Lion Brand^® Wool-Ease^®

GAUGE:

18 sts + 24 rows = 4 in. (10 cm) in St st (k on RS, p on WS) and Fair Isle pattern using larger needles.

BE SURE TO CHECK YOUR GAUGE. When you match the gauge in a pattern, your project will be the size specified in the pattern and the materials specified in the pattern will be sufficient. If it takes you fewer stitches and rows to make a 4 in. [10 cm] square, try using a smaller size hook or needles; if more stitches and rows, try a larger size hook or needles.

STITCH EXPLANATION:

sk2p (slip-k2tog-pass slipped st over) A double decrease worked as follows: 1. Insert right needle as if to knit, and slip the next st from the left needle to the right needle. 2. Knit the next 2 sts together. 3. With tip of left needle, lift the slipped st (the 2nd st on right needle) up and over the k2tog (first st on right needle) and off the needle - you have decreased 2 sts. ssk (slip, slip, knit) Slip next 2 sts as if to knit, one at a time, to right needle; insert left needle into fronts of these 2 sts and knit them tog - 1 st decreased. PATTERN STITCH K1, p1 Rib (over odd number of sts) Row 1 (RS): K1, *p1, k1; rep from * to end of row. Row 2: K the knit sts and p the purl sts. Rep Row 2 for K1, p1 Rib.

NOTES:

1. Vest is worked in 2 pieces, Back and Front.
2. When working Fair Isle color pattern, carry colors not in use across WS of piece.
3. Fair Isle pattern is worked by following the chart. When following the chart, work from right to left on RS rows and from left to right on WS rows.
4. The front neck is worked with 2 separate strands of yarn. Unwind about 3 yd (3 m) of each yarn before beginning to use while working the front neck.
5. When you see 'work even' in the instructions, this means to continue on without changing the st count by increasing, decreasing, or binding off.

BACK
With smaller needles and A, cast on 37 sts.
Work in K1, p1 Rib until piece measures about 1 1/2 in. (4 cm) from beg, end with a WS row. Note: End with a WS row means that the last row you work should be a WS row, and the next row that you are ready to work will be a RS row.
Beg Fair Isle Color Pattern
Change to larger needles.
Next Row (RS): Beg with Row 1 of Chart, work in St st (k on RS, p on WS) and Fair Isle color pattern following chart to end of row.
You will be working the 4-st rep shown on the chart 9 times across the row.
Continue to work in St st and Fair Isle color pattern until piece measures about 6 in. (15 cm) from beg, end with a WS.
Shape Armholes
Note: After binding off for the armholes, you will need to adjust where you beg and end on the chart.
Just line up the colorwork you've done on the previous rows to determine this.
Row 1 (RS): Bind off 4 sts, work in St st and Fair Isle color pattern as established to end of row - 33 sts at the end of this row.
Row 2: Bind off 4 sts, work in St st and Fair Isle color pattern as established to end of row - 29 sts at the end of this row.
Work even in St st and Fair Isle color pattern as established until armhole measures about 4 in. (10 cm).
Bind off.

FRONT
Work same as Back until armhole measures about 1 in. (2.5 cm), end with a WS row.
Mark the center st (15th st) on your needle.
Shape V-Neck
Row 1 (RS): Keeping in St st and Fair Isle color pattern as established, work 14 sts, sl next (center st) to a st holder, join a 2nd strand of yarn and work to end of row - 14 sts on each side.
Work both sides at the same time with separate strands of yarn from this point on, continuing in Fair Isle color pattern and St st.
Row 2: P across all sts of first side; on 2nd side, p to end of row.
Row 3: K to last 3 sts of first side k2tog, k1; on 2nd side, k1, ssk, k to end of row - 13 sts on each side.
Rep last 2 rows 7 times - 6 sts on each side.
Work even in St st and Fair Isle color pattern as established until Front measures same as Back.
Bind off.

FINISHING
Sew left shoulder seam.
Neck Rib
Row 1 (RS): With RS facing, smaller needles and A, pick up and k16 sts evenly spaced across back neck, pick up and k16 sts evenly spaced along left front neck edge, k marked center st and place a marker on this st, pick up and k16 sts evenly spaced along right front neck edge - 49 sts at the end of this row.
Row 2: *K1, p1; rep from * to marked st, p the marked st, **p1, k1; rep from ** to end of row.
Row 3: P1, *k1, p1; rep from * to 1 st before marked st, sk2p, p1, **k1, p1; rep from * to end of row - 47 sts.
Row 4: K1, *p1, k1; rep from * to marked st, p the marked st, k1, **p1, k1; rep from ** to end of row.
Row 5: *P1, k1; rep from * to 1 st before marked st, sk2p, **k1, p1; rep from * to end of row - 45 sts.
Rep last 4 rows until neck rib measures 1 in. (2.5 cm).
Bind off in rib.

Armhole Rib
Sew right shoulder seam, including edges of neck rib.
With RS facing, smaller needles and A, pick up and k41 sts evenly space along one armhole edge.
Work in K1, p1 Rib for 1 in. (2.5 cm).
Bind off in rib.
Rep along 2nd armhole edge.
Sew side seams, including armhole rib.
Weave in ends.

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