cm], ending with RS facing for next row.
Shape armholes: Cast off 10 (12-14-15) sts beg next 2 rows. 80 (84-88-92) sts.
Next row: (RS). K2. K2tog. Knit to last 4 sts. Sl1. K1. psso. K2.
Next row: P2. P2togtbl. Purl to last 4 sts. P2tog. P2.
Rep last 2 rows 1 (1-3-3) time(s) more. 72 (76-72-76) sts.
Next row: (RS). K2. K2tog. Knit to last 4 sts. Sl1. K1. psso. K2.
Next row: Purl.
Rep last 2 rows 6 (7-4-5) times more. 58 (60-62-64) sts.
Cont even until armhole measures 10 (10-10½-11) ins [25.5 (25.5-26.5-28) cm], ending with RS facing for next row.
Shape shoulders: Cast off 7 (8-8-8) sts beg next 2 rows, then 8 sts beg following 2 rows. Leave rem 28 (28-30-32) sts on a st holder.
LEFT FRONT
Sizes XS-XL only
**With smaller needles, cast on 30 (34-38-42-46) sts and work 2½ ins [6 cm] in (K2. P2) ribbing, as given for Back, ending on a 2nd row and increase (inc) 1 (0-0-0-0) st at center of last
row. 31 (34-38-42-46) sts.**
Change to larger needles and beg with a knit row, proceed in stocking st until work from beg measures same length as Back to beg of armhole shaping, ending with RS facing for next row.
Shape armhole:
1st row: Cast off 4 (5-6-8-10) sts. Knit to end of row. 27 (29-32-34-36) sts.
2nd row: Purl.
3rd row: K2. K2tog. Knit to end of row.
4th row: Purl to last 4 sts. P2tog. P2.
Rep last 2 rows 0 (0-0-0-1) time(s) more. 25 (27-30-32-32) sts.
Next row: (RS). K2. K2tog. Knit to end of row.
Next row: Purl.
Rep last 2 rows 1 (2-4-5-5) time(s) more. 23 (24-25-26-26) sts.
Cont even until armhole measures 5 (5-5-5½-5½) ins [12.5 (12.5-12.5-14-14) cm], ending with WS facing for next row.
Shape neck: Next row: Cast off 6 sts. Purl to end of row. 17 (18-19-20-20) sts.
Dec 1 st at neck edge on next 3 rows, then on every following alt row 3 times more. 11 (12-13-14-14) sts.
Cont even until armhole measures same length as Back to beg of shoulder shaping, ending with RS facing for next row.
Shape shoulder: Cast off 5 (6-6-7-7) sts beg next row. Purl 1 row. Cast off rem 6 (6-7-7-7) sts.
RIGHT FRONT
Sizes XS-XL only Work from ** to ** as given for Left Front.
Change to larger needles and beg with a knit row, proceed in stocking st until work from beg measures same length as Back to beg of armhole shaping, ending with WS facing for next row.
Shape armhole:
1st row: Cast off 4 (5-6-8-10) sts. Purl to end of row. 27 (29-32-34-36) sts.
2nd row: (RS). Knit to last 4 sts. Sl1. K1. psso. K2.
3rd row: P2. P2togtbl. Purl to end of row.
Rep last 2 rows 0 (0-0-0-1) time more. 25 (27-30-32-32) sts.
Next row: (RS). Knit to last 4 sts. Sl1. K1. psso. K2.
Next row: Purl.
Rep last 2 rows 1 (2-4-5-5) time(s) more. 23 (24-25-26-26) sts.
Cont even until armhole measures 5 (5-5-5½-5½) ins [12.5 (12.5-12.5-14-14) cm], ending with RS facing for next row.
Shape neck:
Next row: (RS). Cast off 6 sts. Knit to end of row. 17 (18-19-20-20) sts.
Purl 1 row.
Dec 1 st at neck edge on next 3 rows, then on every following alt row 3 times more. 11 (12-13-14-14) sts.
Cont even until armhole measures same length as Back to beg of shoulder shaping, ending with WS facing for next row.
Shape shoulder: Cast off 5 (6-6-7-7) sts beg next row. Knit 1 row. Cast off rem 6 (6-7-7-7) sts.
LEFT FRONT
Sizes 2XL-5XL only
**With smaller needles, cast on 46 (50-54-58) sts and work 2½ ins [6 cm] in (K2. P2) ribbing as given for Back, ending on a 2nd row and increase (inc) 3 (3-3-2) sts evenly across last row. 49 (53-57-60) sts.**
Change to larger needles and beg with a knit row, proceed in stocking st until work from beg measures same length as Back to beg of armhole shaping, ending with RS facing for next row.
Shape armhole: Cast off 10 (12-14-15) sts beg next row. 39 (41-43-45) sts.
Purl 1 row.
Next row: (RS). K2. K2tog. Knit to end of row.
Next row: Purl to last 4 sts. P2tog. P2. Rep last 2 rows 1 (1-2-2) time(s) more. 35 (37-37-39) sts.
Next row: (RS). K2. K2tog. Knit to end of row.
