Classic Elite Yarns Graciosa Vest Knitting Pattern

Classic Elite Yarns Graciosa Knit Vest

What is Being Made

The Graciosa is an easy-to-knit wrap vest designed by Susan Mills, originally published in Gigi 1802A. This piece combines the simplicity of a wrap style with minimal finishing requirements, making it an accessible project for knitters of various skill levels. The vest features a wrap construction with rolled stockinette stitch edges and is available in three sizes: Small, Medium/Large, and Extra Large, with finished measurements of 41 (46, 51) inches wide and 24 (25, 26¼) inches tall.

Construction Technique

The Graciosa is knit side to side, beginning at the right front and ending at the left front. This side-to-side construction method allows for strategic shaping of armholes and buttonholes worked directly into the fabric during knitting. The piece is worked flat on circular needles rather than in the round, and the designer notes that measurements should be taken with edges unrolled to account for the natural rolling of the stockinette stitch borders.

The construction begins with a cast-on of 120 (125, 131) stitches and progresses through several key sections: an initial stockinette section measuring 6 inches, followed by a buttonhole placement, then expansion to the full width before shaping for the right armhole slit. After working the right armhole section, the left armhole slit is shaped using the same technique. The piece concludes with a final stockinette section before binding off all stitches knitwise.

Stitches and Stitch Techniques

The Graciosa is worked almost entirely in Stockinette Stitch (St st), which creates the classic smooth, V-patterned fabric characteristic of knit garments. The rolled edges that define this design are a natural result of stockinette stitch edges, which curl when left unblocked—a feature the pattern embraces rather than eliminates.

Shaping is accomplished through strategic bind-offs and cast-ons rather than decreases and increases. For the armhole slits, the pattern uses bind-off rows on the right side followed by cast-on rows on the wrong side using the backward loop cast-on method. A single buttonhole is worked using a similar bind-off and cast-on technique, with 2 stitches bound off and then cast back on using the backward loop method. The pattern notes that only one buttonhole is intentionally worked; the second button provides additional styling options for how the wrap can be fastened.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The Graciosa is designed to be knit with Gigi by Classic Elite Yarns, a yarn blend composed of 85% cotton, 10% silk, and 5% stretch polyester. Each 50-gram ball yields approximately 142 yards of yarn. The yardage requirements are 6 (7, 8) balls depending on size, providing approximately 852 (994, 1136) yards total for the completed vest.

The pattern calls for US size 6 (4 mm) circular knitting needles measuring 32 inches or longer. Circular needles are used for this flat-knit project to accommodate the width of the piece comfortably. Two ¾-inch buttons are required for finishing, allowing the wrap to be secured at the front.

Finishing and Skill Level

The Graciosa is rated as an Easy skill level project, making it suitable for knitters with basic knitting experience. Finishing is minimal and straightforward: weave in ends and block the piece to measurements while allowing the stockinette edges to roll naturally. Button placement is precise, with the first button positioned 6 inches below the left front bind-off edge and 4¾ inches in from the right-hand selvedge, and the second button placed 9¼ inches below the bind-off edge at the same distance from the selvedge.