soft stripes
Take your pick of sweet colours to make this handy waistcoat, perfect for when just a light touch of warmth is required
WAISTCOAT
Note After working the rib, the main part of the waistcoat is worked in a simple colour stripe pattern: 4 rows Yarn B, followed by 4 rows Yarn A. Do not break off the yarns when working the stripes, but carry the non-working yarn loosely up the side of the knitted piece.
BACK
Cast on 50 (54: 58: 58: 62) sts using 3.25mm needles and Yarn A.
Row 1 (RS) K2, *P2, K2; rep from * to the end of the row.
Row 2 P2, *K2, P2; rep from * to the end of the row.
Rows 1 and 2 set the pattern for 2x2 rib. Work 3 (3: 5: 5: 7) more rows in 2x2 rib as set. Work 1 more row, dec 0 (2: 3: 0: 1) sts evenly along row. [50 (52: 55: 58: 61) sts]
Change to 4mm needles and join Yarn B but do not break off Yarn A.
Continuing in st st, work 4 rows Yarn B, 4 Rows Yarn A until work measures 11 (12.5: 13.5: 15.5: 16.5)cm from the beginning, ending on a purl row.
SHAPE ARMHOLES
Cast off 2 (3: 3: 4: 4) sts at the beg of the next 2 rows. [46 (46: 49: 50: 53) sts]
Work 5 (5: 7: 7: 9) rows, dec 1 st at each end of next and every alt row. [40 (40: 41: 42: 43) sts]
Cont working in st st without further shaping until armhole measures 11 (12: 13: 15: 16.5)cm.
Cast off 5 sts at the beg of next 4 rows. Leave rem 20 (20: 21: 22: 23) sts on a holder for back neck.
LEFT FRONT
Cast on 22 (26: 26: 26: 30) sts using 3.25mm needles and Yarn A.
Row 1 (RS) K2, *P2, K2; rep from * to the end of the row.
Row 2 P2, *K2, P2; rep from * to the end of the row.
Rows 1 and 2 set the pattern for 2x2 rib. Work 3 (3: 5: 5: 7) more rows in 2x2 rib as set. Work 1 more row, dec 0 (3: 1: 0: 2) sts evenly along row. [22 (23: 25: 26: 28) sts]
Change to 4mm needles and join in Yarn B but do not break off Yarn A.
Continuing in st st, work 4 rows Yarn B, 4 Rows Yarn A until work measures 11 (12.5: 13.5: 15.25: 16.5)cm from the beginning, ending on a purl row.
SHAPE ARMHOLES AND NECK
Note Read ahead. Neck and armhole shaping are worked at the same time.
Row 1 Cast off 2 (3: 3: 4: 4) sts; knit to last 3 sts; k2tog, K1. [19 (19: 21: 21: 23) sts]
Row 2 Purl.
Row 3 K1, ssk, knit to the end of the row.
[18 (18: 20: 20: 22) sts]
Row 4 P1, p2tog, purl to end.
[17 (17: 19: 19: 21) sts]
Work 3 (3: 5: 5: 7) rows, dec 1 st as set (1 st in from edge) at beg of next and every foll RS row for armhole AND AT SAME TIME dec 1 st as set (1 st in from edge) at neck edge every 3rd row until 10 (10: 10: 10: 10) sts remain.
Work without shaping until work measures the same as the Back, ending on a purl row.
Cast off 5 sts at beg of next row.
Purl 1 row.
Cast off rem 5 sts.
RIGHT FRONT
Cast on 22 (26: 26: 26: 30) sts using 3.25mm needles and Yarn A.
Row 1 (RS) K2, *P2, K2; rep from * to the end of the row.
Row 2 P2, *K2, P2; rep from * to the end of the row.
Rows 1 and 2 set the pattern for 2x2 rib. Work 3 (3: 5: 5: 7) more rows in 2x2 rib as set. Work 1 more row, dec 0 (3: 1: 0: 2) sts evenly along row. [22 (23: 25: 26: 28) sts]
Change to 4mm needles.
Continuing in st st, work 4 rows Yarn B, 4 Rows Yarn A until work measures 11 (12.5: 13.5: 15.25: 16.5)cm from the beginning, ending on a purl row.
SHAPE ARMHOLES AND NECK
Note Read ahead. Neck and armhole shaping are worked at the same time.
Row 1 K1, ssk, knit to the end of the row.
[21 (22: 24: 25: 27) sts]
Row 2 Cast off 2 (3: 3: 4: 4) sts, purl to the end of the row. [19 (19: 21: 21: 23) sts]
Row 3 Knit to the last 3 sts, k2tog, K1.
[18 (18: 20: 20: 22) sts]
Work 4 (4: 6: 6: 8) rows, dec 1 st as set (1 st in from edge) at end of every RS row for armhole AND AT SAME TIME dec 1 st at neck edge as set (1 st in from edge) of next and every foll 3rd row until 10 (10: 10: 10: 10) sts remain for neck.
Work without shaping until work measures the same as the back, ending on a knit row.
Cast off 5 sts at beg of next row.
Next row Knit.
Cast off rem 5 sts.
ARMHOLE BORDERS
Join shoulder seams.
With RS facing, using Yarn A and 3.25mm needles, pick up and knit 7 (9: 10: 11: 12) sts from the first curved portion of armhole, 20 (22: 25: 28: 31) sts from the first straight portion of the armhole up to the shoulder, 20 (22: 25: 28: 31) sts from the second straight portion of the armhole from the shoulder to the curved portion, and 7 (9: 10: 11: 12) sts from the second curved portion. [54 (62: 70: 78: 86) sts]
Work 6 rows in 2x2 rib as given for Front, beg with a second row.
Cast off in rib.
FRONT AND NECK BORDERS
With RS facing, using Yarn A and 3.25mm needles, pick up and knit 24 (27: 29: 33: 36) sts along straight portion of the Right Front, 25 (26: 29: 33: 36) sts along sloped portion of Right Front, 20 (20: 21: 22: 23) sts from the holder for back neck, 25 (26: 30: 33: 35) sts along sloped portion of Left Front, 24 (27: 29: 33: 36) sts along straight portion of the Left Front.
[118 (126: 138: 154: 166) sts]
Work 3 rows in 2x2 rib as given for Front, beg with a second row.
FOR FIRST 3 SIZES ONLY
Row 4 (Buttonhole row) Work in rib to last 25 (27: 29: -: -) sts, yo, work 2tog, *rib 9 (10: 11: -: -), yo, work 2tog; rep from * once, rib to end.
FOR LAST 2 SIZES ONLY MAKING UP
Row 4 (Buttonhole row) Work in rib to last - (-: -: 33: 36) sts, yo, work 2tog; *rib - (-: -: 8: 9), yo, work 2tog; rep from * twice, rib to end.
FOR ALL SIZES
Work 2 rows in rib. Cast off in rib.
Join side seams. Sew buttons on right front border to match buttonholes on left front border. Block to measurements following any yarn care instructions on the ball band.