How to Knit a Vest in the Round

As layering pieces, vests are an easy way to add color to your wardrobe.

A vest knit in the round is a great project for a novice knitter who wants to knit a larger garment but isn't ready to tackle a pullover or cardigan. Vest projects are a good way to use up a quantity of yarn that isn't sufficient for an entire sweater. Make a close-fitting, hip-length vest for a woman with a 36-inch bust measurement by using a circular knitting needle. This will let you knit the main body of the vest in one seamless tube.

Things You'll Need

• 600 yards of worsted-weight yarn (See Reference 2)
• Circular knitting needle, U.S. size 7 or size needed to get 20 stitches to four inches; 24 inches in length
• Circular knitting needle, U.S. size 7 or size needed to get 20 stitches to four inches; 16 inches in length
• Stitch marker
• Darning needle
• Stitch holder or scrap yarn

Instructions

1. Cast on 192 stitches using your longer circular needle. Place a stitch marker onto your knitting needle to mark the beginning of the round. Join your work for knitting in the round by knitting into the first stitch that you cast on. Purl the next stitch. Continue to knit one stitch and purl one stitch for the remainder of the round. Work the following round the same way, making sure you are knitting a knit stitch of the previous row and purling the purl stitches of the previous row to form knit one, purl one ribbing. Work in this manner until your knitting measures 2 inches from the cast-on edge.

2. Begin knitting in stockinette stitch by knitting every stitch of every round. Continue working in stockinette stitch until the vest measures 16 inches in length. From this point, the front and back of the vest will be worked separately to form the arm holes.

3. Bind off 14 stitches, knit 82 stitches, bind off 14 stitches, and put the next 82 stitches on a stitch holder. The stitches on the holder will form the front of the vest and be worked later. Turn your work and purl across the 82 stitches still on the needle. These stitches will form the back of the vest and will be worked back and forth in rows instead of in rounds.

4. Knit one stitch, knit two stitches together, knit across to the last three stitches, knit two stitches together and knit one stitch. Purl the next row. Repeat the last two rows eight times more. There are now 64 stitches on your needle. Work in stockinette stitch by knitting the right-side rows and purling the wrong-side rows until the armhole measures six-and-a-half inches deep.

5. Shape the shoulder of the vest by binding off six stitches at the beginning of the next two rows and seven stitches at the beginning of the following two rows. You now have 38 stitches left on your needle. Cut your yarn, leaving a 6-inch tail, and put these 38 stitches onto a stitch holder or scrap of yarn. These stitches will form the back of the neck.

6. Slip the stitches for the front of the vest from the stitch holder back to the circular needle. Work the back of the vest until the arm hole measures 5 inches in depth. Knit 23 stitches and put the stitches just worked onto a stitch holder. These will form the right neck and shoulder. Knit 17 more stitches and put those 17 stitches onto another stitch holder. These will form the center of the front neck. Knit across to the end of the row. Turn and purl back across these 23 stitches. On the next row, knit one stitch, knit two stitches together and knit to the end of the row. Purl the next row. Repeat the last two rows three more times. Knit, without decreasing, until the arm hole measures six-and-a-half inches deep, ending with a knit row. Bind off six stitches at the beginning of the next purl row, knit one row, and bind off the last seven stitches at the beginning of the next purl row.

7. Slip the stitches for the left neck and shoulder back onto your circular needle. Knit across to the last three stitches, knit two stitches together and knit the last stitch. Turn your work and purl the next row. Repeat the last two rows three more times. Knit, without decreasing, until the arm hole measures six-and-a-half inches deep, ending with a purl row. Bind off six stitches at the beginning of the next knit row, purl the next row and bind off the remaining seven stitches at the beginning of the next knit row. Turn the vest inside out and sew the right shoulder seam together. Repeat for the left shoulder seam.

8. Turn the vest right side out. With your smaller circular needle, begin at the bottom of the arm hole and pick up and knit three stitches for every four rows of the back of the arm hole. Pick up the same number of stitches for the front of the armhole. Join your stitches for knitting in the round and work one inch of knit one, purl one ribbing. Bind off the arm hole stitches. Repeat for the second arm hole.

9. Slip the stitches for the back of the neck onto your circular needle. Pick up three stitches for every four rows along the side of the neck, slip the stitches from the front neck holder back onto your circular needle, and pick up and knit the same number of stitches along the other side of the neck. Join your stitches for knitting in the round and work one inch of knit one, purl one ribbing. Bind off these stitches. Weave in all yarn ends.

References

• Craft Yarn Council: Standard Body Measurements
• Lion Brand Yarn: Estimating Yarn Amounts
• Lion Brand Yarn: Knitting on Circular Needles
• Craft Yarn Council: Woman Size Chart
• "Teach Yourself Visually Knitting Design"; Sharon Turner; 2007

Resources

• Lion Brand Yarn: Learn To Knit