The Subtle Stripe

Unable to find a suitable v-neck pattern to contour my tall, slender Scandinavian S.O.’s long-torso and slim hipped dimensions, I came up with this more-than-meets-the-eye vest. Knit in the round with a subtle bas-relief vertical striping pattern, it also features twisted stitch ribbing and narrower racer stripe details under the arms. Although my muse may not currently need it, the vertical stripes are slimming and understated, perfect for any fashion conscious fellow.

The knitting is very simple once you get the hang of the twisted stitch & purl combo at the edge of the stripes, and it's knit in the round to the armholes. I’ve suggested using a little bit of short row shaping around the shoulders for a better fit and then kitchener stitch to join the front and back of the vest at the top, meaning there is not a single seam to be sewn up on this piece! In fact, the finishing was so easy I was inspired to immediately cast on a second one for my dad.

The Knitpicks Andean Silk is soft and smooth to work with and blocks well, though it hardly needs it. The alpaca-silk-merino blend is quite warm, perfect for transitioning into the winter months in cool climates, and keeping that thermostat turned down a notch or two through the dark months. In warmer areas or for a longer season of wearing, I'd suggest substituting a different worsted weight yarn so use your imagination! When blocking be sure to pay attention to the straight lines of the piece -- they may tend to curve slightly in one direction depending on your personal knitting style, but are easily coaxed into place.

SIZE

XS [S, M, L, XL] (shown in size XS [Cranberry], M [Olive])

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Chest: 36[38, 40, 42, 44] inches
Length: 22.5[22.5, 23, 23, 23.5] inches

MATERIALS

KnitPicks Andean Silk [55% superfine alpaca, 23% silk, 22% merino wool; 96yd per 50g skein]; color: Cranberry or Olive 7 [7, 8, 8, 9] skeins

1 32-inch US #5/3.75mm circular needle

1 24-inch US #5/3.75mm circular needle

4 stitch holders/spare cable needle

5 stitch markers (one should be unique to mark beginning of row)

Scrap yarn ties/safety pins to help with picking up stitches around openings

(optional)

Safety pin

Tape measure

Tapestry needle

GAUGE

22 sts/30 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch

Click on the Paypal button for your copy of The Subtle Stripe. You'll receive a pdf copy via email after payment. If you're in a big hurry leave me a comment or message me on Ravelry (I'm malaraky over there), that's the quickest way to get to me! Thanks!

[11.16.08 ETA: You can now purchase this pattern and download the pdf right away through Ravelry:]

Or use Paypal here if you like, just make sure to send me a message or leave a comment so I send you the pattern - I don't check my Paypal balance every day!
$4.00