Sophisticat
Sleeveless wrap style bolero.
YARN
• 6, 7, 7, 8 balls Rare Earth Boucle or
Rare Essential Astrakhan or
• 7, 8, 8, 10 balls Rare Surino Slub
NEEDLES AND TOOLS
• 5mm knitting needles • 6.50mm knitting needles • wool sewing needle
MEASUREMENTS
Size:, XS-S, S-M, M-L, L-XL
To fit bust: 75-80, 80-85, 85-90, 90-95cm
Garment length: 79, 86, 93, 100cm Across Back: 41, 48, 55, 62cm
TENSION
14sts by 21 rows over Stocking St on 6.5mm needles to 10cm.
GETTING STARTED
We suggest casting on with a larger size needle to achieve a loose cast on. Try using a needle one or two sizes larger than stated but don’t forget to change to a 6.5mm needle for the 1st pattern row.
WORKING PATTERN
Lower back and lower left and right fronts – worked in one piece.
Using 6.5mm needles cast on very loosely 121(131, 151, 171) sts ** Begin lace edging
ROW 1: WS – knit
ROW 2: knit
ROW 3: Purl
ROW 4: * k2tog, yfwd, rep from * to last st, k1.
ROW 5: purl
ROW 6: k1, * (yfwd, sl 1, k1, psso) twice, k1, (k2tog, yfwd) twice, k1, rep from * to end.
ROW 7: purl
ROW 8: k2, yfwd, sl 1, k1, psso, yfwd, sl 1, k2tog, psso, yfwd, k2tog, yfwd, k3 * rep from * to last 9 sts, yfwd, sl 1, k1, psso, yfwd, sl 1, k2tog, psso, yfwd, k2tog, yfwd, k2.
ROW 9: purl
Rep rows 6 to 9 inclusive once more – 13 tows from cast on edge, this completes lace edging. **
Change to 5mm needles for rem.
Work in stocking st for rem until piece measure 19(21, 23, 25) cm from cast on edge, ending with a purl row.
Tie a coloured marker at each end of last row.
SIZE XS-S ONLY
Next Row: k3tog, (k2tog) 14 times, * k3tog, (k2tog) 13 times, rep from * twice more to last 3sts, k3tog. 58sts.
SIZE S-M, M-L, L-XL ONLY
K2, * k2tog, rep form * to last 3 sts, k3. (68, 78, 88) sts.
ALL SIZES
Leave these 58(68, 78, 88) sts on 5mm needle and set aside until required when making up. Leave a 4m length of yarn attached to this piece.
Upper Back, collar and upper left and right fronts – worked in one piece. Using 6.5mm needles through out cast on very loosely 61(71, 81, 91) sts
Work lace edging as for lower back and lower front and right front by working from ** to ** – 13 rows from cast on edge.
Note: do not change to 5mm needles
NEXT ROW: k2tog, k28 (33, 38, 43) k2tog, k27 (32, 37, 42), k2tog. 58(68, 78, 88) sts
Working in stocking stitch for rem until work measures 19(21, 23, 25) cm from cast on edge, beg and ending with a purl row.
Tie a coloured marker at each end of last row.
Cont in stocking stitch, make sure you slip the first stitch on every row (this is important to ensure armholes will not stretch) until work measures 60(65, 70, 75) cm from cast on edge ending with a purl row.
Leave these 58(68, 78, 88) sts on 6.5mm needle. Break off yarn.
MAKING UP
Joining the back seam of this vest. METHOD 1 – for experienced knitter Using a 3 needle cast off join the two pieces together, cast off in a loose manner.
With WS facing place 6.5mm needle upper back piece under the 5mm needle lower back piece and hold these needles parallel together in left hand. Using the 6.5mm needle in right hand pass this needle knitways through the first sts on both left hand needles. Wind yarn (4m length) as if to knit around RH needle and guide the new sts loop back through both first sts on each of the LH needles thus knitting these 2 sts together and slipping them both off LH needles. Repeat this for the second sts on LH needle. Slip the first sts over the second sts as in normal cast off. Continue in this manner to cast off remaining.
METHOD 2 – beginner knitter
Cast off both pieces and with RS facing each other back stitch these two edges together.
JOINING SIDE SEAMS
With RS facing using back stitch join upper and lower pieces of vest beginning at cast on edge and finishing each seam at the coloured markers. Cover with a damp clothe and using low heat gently press garment.