Rust Belt River Vest

A loose, oversized A-line vest in nine sizes (XS to L and 1X to 5X) to knit in light, airy wool for a multi-season layering piece. Featuring strong cabled panels against a subtly pebbled overall texture, the vest has dropped shoulders with slightly longer armholes for styling with menswear shirts or dolman sleeves. Side seam button bands and choice of two neckline shapes offer more styling options! Hems can be worked with the hi/lo effect shown here or perfectly even, if desired. Knit from hem to shoulder in portable pieces, this garment nonetheless has only two short shoulder seams—the rest is finished with knit-on bands in chunky rib.

Samples shown in size S with approximately 6 inches of ease: crewneck version knit in Blues Singer DK, color Lead Belly with Gerda buttons and V-neck version knit in British Jacob Sport, color Black with Florence buttons

Matching motifs: Rust Belt River Mitts

Suggested Yarns: 
Blues Singer DK, British Jacob Sport, Finn Dandy 3-ply Sport, Finn Dandy 2-ply Sport, Shetlandia Sport, Jacob’s Dream Sport, Cabécou Sport, Perendale DK, East Friesian Sport, Kent DK, Stone Soup DK, Better Breakfast DK, or any heavy sport/light DK yarn that knits to pattern gauge

Substituting yarn and/or needles may result in an overall variation in size, drape, and yardage requirement.

Finished Size:
36.5(42, 47.25, 52.5, 58, 63.25, 68.5, 74, 79.25) inches / 92.5(106.5, 120, 133.5, 147.5, 160.5, 174, 188, 201.5) cm around chest (buttoned) to fit with 6 to 10 inches / 15 to 25 cm of ease

Yarn requirements:
685(790, 940, 1115, 1290, 1425, 1690, 1840, 2055) yards / 625(725, 860, 1020, 1180, 1300, 1545, 1680, 1880) meters

Buttons:
10 buttons that measure 1 inch / 2.5 cm in diameter

Gauge:
18 sts and 29 rows = 4 inches / 10 cm in pebble stitch on largest needles (washed and dried flat)

Needles:
size 8US (5.0 mm) for body (or size to obtain correct gauge)
size 7US (4.5 mm) for hem ribbing (or .5 mm smaller than gauge needle)
size 6US (4.0 mm) circular needle for neck, armhole, and side seam finishes (or 1.0 mm smaller than gauge needle)