Berroco Silures Vest Knitting Pattern

Berroco Silures Men's Vest by Norah Gaughan

What is Being Made

The Berroco Silures is a men's knitted vest designed by renowned knitwear designer Norah Gaughan. This intermediate-level garment is constructed in a fitted silhouette with finished chest measurements ranging from 36 inches (X-Small) to 56 inches (2X-Large) and a length between 26 and 28 inches depending on size. The vest features charted pattern work and is suitable for knitters with intermediate skills who are comfortable following detailed shaping instructions and working with stitch markers.

Techniques Used

This vest employs several key knitting techniques to achieve its structured fit and polished appearance:

• Bottom-up construction: The garment is knitted from the bottom edge upward, allowing knitters to try on and adjust length as needed before binding off
• Worked flat: Pieces are knitted on straight needles rather than in the round, creating separate front and back panels that are later seamed together
• Seamed assembly: Individual pieces are joined using seaming techniques to create a cohesive garment with clean, finished edges
• Charted pattern work: The vest features a charted stitch pattern that requires reading symbols from a visual diagram while knitting
• Strategic decreasing: Armhole and neck shaping is achieved through decrease rows (SSK and k2tog) worked on right-side rows and additional decrease rows spaced at regular intervals to create a tailored fit

Stitches Used

The Silures vest incorporates fundamental knitting stitches combined in charted pattern sequences. Key stitches include knit stitches (k), purl stitches (p), and decreases such as SSK (slip, slip, knit) and k2tog (knit two together). These decreases are worked strategically at armhole and neck edges to shape the garment. The pattern is worked in charted format on the larger needles, meaning knitters follow a visual representation of the stitch pattern rather than written row-by-row instructions. Stitch markers are used to denote pattern repeats and shaping points throughout construction.

Materials and Tools

The Berroco Silures calls for Berroco Vintage yarn, a durable and versatile wool blend. Yardage requirements range from 4 hanks (for X-Small) to 7 hanks (for 2X-Large), with each hank weighing 100 grams. The pattern was originally designed using Berroco Pure Merino, which has been discontinued; Berroco Vintage is recommended as the substitute yarn.

Knitting needles required include both size 6 (4.00 mm) and size 8 (5.00 mm) straight needles, or the size needed to obtain proper gauge. A single stitch marker is also necessary for tracking pattern repeats and shaping points. The recommended gauge is 20 stitches and 30 rows over 4 inches in charted pattern when worked on the larger needles. Achieving correct gauge before beginning is essential to ensure the finished vest meets the intended measurements.

Pattern Details

This intermediate pattern includes detailed shaping instructions for six different sizes (X-Small through 2X-Large), with all size variations provided in parentheses throughout the directions. The vest features armhole shaping worked symmetrically on both sides and neck shaping that progresses through multiple decrease rows spaced at regular intervals. The pattern emphasizes the importance of checking gauge before beginning to ensure accurate finished measurements and proper fit.