Cozy Fireside Vest

Skill Level: Intermediate 

Size: Extra Small (Small, Medium, Large, 1X/2X, 3X); Shown in Small

Gauge: 21 sts x 22 rows = 4” [10 cm] in fair-isle knitting using US Size 7 ndls after wet blocking; 23 sts x 28 rows = 4” [10 cm] in 1×1 ribbing using US Size 3 ndls after wet blocking 

Materials

Yarn:

 Universal Yarn Deluxe DK Superwash (100% superwash wool; 284 yards [259 meters]/100 grams): #840 Charcoal Heather (MC, 2 (3, 3, 4, 4, 5) balls), #839 Smoke Heather (CC1, 1 (2, 2, 2, 2, 3) balls), #841 Pomegranate Heather (CC2, 1 ball all sizes)
Needles: US size 3 (3.25 mm) 24” circular needles and set of dpns, US Size 7 (4.5 mm) 24” circular needles or sizes needed to obtain gauge
Notions: Tapestry needle, removable stitch markers, 20-24” separating zipper

Downloads

• Cozy Fireside Vest Schematics
• Cozy Fireside Vest Charts

Abbreviations

Sssk: Slip, slip, slip, knit
Ssk: Slip, slip, knit

Pattern Notes

This vest is worked in the round from the bottom up. The hem is worked back and forth in rows. Then work is joined in the round and stitches are cast on to form the front steek.
When casting on stitches for the steek, use the backward loop method.
Work steek sts as: [k1 MC, k1 CC] 5 times, k1 MC.
On rows 10 & 11 of Body chart, cut CC2. On row 12 of Body chart, cut MC.
When binding off and casting on stitches for Underarm and Neck openings, alternate MC and CC1.
The last few inches of the upper body are worked back and forth in rows after binding off for the front neck.
When picking up stitches for edgings, work between the outermost steek stitch and the first actual pattern stitch.

Pattern

Body

With MC and smaller circ ndl, cast on 157 (189, 221, 251, 283, 315) sts. 

Hem

Row 1 (RS): K2, * p1, k1; rep from * to last st, k1.
Row 2 (WS): P2, * k1, p1; rep from * to last st, p1.
Rep Rows 1 & 2 until piece meas 2” from cast on edge, ending with WS row. Knit 1 row, purl 1 row. With CC2, knit 1 row, purl 1 row. Break CC2. 

Join to work in the Round, Cast on for Steek

Next row (RS): Knit to last st, pm, k1, [with CC2, cast on 1, with MC, cast on 1] 4 times, with CC2 cast on 1. (164 (196, 228, 260, 292, 324) sts)
Pm and join to work in the rnd.
Rnd 1: Working onto larger ndl, with MC, k1, pm, work Row 1 of Right Front chart over 9 sts, pm, work Row 1 of Body chart to last 9 sts, work Row 1 of Left Front chart to m, work Steek sts (see pattern notes) over 11 sts. 32 st Body Fair Isle rep will be repeated 4 (5, 6, 7, 8, 9) times across rnd.
Rnds 2-12: Cont in patt as established.
Rnd 13: Work Row 13 of Right Front chart to m, work Row 1 of Body chart to m, work Row 13 of Left Front chart to m, work steek sts over 11 sts.
Cont in patt until piece meas 15” from cast-on edge.

Bind off for Armholes, Cast on for Armhole Steeks

Rnd 1: Work in patt over 33 (40, 47, 54, 61, 68) Right Front sts, bind off (see pattern notes) 8 (10, 12, 14, 16, 18) Right underarm sts, work in patt over 73 (87, 101, 115, 129, 143) Back sts, bind off 8 (10, 12, 14, 16, 18) Left underarm sts, work in patt over rem 33 (40, 47, 54, 61, 68) Left Front sts, work over 11 steek sts. 

Extra Small (Small) Sizes Only
Dec rnd/Cast on Armhole Steeks: *Work in patt to 2 sts before underarm bind off, ssk, pm, cast on 11 sts for steek, pm, k2tog; rep from * 1 more time, work in patt to end. (2 sts dec’d each armhole)
Cont to dec at armhole edges every rnd, – (1) more time, then dec every other rnd, 1 (4) more times. (69 (75) Back sts rem; 31 (34) sts rem each Front)

Medium (Large, 1X/2X, 3X) Sizes Only
Dec rnd/Cast on Armhole Steeks: *Work in patt to 3 sts before underarm bind off, sssk, pm, cast on 11 sts for steek, pm, k3tog; rep from * 1 more time, work in patt to end.
(4 sts dec’d each armhole)
Cont to dec 2 sts on each side of armholes every rnd, – (1, 3, 5) more times, then dec 1 st on each side of armholes every rnd, 2 (4, 5, 6) times, then dec 1 st on each side of armholes every other rnd, 7 (7, 6, 5) times. (79 (85, 91, 97) Back sts rem; 36 (39, 42, 45) sts rem each Front) 

Updated 11/14/2023

All Sizes
Work even in patt with no further decs until piece meas 4 3/4 (5 1/4, 5 1/2, 6, 6 1/4, 6 3/4)” from Armhole bind off. 

