Swans Island Lulu Vest Knitting Pattern

Swans Island Lulu Knit Vest

What is Being Made

The Lulu is a knit vest designed by Stacey McCrear Warner and published as pattern number 221 by Swans Island. This intermediate-level project creates a tailored vest with a distinctive side slit detail and button front closure. The vest is available in six sizes ranging from extra small through 2X-large, with finished bust measurements from 32½ inches to 50½ inches and a consistent finished length of approximately 27 to 28 inches.

Construction Techniques

The Lulu employs a bottom-up construction method, meaning the knitter begins at the lower edge and works upward toward the shoulders. The garment is worked flat on circular needles using back-and-forth rows rather than in the round, which allows for easier shaping and the creation of the side slit feature. The design is seamless, eliminating the need for seaming pieces together after knitting is complete.

The front and back pieces are initially worked separately for the first 8 inches from the cast-on edge to create a deliberate side slit opening. After this 8-inch section, the front and back pieces are joined together using the 3-needle bind-off technique, a special method that binds off stitches while simultaneously joining two pieces of knitting. Once joined, the body continues to be worked back and forth in rows to the armholes. The front and back are then divided and worked separately again to shape the shoulders and neckline.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch pattern throughout the Lulu is Broken Rib, a textured knit stitch that creates visual interest while remaining relatively simple to execute. The Broken Rib pattern uses a multiple of 3 stitches plus 2 extra stitches and alternates between two rows: the first row (worked on the wrong side) consists of knit 2, purl 1 repeats, while the second row (worked on the right side) is worked entirely in knit stitches. This alternating pattern is repeated throughout the garment.

Standard knitting abbreviations and techniques are employed, including knit (k), purl (p), yarn over (yo) for creating decorative increases, knit 2 together (k2tog) for decreasing, and slip, slip, knit (ssk) for left-leaning decreases. Stitch markers are used to denote pattern repeats and shaping points, while stitch holders temporarily secure stitches during construction.

Materials and Gauge

The Lulu is designed to be knit with Swans Island Washable Wool Collection, a yarn composed of 100% fine merino wool treated with Ecowash® for easy care. The yarn is sport weight, with each skein weighing 100 grams and containing 360 yards. Depending on the size being knitted, the project requires between 3 and 5 skeins of yarn. The color shown in the pattern sample is WWS134 Geranium.

Knitting is performed on US size 5 (3.75 mm) circular needles in both 16-inch and 29-inch lengths, or the size needed to obtain the correct gauge. The pattern gauge is 6 stitches and 10 rows equal 1 inch when worked in Broken Rib stitch. Achieving the correct gauge is essential for proper fit, and knitters are advised to check their gauge before beginning the project.

Additional materials required include stitch markers, stitch holders, five ½-inch buttons for the front closure, and a yarn needle for weaving in ends and seaming any necessary details.