Next row: Purl.
Rep last 2 rows 6 (7-6-7) times more. 28 (29-30-31) sts.
Cont even until armhole measures 6 (6-6½-7) ins [15 (15-16.5-18) cm], ending with WS facing for next row.
Shape neck:
Next row: Cast off 6 (6-7-7) sts. Purl to end of row.
Dec 1 st at neck edge on next and every following alt row 6 (6-6-7) times more. 15 (16-16-16) sts.
Cont even until armhole measures same length as Back to beg of shoulder shaping, ending with RS facing for next row.
Shape shoulder: Cast off 7 (8-8-8) sts beg next row. Purl 1 row. Cast off rem 8 sts.
RIGHT FRONT
Sizes 2XL-5XL only
Work from ** to ** as given for Left Front.
Change to larger needles and beg with a knit row, proceed in stocking st until work from beg measures same length as Back to beg of armhole shaping, ending with WS facing for next row.
Shape armhole: Cast off 10 (12-14-15) sts beg next row. 39 (41-43-45) sts.
Next row: (RS). Knit to last 4 sts. Sl1. K1. psso. K2.
Next row: P2. P2togtbl. Purl to end of row.
Rep last 2 rows 1 (1-2-2) time(s) more. 35 (37-37-39) sts.
Next row: (RS). Knit to last 4 sts. Sl1. K1. psso. K2.
Next row: Purl.
Rep last 2 rows 6 (7-6-7) times more. 28 (29-30-31) sts.
Cont even until armhole measures 6 (6-6½-7) ins [15 (15-16.5-18) cm], ending with RS facing for next row.
Shape neck:
Next row: Cast off 6 (6-7-7) sts. Knit to end of row.
Purl 1 row.
Dec 1 st at neck edge on next and every following alt row 6 (6-6-7) times more. 15 (16-16-16) sts.
Cont even until armhole measures same length as Back to beg of shoulder shaping, ending with WS facing for next row.
Shape shoulder: Cast off 7 (8-8-8) sts beg next row. Knit 1 row. Cast off rem 8 sts.
FINISHING
Pin garment pieces to measurements and cover with damp cloth leaving cloth to dry.
Armbands: Sew shoulder seams.
With RS of work facing and smaller needles, pick up and knit 70 (70-74-78-78-82-82-86-90) sts evenly across armhole edge. Beg on a 2nd row, work 3 rows in (K2. P2) ribbing as given for Back. Cast off in ribbing.
Sew side and armband seams (see “Sewing Side and Sleeve Seams” on page 11).
Neckband: With RS of work facing and smaller needles, pick up and knit 18 (18-20-20-22-23-23-24-25) sts up right front neck edge. K26 (26-26-26-26-28-28-30-32) from back st holder.
Pick up and knit 18 (18-20-20-22-23-23-24-25) sts down left front neck edge. 62 (62-66-66-70-74-74-78-82) sts.
Beg on a 2nd row, work 7 rows in (K2. P2) ribbing as given for Back.
Cast off in ribbing.
Buttonhole Band: With RS of Right Front facing and smaller needles, beg at cast on edge, pick up and knit 70 (74-74-78-78-82-82-86-86) sts up front edge to cast off edge of
neckband.
Beg on a 2nd row, work 3 rows in (K2. P2) ribbing as given for Back.
Next row: (RS). (Buttonhole row). Rib across 4 sts. *Cast off 2 sts. Rib across 13 (14-14- 15-15-12-12-13-13) sts (including st on needle after cast off ).
Rep from * 3 (3-3-3-3-4-4-4-4) times more. Cast off 2 sts. Rib to end of row. 5 (5-5-5-5-6-6-6-6) buttonholes.
Next row: Rib, casting on 2 sts over cast off sts.
Work 2 more rows in ribbing. Cast off in ribbing.
Button Band: Work as given for Buttonhole Band, picking up sts along Left Front between cast off edge of neckband and cast on edge, omitting all references to buttonholes.
Sew on buttons to correspond to buttonholes.
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Jadwiga
Dec 26, 2020
I changed design a little and I did knit both fronts and back together until division for armholes. Also I joined back and front shoulders using three needles method.
3cats2love
Jan 26, 2017
This is a stylish classic vest pattern. I really love that many different sizes can be made and the stitch counts are given for each - no more guessing about how many to add or subtract for different sizes! You could make it in almost any color and it would look great.
Linda
Dec 17, 2016
This simple button up vest pattern is a great beginner's project. I can hand knit this pattern in six to eight hours. I'm slower in this present time with over fourth years of knitting. This makes a great gift for anyone.
Katieroots 1323728
Dec 18, 2015
Am I missing where it says how much yarn you need? Help!
Linda
Dec 17, 2016
Depending on your knitting stitches. Check gauge then measure your gauge. You might knit your stitches looser than specified for gauge. It's not uncommon.
jeminmystic
Jun 10, 2014
Looking at the vest and making plans for making for my sister. Would like to make this scarf too. Would be a great Fall birthday gift set! What is the scarf called? Do you have the pattern? Thanks
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