Shape Front Neck

Next rnd: Work in patt to last 14 (15, 15, 16, 17, 17) sts of round before steek sts, bind off all sts to front steek marker, bind off 11 front steek sts, bind off next 14 (15, 15, 16, 17, 17) sts.
Work will now be done back and forth in rows.
Dec row (WS): With MC p1, ssp, work in patt to last 3 sts, p2tog, with MC p1. (2 sts dec’d)
Dec row (RS): With MC k1, K2tog, work in patt to last 3 sts, ssk, with MC k1. (2 sts dec’d)
Rep Dec row every RS row, 2 more times. (13 (15, 17, 19, 21, 24) sts rem each Front)
Work even until piece meas 6 3/4 (7 1/4, 7 3/4, 8 1/4, 8 3/4, 9 1/4) from Armhole bind off, ending with WS row. 

Shape Back Left Neck

Next row (RS): Work in patt over Right Front sts and Right armhole steek, work in patt over 17 (19, 21, 23, 25, 28) Back sts, bind off center Back 35 (37, 37, 39, 41, 41) sts, work in patt to end. Place Right Side sts on holder.
Dec row (WS): Work in patt to last 3 sts, p2tog, with MC p1. (1 st dec’d at Neck edge)
Dec row (RS): With MC k1, k2tog, work in patt to end. (1 st dec’d at Neck edge)
Rep these 2 rows, 1 more time. (13 (15, 17, 19, 21, 24) sts rem for Left Back)
Work even, if necessary, until piece meas 73/4 (81/4, 83/4, 91/4, 93/4, 101/4)” from Armhole bind off. Bind off all Left Back, Left armhole steek, and Left Front sts with MC.

Shape Back Right Neck

Attach yarn at Neck edge.
Dec row (WS): With MC p1, ssp, work in patt to end. (1 st dec’d at Neck edge)
Dec row (RS): Work in patt to last 3 sts, ssk, with MC k1. (1 st dec’d at Neck edge)
Rep these 2 rows, 1 more time. (13 (15, 17, 19, 21, 24) sts rem for Left Back)
Work even, if necessary, until piece meas 73/4 (81/4, 83/4, 91/4, 93/4, 101/4)” from Armhole bind off. Bind off all Left Back, Left armhole steek, and Left Front sts with MC.

Finishing

Steek

With sewing machine, sew a line of short stitches on either side of the center steek stitch of all 3 steeks to secure. Cut straight down the center of each steek between lines of stitching.
Wet block Vest. Sew shoulder seams. 

Armhole Edging

With smaller dpns and MC, beg at center of underarm, pick up and knit 4 (5, 6, 7, 8, 9) sts along first half of underarm bind off, 80 (88, 92, 96, 104, 108) sts evenly around armhole, and 4 (5, 6, 7, 8, 9) sts along other half of underarm bind off. (88 (98, 104, 110, 120) sts)
PM and join to work in the rnd.
Rnd 1: Knit.
Rnds 2-3: With CC2, knit.
Rnd 4: With MC, knit.
Rnds 5-x: With MC, [k1, p1] around. Bind off all sts kwise over next rnd. 

Neck Edging

With smaller ndl and MC, with RS facing, beg at Right Front Neck edge, pick up and knit 1 st along steek st closest to actual pattern sts, 14 (15, 15, 16, 17, 17) sts along Right Front Neck bind off, 16 (16, 17, 17, 19, 19) sts along side of Right Front Neck, 6 sts along Right Back Neck, 35 (37, 37, 39, 41, 41) sts along Back Neck, 16 (16, 17, 17, 19, 19) sts along Left Back Neck, 14 (15, 15, 16, 17, 17) along Left Front Neck, 14 (15, 15, 16, 17, 17) sts along Left Front Neck bind off, and 1 st in next steek st. (109 (113, 115, 119, 127, 127) sts)
Row 1 (WS): Purl.
Row 2 (RS): With CC2, knit.
Row 3: With CC2, purl. Break CC.
Row 4: With MC, knit.
Row 5: With MC, p2, [k1, p1] to last st, p1.
Row 6: With MC, k2, [p1, k1] to last st, k1.
Rows 7-8: Rep Rows 5-6.
Row 9: Rep Row 5.
Bind off all sts kwise over the next RS row.

Front Edging

With smaller ndl, MC, and RS facing, pick up and knit 104 (106, 108, 110, 112, 114) sts evenly along Right Front opening from hem to Neck edge. Knit a WS row. Bind off all sts kwise over the next RS row. Repeat for Left Front opening.
Block Edgings. Steam cut steeks. Whipstitch to inside of vest. Measure front opening. Shorten separating zipper if necessary. Place zipper beneath Front Edging with bottom and top stops 1/4” from lower/upper edges and pin into place. Sew to Edging by hand or with a sewing machine.