NECK-KNOT GILET
BACK
Cast on 105 (115: 127: 137: 149: 159) sts using 4mm needles. Rows 1 and 2 Purl.
Row 3 K2, (P1, K1) to last st, K1.
Row 4 K1, (P1, K1) to end.
Row 5 to 7 Knit.
Row 8 As Row 4.
Row 9 As Row 3.
Rows 10 and 11 Purl.
Beginning with a WS (purl) row, continue in st st and work straight until Back measures 54 (55: 56: 57: 58: 60)cm from cast-on edge, measured through centre of work and ending after a WS (purl) row.
SHAPE SHOULDERS
Cast off 6 (7: 8: 9: 10: 11) sts loosely at beg of next 8 rows. [57 (59: 63: 65: 69: 71) sts]
Cast off 10 (10: 11: 12: 13: 13) sts at beg of next 2 rows. Cast off rem 37 (39: 41: 41: 43: 45) sts loosely.
RIGHT FRONT
Cast on 67 (73: 79: 83: 89: 95) sts using 4mm needles. Work Rows 1 to 11 as given on Back.**
Change to st st with front border sts in rev st st as follows: Row 1 (WS) P44 (50: 56: 60: 66: 72), K23.
Row 2 P23, knit to end.
These 2 rows set the patt.
Cont straight in patt as set until Front measures 27cm from cast-on edge, ending after a WS row.
SHAPE FRONT SLOPE
Next row (dec) P23, K3, k2tog tbl, knit to end. [1 st dec’d] Cont working dec row on every foll RS row until 58 (61: 66: 74: 80: 83) sts rem, then on every foll 4th row until 44 (48: 53: 58: 63: 67) sts rem.
Work a few rows straight until Front measures same as Back to start of shoulder shaping, ending at side edge.
SHAPE SHOULDER
Cast off 6 (7: 8: 9: 10: 11) sts loosely at beg of next row and the 3 foll alt rows. [20 (20: 21: 22: 23: 23) sts]
Work 1 row straight.
Cast off 10 (10: 11: 12: 13: 13) sts at beg of next row. [10 sts] Work straight on rem 10 sts until strip fits half way across cast-off sts of back neck.
If you wish to make the neck knot, now work a further 19cm.
Cast off.
LEFT FRONT
Work as Right Front to **.
Change to st st with Front border sts in rev st st. Row 1 (WS) K23, P44 (50: 56: 60: 66: 72).
Row 2 Knit to last 23 sts, P23.
These 2 rows set the patt.
Complete as Right front, working 1 more row straight before shaping shoulder and noting that dec row will read – knit to last 28 sts, k2tog, K3, P23.
SLEEVE BORDERS
Join shoulders.
Place a marker 58 (64: 70: 76: 82: 88) rows down from shoulder seams on each side edge.
With RS facing and 3.25mm needles, pick up and knit 101 (111: 121: 131: 141: 151) sts evenly between markers.
Purl 1 row.
Change to 4mm needles. Work Rows 1 to 11 as given on Back. Cast off evenly knitwise. Repeat for second Sleeve.
MAKING UP
Join side and Sleeve Border seams. Join inner edge of the two ends of back neck strip to cast-off edges of back neck, joining the two short ends at centre back.
If you made the neck knot and wish to tie the two longer ends at centre back neck, stitch the inner edges of the two strips across back neck leaving centre 5 sts of back neck free. Now knot the ends of the two strips at centre back of neck, using the image as a guide.