ESSENCE VEST WITH HOOD

Instructions

Tension

25 sts and 28 rows to 10cm over rib, using 5mm needles.

Note - This project has been worked on bigger needles than normally recommended.

Back

Using pair 4mm needles, cast on 127 (139-151-165) sts.

Beg rib for casing - 1st row (RS) - K2, * P1, K1, rep from * to last st, K1.

2nd row - K1, * P1, K1, rep from * to end.

Rep 1st and 2nd rows until work measures 4cm from beg, ending with a 2nd row.

Tie a coloured thread at each end of last row to mark foldline for casing.

Work a further 4cm in rib, ending with a 2nd row.

Change to 5mm needles.

Cont in rib until work measures 28cm from coloured threads, ending with a 2nd row. **

Shape Armholes - Keeping rib correct, cast off 10 (11-12-15) sts at beg of next 2 rows ... 107 (117-127-135) sts.

Dec one st at each end of next row, then in every foll alt row until 89 (95-103-107) sts rem.

Cont in rib without shaping until armholes measure 24 (25-26-27) cm, ending with a 2nd row.

Shape Shoulders - Cast off 6 (7-8-8) sts at beg of next 4 rows, then 7 (7-8-9) sts at beg of foll 2 rows.

Leave rem 51 (53-55-57) sts on a stitch-holder.

LEFT FRONT

Using pair 4mm needles, cast on 63 (69-75-83) sts.

Work as for back to **.

Shape Armhole - Keeping rib correct, cast off 10 (11-12-15) sts at beg of next row ... 53 (58-63-68) sts.

Dec one st at armhole edge in every foll alt row until 44 (47-51-54) sts rem.

Cont in rib without shaping until armhole measures 24 (25-26-27) cm, ending with a 2nd row.

Shape Shoulder - Cast off 6 (7-8-8) sts at beg of next row and foll alt row.

Work 1 row. Cast off 7 (7-8-9) sts at beg of next row. Work 1 row.

Leave rem 25 (26-27-29) sts on a stitch-holder.

RIGHT FRONT

Using pair 4mm needles, cast on 63 (69-75-83) sts.

Work as for back to **.

Work 1 row.

Shape Armhole - Keeping rib correct, cast off 10 (11-12-15) sts at beg of next row ... 53 (58-63-68) sts.

Dec one st at armhole edge in next row, then in every foll alt row until 44 (47-51-54) sts rem.

Cont in rib without shaping until armhole measures 24 (25-26-27) cm, ending with a 2nd row.

Work 1 row.

Shape Shoulder - Cast off 6 (7-8-8) sts at beg of next row and foll alt row.

Work 1 row. Cast off 7 (7-8-9) sts at beg of next row.

Leave rem 25 (26-27-29) sts on a stitch-holder.

HOOD

Using mattress st, join shoulder seams. With RS facing and using 5mm needles, rib across sts from right front stitch-holder, back stitch holder - inc 0 (0-1-0 st/s at each end, then rib across sts from left front stitch-holder ... 101 (105-111-115) sts.

1st row (WS) - K1, * P1, K1, rep from * to end.

2nd row - K2, * P1, K1, rep from * to last st, K1.

Cont in rib until hood measures 23cm, ending with a 1st row.

Shape Back Of Hood - Next row - Rib 49 (51-54-56), sl 1, K2tog, psso, rib to end ... 99 (103-109-113) sts.

Work 1 row rib.

Next row - Rib 48 (50-53-55), sl 1, K2tog, psso, rib to end ... 97 (101-107-111) sts.

Work 1 row rib.

Next row - Rib 47 (49-52-54), sl 1, K2tog, psso, rib to end ... 95 (99-105-109) sts.

Cont dec 2 sts in centre (as before) until 77 (81-87-91) sts rem.

Work 1 row rib. Cast off.

Armhole bands

With RS facing and using pair 4mm needles, knit up 121 (131-137-147) sts evenly around armhole edge.

Work 2.5cm in rib as for Back, beg and ending with a 2nd row. Cast off.

Work other armhole in same manner.

I CORD

Using double pointed 4mm needles, cast on 5 sts.

1st row (RS) - K5, do not turn.

Slip sts to other end of needle, pull yarn firmly across back of work and rep 1st row.

Work each row in same direction until i-cord measures 160 (170-180-190) cm from beg.

Break off yarn, thread end through rem sts, draw up tightly and fasten off securely.

Finishing

Do not press. Using mattress st, join side and armhole band seams. Lay I cord along WS of lower edge of Vest, placing centre of I cord to centre back. Fold casing in half onto WS enclosing I cord. Slip st neatly in place to close, leaving side edges unsewn and remainder of I cord exposed. Tie ends of I cord in a knot to hold at front edges of each Front as pictured. Sew hood cast off edges together.