The Ladies 10 size vest will fit someone with a 36” (91.4 cm) actual chest measurement. Wearing ease of 2.4” (6.1 cm) has been added.
Supplies
US8 or 9 (5 or 5.5 mm) needles
US6 or 7 (4 or 4.5 mm) needles
Original Style (PS/SS & CoS)
Main color
- 3 skeins of Plymouth Encore Worsted Weight #389 Medium Grey
Stripes for the House of Lions
- 1 skein of Plymouth Encore Worsted Weight #9601 Quiet Red
- 1 skein of Plymouth Encore Worsted Weight #215 Yellow
Stripes for the House of Badgers
- 1 skein of Plymouth Encore Worsted Weight #215 Yellow or #1382 Bright Yellow
- 1 skein of Plymouth Encore Worsted Weight #217 Black
Stripes for the House of Snakes
- 1 skein of Plymouth Encore Worsted Weight #1233 Medium Forest
- 1 skein of Plymouth Encore Worsted Weight #194 Grey Frost
Stripes for the House of Ravens (Movie Colours)
- 1 skein of Plymouth Encore Worsted Weight #517 Delft Blue
- 1 skein of Plymouth Encore Worsted Weight #194 Grey Frost
New Style (PoA & GoF)
Main color
- 3 skeins of Plymouth Encore Worsted Weight #520:Charcoal
Stripes for the House of Lions
- 1 skein of Plymouth Encore Worsted Weight #174 Cranberry
- 1 skein of Plymouth Encore Worsted Weight #215 Yellow
Stripes for the House of Badgers
- 1 skein of Plymouth Encore Worsted Weight #215 Yellow
- 1 skein of Plymouth Encore Worsted Weight #217 Black
Stripes for the House of Snakes
- 1 skein of Plymouth Encore Worsted Weight #1234 Dark Forest
- 1 skein of Plymouth Encore Worsted Weight #389 Grey Heather
Stripes for the House of Ravens (Movie Colours)
- 1 skein of Plymouth Encore Worsted Weight #555 Dark Country Blue
- 1 skein of Plymouth Encore Worsted Weight #194 Grey Frost
Gauge
20.0 sts per 4” (10 cm) by 29.0 rows per 4” (10cm), using US8-9 (5 or 5.5 mm) needles.
Note
Although Plymouth recommends the use of size 8 (4 mm) needles to obtain a gauge of 5 sts to the inch, the pattern designers at wizardknit.com found that it created much too loose a knit fabric. They obtained their desired gauge and “hand” with US size 4 (3.5mm) needles.
Finished Measurements
Bust/Chest: 38.4” (97.5 cm)
Vest Body Length: 23.0” (58.4 cm)
Total Armhole : 16.2” (14.1 cm)
Top Neck Opening: 6.5” (16.5 cm)
Hem Width: 16.4” (41.7 cm)
Front Neck Width: 0.3” (0.8 cm)
V-Neck Depth: 6.1” (15.5 cm)
Ribbed Hem Width: 38.4” (97.5 cm)
Note: Wizardknits.com prefers using smaller needles to pull the ribbing in in rather than having an overall smaller circumference around the waist and high hip area – no blousing effect required on this garment
Armband depth: 1.1” (2.8 cm)
Back Neck Width: 5.5” (13.97 cm)
Back Shoulder Width: 14.1” (35.8 cm)
Back Neck Depth: 0.5” (1.3 cm)
Neckband Depth: 1.1” (2.8 cm)
Ribbed Hem Depth: 2.0” (5.1 cm)
Instructions
Notes
Read ALL these instructions thoroughly BEFORE starting to knit. There may be sections where there are two areas are shaped at the same time (such as necklines or waist shaping).
Back
Cast on 98 sts on size 6-7 (4 or 4.5 mm) needles. Work in K1P1 ribbing for 2.0” (5.1 cm).
Change to size 8-9 (5 or 5.5 mm) needles and stockinette stitch. Knit 1 or 2 rows in the main color then begin a 1/2/1 stripe pattern in the colors of your choice (at this gauge, a 2/3/2 stripe would be nearly 1 inch wide – a little too wide).
Continue in main color and work even until the piece measures 11.3” or 28.7 cm (82 rows), excluding hem.
Armhole Shaping
Cast off 10 sts at beginning of next 2 rows. Decrease 1 stitch at each end of every alternate row for 16 rows until 62 sts remaining. Continue until armhole measures 9.4” or 23.9 cm (68 rows), with 62 sts remaining.
Neck Shaping
Work both sides at the same time. Work 17 sts. Slip the next 28 sts to a holder. With a second ball of yarn, work remaining 17 sts. Dec 1 at neck edge every row twice, until 15 sts remain.
At the same time, when armhole measures 9.4” or 23.9 cm (row 68), start shoulder shaping
Shoulder Shaping
Cast off 7 sts at armhole edge twice.
Front
Cast on 98 sts on size 6-7 (4 or 4.5 mm) needles. Work in K1P1 ribbing for 2.0” (5.1 cm).
Change to size 8-9 (5 or 5.5 mm) needles and stockinette stitch. Knit 1 or 2 rows in the main color then begin a 1/2/1 stripe pattern in the colors of your choice (at this gauge, a 2/3/2 stripe would be nearly 1 inch wide – a little too wide).
Armhole Shaping
Cast off 10 sts at beginning of next 2 rows. Decrease 1 stitch at each end of every alternate row until the armhole measures 3.6” or 9.1 cm (26 rows), with 62 sts remaining.
Divide for neck. Work both sides at the same time. Work 31 sts. With a second ball of yarn, work remaining 31 stitches.
Neck Shaping
Decrease 1 stitch at neck edge of next row, then every 2nd row 5 times, then every 3rd row 10 times, until 15 sts remain.
Work even until armhole measures 9.4” or 23.9 cm (68 rows).
Shoulder Shaping
Cast off 7 sts at armhole edge twice.
Shoulder Seams
Sew fronts to back along shoulder seams using a backstitch. Using a backstitch stabilizes the shoulder seam which bears the weight of your entire garment.
V Front Neck Single Band Collar
Change to size 6 (4 mm) needles. The neckband is worked in 2 pieces.
With right side of work facing, pick up and work (starting at bottom of front neck) 34 stitches from right front neck edge, 3 stïtches from right back neck edge and 14 sts from back neck holder to center. Total 51 stitches.
Work 1.1” or 2.8 cm (10 rows) in K1P1 ribbing. For the original school vest, center a 1/2/1 stripe pattern within these 10 rows. There is no stripe pattern on the neckband for the new style vest.
Cast off loosely.
Work the left side the same way as the right, picking up the back neck stitches first.
Armhole Ribbing
Knit on size 6 (4 mm) needles.
With right side of work facing, pick up and work 150 stitches along armhole edge between side seams by picking up one stitch for every armhole cast-off stitch and one for every row.
Decrease from 150 to 100 by: P 13 (P1P2tog P2tog) 25 times P 12.
Work in K1P1 ribbing for 0.9” or 2.3 cm (approximately 8 rows). Cast off loosely.
Finishing
Sew side seams using invisible seam. Sew any remaining seams. Miter the neckband at center front.
Darn/weave/sew in all loose ends.
Final Product
Credit
© Diana of Hobbie's House of Wizard Wear. Pattern was taken with permission from wizardknits.com