String Franny Vest Knitting Pattern

String Franny Vest

What Is Being Made

The Franny Vest is an intermediate-level knitted sleeveless garment designed by Lidia Karabinech. This pullover vest features a sophisticated cable panel construction and is available in four sizes: Small (bust 34½"), Medium (bust 38"), Large (bust 41½"), and Extra Large (bust 45"). The finished length to shoulder measures 22½ inches, making it a versatile layering piece suitable for various styling options.

Techniques Used

The Franny Vest employs several advanced knitting techniques that contribute to its intermediate difficulty level:

• Bottom-Up Construction: The vest is knitted from the bottom edge upward, allowing for straightforward shaping and measurement adjustments during the knitting process.
• Worked Flat and In-the-Round: The body pieces are worked flat on straight needles, while the neckline is finished using a 16-inch circular needle for seamless ribbing.
• Cable Work: The design features prominent cable panels, including a 74-stitch cable panel measuring 11 inches wide when blocked. Two distinct cable patterns are used: Cable 1 (18 stitches) and Cable 2, both incorporating 4/4 right cross (RC) and 4/4 left cross (LC) cable crosses.
• Seamed Construction: Individual pieces are knitted separately and then seamed together using the three-needle bind-off technique, which joins two pieces while binding off in a single step for a secure, finished edge.

Stitches Used

The Franny Vest utilizes a variety of essential knitting stitches to create its textured and structured design:

• Stockinette Stitch (St st): The primary stitch used throughout most of the garment, created by alternating knit rows on the right side with purl rows on the wrong side. This stitch provides a smooth, classic fabric base.
• Reverse Stockinette Stitch (Rev St st): The inverse of stockinette, with purl stitches on the right side and knit stitches on the wrong side, used to create textural contrast and highlight the cable panels.
• K1, P1 Ribbing: Used for the neckline and likely the armhole and hem edges, this alternating knit-purl pattern creates elastic, fitted edges that hold their shape.
• Cable Stitches: The design features 4/4 right cross and 4/4 left cross cables, created by slipping stitches to a cable needle, holding them to the front or back, and crossing them over the main stitches. Additional specialized cable decreases (4-st Ldec and 4-st Rdec) reduce stitch count while maintaining the cable pattern integrity.
• Decreases: K2tog (knit 2 together), ssk (slip, slip, knit), and specialized cable decreases shape the armholes and neckline.
• Increases: Kfb (knit in front and back) increases stitches where needed for shaping.

Materials and Gauge

The Franny Vest is designed to be knitted with String CAPRI DK yarn, a luxurious 100% cashmere fiber. The yardage requirements are 5 balls for Small, 6 balls for Medium and Large, and 7 balls for Extra Large. Each ball contains 1.75 ounces (50 grams) and 150 yards (137 meters), providing approximately 750 to 1,050 total yards depending on size. The sample shown is worked in color 200007 dune.

Knitting needles required include US size 6 (4mm) straight needles for the body pieces and a US size 6 (4mm) circular needle measuring 16 inches long for the neckline ribbing. Additional tools include a cable needle for managing cable stitches, stitch markers to denote pattern sections, stitch holders to temporarily secure stitches, and a yarn needle for weaving in ends and seaming pieces together.

The gauge is critical for proper fit: 18 stitches and 25 rows equals 4 inches (10 centimeters) in stockinette stitch when blocked. The 74-stitch cable panel measures 11 inches (28 centimeters) when properly blocked. Achieving accurate gauge before beginning the project is essential to ensure the finished vest matches the intended measurements.