Kiki Vest

Hi knitters everywhere! as a request from my youngest daughter, who loves form-fitting vests that she can wear over baggy shirts, I've made this blue knitted vest. This is my first time knitting a whole piece using rib pattern only, which in turn gives this garment enough elasticity to mold to the shape of the body. The style of this vest leans towards formal with a casual flare, making it the perfect attire to wear to the office or school. It is made in two pieces; front and back, from which extends four bands that make up the sides. No need for side seems because the sides are secured together with buttons. I also added bands around the armholes to accentuate the shape of the shoulders. 

I hope you like this design and the matching beanie that I will post soon. Make sure to add it to next year’s to-do-list, because I am sure you will be surprised to see how simple and easy knitting it is. I wish you all a happy new year and see you all in 2023!

Overview:

• Skill level: Intermediate.
• Instructions style: written pattern.
• Yarn weight: #4/ medium/ aran.
• Available sizes: this vest is available in four sizes for adults: XS/S, M/L, XL/2XL, and 3XL/4XL (see detailed measurements below).

Get the ad-free, printable PDF of this pattern from my store:

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Materials:

• Yarn: Alize Burcum Klasik, 100% acrylic, 3.53 oz (100 g), 230 yards (210 m), in the color "353": 3 (3, 4, 4) skeins.
• Knitting needles, size US 8 (5 mm).
• Circular knitting needles, 16" (40 cm) long, size US 8 (5 mm).
• Six (six, eight, eight) buttons, 1" (2.4 cm) in diameter.
• Tapestry needle.
• Ring stitch marker.

Sizes and measurements:

Size	Chest-bust measurements	Waist measurements
XS/S	34"- 36" (86- 92 cm)	26"- 28" (66- 70 cm)
M/L	38"- 40" (96- 100 cm)	29"- 31" (74- 78 cm)
XL/2XL	42"- 44" (107- 112 cm)	32"- 35.5" (82- 90 cm)
3XL/4XL	46"- 48" (117- 122 cm)	37"- 39" (94- 99 cm)

Yardage: 

• Size XS/S: 580- 590 yards (530- 540 m), approx.
• Size M/L: 655- 665 yards (600- 610 m), approx. 
• Size XL/2XL: 765- 775 yards (700- 710 m), approx.
• Size 3XL/4XL: 890- 900 yards (820- 830 m), approx.

Gauge: 24 sts and 24 rows = 4" x 4" (10 cm x 10 cm) in rib pattern and US 8 (5 mm) knitting needles.

Knitting Terms:

• st: stitch.
• sts: stitches.
• k: knit.
• p: purl.

Instructions:

Front Piece:

Cast on 75 (87, 99, 113) sts, start working as follows:

Rib Row 1 (right side): k 1, p 1, repeat to last st, k 1.

Rib row 2: p 1, k 1, repeat to last st, p 1.

Repeat rib rows 1 and 2 six more times. 

Side Bands:

Cast on 12 sts at the beginning of next two rib rows, then repeat the rib rows 1 and 2 seventeen (nineteen, twenty-three, twenty-six) times. At the same time, work buttonholes row at (5th, 17th and 29th) [(7th, 19th and 31st), (5th, 17th, 19th and 31st), (7th, 19th, 31st and 43rd)] rows of both side bands. 

Buttonholes row: (k 1, p 1) twice, make 4 sts wide buttonhole, (p 1, k 1) to last 8 sts, make 4 sts wide buttonhole, (p 1, k 1) twice. 

You can watch my tutorial video for knitting this type of buttonhole here: 

 

Bind off 12 sts at the beginning of next two rows. 

Keep on working rib rows 1 and 2 fifteen (sixteen, seventeen, eighteen) times.

Front neck shaping:

Work 30 (35, 40, 46) sts in rib row 1, bind off 15 (17, 19, 21) sts in the middle, work the 30 sts in rib row 1. Keep on knitting the left side.

Left side:

On the beginning of each right-side row, bind off 3 sts once, 2 sts twice, 1 st three times. [20 (25, 30, 36) sts] 

Keep on working the rib rows until the front measures 17" (18.5", 20.8", 23.25") 43 (47, 53, 59) cm from cast on row. Bind off all sts.

Right side:

Work the right side the same way as the left one, but in reverse.

Back piece:

Cast on 75 (87, 99, 113) sts, then repeat rib rows 1 and 2 ten times. 

Side Bands:

Cast on 12 sts at the beginning of next two rib rows, then repeat the rib rows 1 and 2 seventeen (nineteen, twenty-three, twenty-six) times. Bind off 12 sts at the beginning of the next two rows, then repeat rib rows 1 and 2 twenty-two (twenty-three, twenty-four, twenty-five) times. Work as follows: 

Back neck shaping:

Work 21 (26, 31, 37) sts in rib row 1. Bind off 33 (35, 37, 39) sts in the middle, work the 21 (26, 31, 37) sts in rib row 1. Keep on knitting the left side.

Left side:

On the beginning of the next right-side row bind off 1 st. [20 (25, 30, 36) sts] 

Keep on working the rib rows until the back measures 18.5" (20", 22.5", 24.8"), 47 (51, 57, 63) cm from cast on row. Bind off all sts.

Right side:

Work the right side the same way as the left one, but in reverse.

Assembly:

Sew shoulder seams.

Armhole Bands:

Along the front and back of armhole openings, pick up about 101 (109, 121, 133) sts, work rib rows 1 and 2 six times, or until the width matches that of the side bands, then bind off all sts. Sew the free ends of the armhole bands with the upper ends of the side bands.

Neck edge:

With circular knitting needles, and starting at the middle back, pick up approximately 88 (94, 100, 108) sts. Use a stitch marker at the beginning of rounds if you need. Work rib round as follows, matching the rib stitches of the front and back when applicable:

Rib Round: k 1, p 1, to end.

Repeat the rib round seven more times, then bind off all sts.

Weave in loose ends and sew buttons in place.

 

Lastly, feel free to leave a comment if you have any questions or find something confusing in the pattern.

Happy crocheting/knitting! follow me on Instagram @wiams_crafts and Twitter @wiamscrafts to see my upcoming projects.