Afterglow Vest in MODE at Rowan Cotton DK or Alpaca Haze PDF

Afterglow Vest by Quail Studio

What is Being Made

The Afterglow Vest is a sleeveless knitted garment designed by Quail Studio, available as a downloadable digital PDF pattern. This vest is crafted to fit chest sizes ranging from 71–76 cm (28–30 inches) up to 152–157 cm (60–62 inches), with nine size options to accommodate a wide range of body measurements. The finished garment features actual chest measurements from 88 cm (34¾ inches) to 168 cm (66¼ inches), making it a versatile layering piece suitable for various body types and styling preferences.

Techniques Used

The Afterglow Vest employs fundamental knitting techniques appropriate for beginner-level knitters. The construction begins with a ribbed cuff worked in a classic knit-purl pattern, establishing structure and elasticity at the garment's foundation. The main body is constructed using the fisherman rib stitch, a textured and elastic technique that creates depth and visual interest while maintaining flexibility. This stitch is achieved through a specialized knit abbreviation, K1b (knit into stitch below), which involves knitting into the stitch below the current stitch on the needle, then knitting into the next stitch and the corresponding stitch on the previous row. This creates a dense, reversible fabric with excellent recovery properties.

The vest features front neck shaping worked by decreasing stitches at the neckline edge on alternating rows and then at regular intervals on every fourth row, creating a flattering curved neckline. The pattern uses stitch holders to manage stitches during construction, allowing separate working of the front neck sections and later grafting or binding off of the back neckline. The construction method involves working the back and front pieces separately, with careful attention to row counts to ensure proper alignment at the shoulder seams.

Stitches Used

• Ribbed stitch: Alternating knit and purl stitches (K1, P1 pattern) worked in the round or flat to create the initial cuff and structural edges
• Fisherman rib: The primary stitch used for the main body, created using the K1b technique combined with purl stitches to form a textured, elastic fabric
• Slip stitch: Used at the beginning of rows (sl1) to create neat, finished edges
• Decrease stitches: Strategic decreasing at the front neckline to shape the garment opening

Materials and Tools

The Afterglow Vest can be knitted using either Rowan Cotton DK or Alpaca Haze yarn, offering flexibility in fiber choice and finished aesthetic. For the Cotton DK option, the pattern requires 8 to 12 balls of 50-gram yarn depending on size selection, with the photographed version shown in Taupe 021. Alternatively, knitters may choose Alpaca Haze, which requires 3 to 6 balls of 25-gram yarn per size, with the example photographed in Golden 021. Both yarn options are worked at a tension of 20 stitches and 44 rows over 10 centimeters using 3.25mm (US 3) needles. Additional supplies include stitch holders for managing stitches during construction and stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and shaping points. The pattern is provided as a downloadable PDF document (reference MIP103-ENP), making it immediately accessible for digital viewing and printing.