Bartlette Vest Knitting Pattern

Bartlette Vest in Noro Miyabi

What is Being Made

The Bartlette Vest is an intermediate-level knitted sleeveless garment designed for a close, fitted silhouette. This downloadable PDF pattern provides seven size options ranging from X-Small through 3X-Large, with finished bust measurements from 38 inches (96.5 cm) to 63 inches (160 cm). The vest features a longer back length compared to the front, with back lengths ranging from 26 inches to 29 inches (66 to 73.5 cm) and front lengths from 24 inches to 27 inches (61 to 68.5 cm). The pattern shown in the sample is sized Small.

Knitting Techniques Used

This intermediate knitting project employs several fundamental and intermediate techniques to construct the vest. The pattern utilizes increase methods including make one stitches worked both knitwise and purlwise, which are worked by lifting the strand between stitches on the needle and knitting or purling into the back loop to add stitches gradually. Decrease techniques featured in the pattern include slip, slip, knit (SSK) and slip, slip, purl (SSP) methods, which involve slipping two stitches individually knitwise or purlwise and then working them together to decrease one stitch at a time.

The pattern incorporates stitch markers to help track pattern repeats and shaping points throughout the knitting process. Pick up and knit techniques are used to add stitches along finished edges, allowing the knitter to work perpendicular to the original direction. The pattern also includes chart reading with "no stitch" spaces indicated by shaded areas on the charts, which the knitter skips over as stitches are decreased or before they are made. Selvage stitches are incorporated at the edges to facilitate easier seaming when assembling the finished pieces.

Stitches Used

The Bartlette Vest pattern employs basic knit and purl stitches as foundational elements. The pattern uses knit stitches worked knitwise by inserting the needle as if to knit, and purl stitches worked purlwise by inserting the needle as if to purl. Slip stitches are used throughout, where stitches are passed from the left-hand needle to the right-hand needle without being worked, typically as if to purl to maintain consistent tension. These fundamental stitches are combined with the increase and decrease techniques mentioned above to create shaping and textural elements within the vest design.

Materials and Tools

The Bartlette Vest requires Noro Miyabi yarn in colorway #04, with yardage quantities varying by size: 4 hanks for X-Small, Small, and Medium sizes; 4 hanks for Large; 5 hanks for 1X and 2X sizes; and 6 hanks for 3X. Each hank weighs 100 grams. Knitters will need one pair of US size 7 (4.5mm) needles, or the size required to obtain the specified gauge for the pattern. The pattern recommends using contrasting yarn or purchased stitch markers to track progress throughout construction.