Chalk Stripe Vest

About This Pattern

A vest is one of the most versatile pieces in a knitter’s wardrobe: It’s an added layer of warmth for those brisk but not-too-chilly days; it allows movement of your arms if you’re doing something active; and it provides a wonderful opportunity to make a statement about your style by adding another element of color. I see the Chalk Stripe Vest as a modern take on something that might be worn for a day in the countryside. It reminds me of a memorable trip I made to England as a boy, spending a couple of days on a small sheep farm outside a tiny village in Kent.

This vest uses simple stockinette as the main stitch, but the extra interest comes from a couple of contrasting intarsia stripes that run up to and over the left shoulder. The fabric is created by using two yarns together, making a lovely combination of wool, linen, and alpaca. The difference between the contrasting stripe and the color of the alpaca yarn creates a marl that makes the lines of the stripes less severe, resembling lines of chalk on pavement. If I were on that little sheep farm in the English countryside again today, this is what I think I would wear.

Materials

YARN Isager Merilin (80% wool, 20% linen; 227 yd [208 m]/1¾ oz [50 g]; fingering weight): #43S Olive, 4 (5, 5, 5, 6) (7, 7, 8, 8) balls; #E0 Natural, 1 ball. Isager Alpaca 1 (100% alpaca; 437 yd [400 m]/1¾ oz [50 g]; laceweight): Forest, 2 (3, 3, 3, 3) (4, 4, 4, 5) balls.

NEEDLES Size 5 (3.75 mm): 24" (60 cm) circular (cir). Size 4 (3.5 mm): 16" (40 cm) and 24" (60 cm) cir. Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.

NOTIONS Marker (m); stitch holder; bobbins for intarsia (optional); tapestry needle.

GAUGE 23 sts and 34 rows = 4" (10 cm) in St st with MC (see Notes) on larger needle.

FINISHED SIZE 35¼ (39¼, 43½, 46½, 50¾) (55, 58, 62¼, 66½)" (89.5 [99.5, 110.5, 118, 129] [139.5, 147.5, 158, 169] cm) chest circumference. Vest shown measures 39¼" (99.5 cm); modeled with 1" (2.5 cm) of ease.

Resources

• Visit farmfiberknits.com/abbreviations for terms you don’t know.

• To finish the ribbings at the armholes and neckline, Seth suggests using a stretchy bind-off method. Find tutorials for a few of our favorites at farmfiberknits.com/Stretchy-BO.

• Discover what inspires Seth Richardson’s striking, textured knitwear that combines bold stitchwork with graphic motifs.

About: Seth Richardson (he/him/his) is a designer based in Portland, Oregon who enjoys creating pieces that use simple texture and works that explore the various relationships of straight lines. He can be found on Ravelry as SethR.

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