Blue Sky Fibers Shawl Collar Vest Knitting Pattern

Blue Sky Fibers Shawl Collar Vest

What is Being Made

This is a chic sleeveless vest featuring a distinctive wide shawl collar and interesting construction details. The garment is designed as a perfect layering piece, offering versatile styling options for various occasions and seasons. The vest is available in six sizes ranging from XS to 2XL, making it accessible for different body types.

Craft and Project Type

This is a knitting pattern for a vest designed by Bobbi IntVeld. The pattern is offered as a downloadable PDF format, allowing crafters to access the instructions digitally and work at their own pace.

Techniques Used

The Shawl Collar Vest employs several key knitting techniques:

• Bottom-up construction: The vest is worked from the bottom upward, allowing for easy adjustments and fitting as you progress
• Worked flat: Pieces are knitted flat on straight needles rather than in the round, then seamed together
• Seamed assembly: Individual pieces are joined using seaming techniques to create the finished garment
• Three-needle bind-off: Used for shoulder seaming, a technique that binds off stitches from two needles simultaneously while joining them together
• Simultaneous shaping: Side, neck, and armhole shaping are worked concurrently, requiring careful attention to the pattern instructions

Stitches Used

The pattern utilizes fundamental knitting stitches appropriate for an Advanced Beginner skill level:

• Ribbing Pattern: A 1x1 rib (knit 1, purl 1) worked over a multiple of 2 stitches, creating an elastic texture at the hem and cuffs
• Stockinette Stitch (St st): The primary stitch for the body of the vest, creating a smooth, classic fabric with a knit side facing outward
• Knit and purl stitches: Basic stitches worked individually and in combination
• Decreases: Knit two together (k2tog) reductions for shaping the sides and armholes
• Bind-off: Standard cast-off technique to finish edges

Materials and Tools

The Shawl Collar Vest is worked using Blue Sky Skinny Cotton yarn, a fine-weight cotton blend ideal for lightweight, breathable garments. The pattern requires 5 to 9 hanks depending on the size being knitted (ranging from 5 hanks for XS to 9 hanks for 2XL), with each hank providing 150 yards from a 65-gram skein.

Essential tools include:

• Size 5 (3.75mm) straight needles for working the flat pieces
• Size 5 (3.75mm) circular needle measuring 32 inches or longer, used for holding stitches and potentially for working certain sections
• Stitch markers to denote pattern repeats and shaping points
• Stitch holders for temporarily securing stitches during construction
• Tapestry needle for seaming pieces together and weaving in yarn ends
• One button measuring 1 to 1½ inches for closure details

Pattern Details and Skill Level

This pattern is rated for Advanced Beginner knitters, indicating it includes techniques beyond basic knitting but remains accessible to those with foundational skills. The pattern photo shown features the vest in Basil #313, a color option available in Blue Sky Skinny Cotton.

The construction begins with casting on 46 to 80 stitches depending on size, followed by ribbed edging worked over 5 rows. The body is then worked in stockinette stitch with concurrent shaping for the sides, armholes, and neckline. The distinctive shawl collar and shoulder construction add visual interest while remaining manageable for intermediate-level knitters.