Circle Vest for Kat

I have always wanted to knit a circle vest and have saved many a picture of them from various sites. This is a very simple pattern but takes quite a lot of hand converting to make the ribs. Simple, but awkward when going from the back section to the top ribbing section. The vest is knit in a one piece (sort of) rectangle, folded, then sewn partly up the sides to create armholes.

My Notes: WARNING!! These are just notes, pattern has not been tested for accuracy as of yet.

Sizing note: Back length (from the bottom to the top of the back includes the bottom 2X2 section and the middle 1X1 section @ 22 inches. DOES NOT INCLUDE THE TOP 2X2 section as I refer to this as the collar of the vest. The back section (1X1) is @ 13 inches wide while the vest is in resting. This stretches when the vest is worn, but when lying on a flat surface the vest back will draw up to about 13 inches wide. The vest is made for my daughter Kat who wears a ladies medium.

Cast on 144 needles

Double ewrap

KP3 – knit 50 rows

Convert the 50 rows 2X2 ribbing

Knit row 51 by hand and then decreased by half leaving EON empty. Drop MY DO NOT CUT!

Change to contrasting waste yarn and knit 1 row. Bring the empty needles to working position and knit several rows making sure to have plenty of rows so that it does not unravel.

Remove the knitting from the USM and re-hang on the machine using every needle (this will be half of the original cast on needles)

Knit 70 rows using MY

Convert the 70 rows 1X1 ribbing

Knit row 71 by hand making generous sized loops (or use KP4 to knit this row)

Drop MY DO NOT CUT!

Change to contrasting waste yarn and knit 1 row. Knit several rows making sure to have plenty of rows so that it does not unravel.

Remove the knitting from the USM and re-hang on the machine using every OTHER needle (original cast on needles)

CHANGE BACK TO KP3

There will be an empty needle between each of the stitches. Bring up the bar between the stitches and hang it on the empty needle. (This is why I hand knit the stitches on the last row to ease the knitting back on to the machine) The last 10-15 stitches on each end of the piece will be in a bind and I chose to knit these by hand and not use the carriage for about 10 rows until there was no longer stress on these needles

Knit 50 rows using MY

Convert the 50 rows 2X2 ribbing

Bind off using a stretchy bind off method. I started on the right side of the work.

Fold over and sew the side seams on the end (2X2 ribbing)