Stewart In Rowan Alpaca Soft Vest Knitting Pattern

Stewart Vest in Rowan Alpaca Soft

What Is Being Made

The Stewart is a knitted vest designed as an advanced beginner project. This garment is constructed as a pullover-style vest with a fitted silhouette and front neck shaping. The design features a collar detail and is available in three sizes to fit chest measurements of 80cm (31½ inches), 110cm (43¼ inches), and 140cm (55 inches). The actual chest measurements of the finished garment are 80cm, 110cm, and 140cm respectively.

Techniques Used

The Stewart employs several intermediate knitting techniques appropriate for advanced beginners. The construction includes shoulder shaping achieved through strategic cast-offs worked at the beginning of rows to create a sloped shoulder line. Neck shaping is incorporated through decreases worked at regular intervals along the neck edge, with the pattern instructions specifying decreases on alternating 8th and 6th rows. The garment also features side edge increases worked simultaneously with neck decreases to maintain proper proportions. The pattern uses stitch pattern integration, maintaining a ribbed pattern at the side edges while working stockinette stitch in the main body sections. Additionally, the design includes a collar created from stitches held on a stitch holder at the front neck opening.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch throughout the Stewart is stockinette stitch (st st), which creates a smooth, classic fabric suitable for a fitted vest. Ribbing (K1, P1 rib) is used at the side edges to provide structure and elasticity. The pattern incorporates increases using specialized techniques: M1R (make one right) and M1L (make one left), which are worked by picking up the horizontal loop before the next stitch and knitting into it to create an invisible increase. These increase methods are essential for the side edge shaping worked during neck decreases. Standard cast-offs are used to shape the shoulders and complete the garment.

Materials

The Stewart is designed to be knitted using Rowan Alpaca Soft yarn in 50-gram balls. The pattern requires 3 balls for the smallest size, 4 balls for the medium size, and 4 balls for the largest size. The yarn is worked on 4mm (US 6) needles (one pair). The recommended tension is 22 stitches and 30 rows to 10 centimeters measured over stockinette stitch using 4mm needles. The pattern specifies a closed zip measuring 20 centimeters in length as a finishing detail. The sample photographed was made in Rowan Alpaca Soft colorway Deep Rose 206.