Blue Sky Fibers Ida's Vest Knitting Pattern

Blue Sky Fibers Ida's Vest: Knitted Tunic-Length Vest with Box Stitch Texture

What Is Being Made

Ida's Vest is a tunic-length fitted vest designed by Elinor Brown, crafted using the Blue Sky Fibers Worsted Hand Dyes yarn. This advanced-level knitting project features a flattering fitted silhouette with waist shaping and is available in eight sizes to fit bust measurements ranging from 30¾ inches to 44¾ inches. The vest is finished with five 1¼-inch buttons for closure.

Techniques Used

This pattern employs a bottom-up construction method, meaning the vest is knitted starting from the lower edge and working upward toward the shoulders. The garment is worked flat on circular needles using back-and-forth rows rather than in the round, and pieces are seamed together to create the finished vest. The construction includes strategic waist shaping achieved through paired decreases (k2tog and ssk decreases) placed at marked intervals to create a contoured, fitted shape.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch pattern featured in Ida's Vest is the Box Stitch, which is worked over a multiple of 4 stitches. The Box Stitch creates interesting texture through a combination of knit and purl stitches:

• Box Stitch Pattern (4-row repeat): Row 1 (wrong side): Purl 2, knit 2, repeat to end. Row 2: Knit the knit stitches and purl the purl stitches as they face you. Row 3: Purl the knit stitches and knit the purl stitches as they face you. Row 4: Repeat Row 2. This creates a textured, dimensional fabric.
• Rib Pattern (worked flat): Used for edge sections, worked over a multiple of 4 stitches with knit 2, purl 2 ribbing.
• Rib Pattern (worked in the round): Knit 2, purl 2 ribbing used for circular sections, creating elastic, fitted edges.

Materials and Tools

The vest is knitted using Blue Sky Fibers Worsted Hand Dyes yarn, a worsted-weight yarn available in hand-dyed colorways such as Petunia #2026 (shown in the pattern photo). The yardage requirement is 100 yards per 100-gram hank, with a total of 6 to 10 hanks needed depending on the size selected. Knitting needles required include Size 9 (5.5mm) circular needles—both a 32-inch length for working the body and a 16-inch length for smaller circumferences. Additional materials include stitch markers to track waist shaping points, stitch holders for temporarily securing stitches, a tapestry needle for seaming and weaving in ends, and five 1¼-inch buttons for the front closure.