Tahki Yarns Architectural Vest Knitting Pattern

Architectural Vest by Lisa Hoffman

What is Being Made

The Architectural Vest is a sleeveless knitted garment designed by Lisa Hoffman for Tahki Yarns. This vest features a sophisticated construction with a button-front closure and is available in six sizes ranging from Small to 3X, with finished bust measurements from 35 inches (89 cm) to 54 inches (137 cm) and lengths from 22½ inches (57 cm) to 26 inches (66 cm). The design combines classic tailoring with decorative cable patterning, making it suitable for layering over shirts and sweaters.

Techniques Used

The Architectural Vest is constructed using several key knitting techniques that create its refined structure and visual interest:

• Bottom-Up Construction: The vest is knitted from the bottom edge upward, beginning with cast-on stitches at the lower edge and working toward the neckline.
• Worked Flat: The pattern is worked on straight needles in flat pieces rather than in the round, allowing for seamed construction.
• Seamed Assembly: Individual pieces—including the left front, right front, and back sections—are knitted separately and then seamed together to create the finished garment.
• Cable Patterning: Decorative cable stitches are incorporated throughout the design using cable crosses (2/2 LC and 2/2 RC) that create textured vertical lines and architectural visual interest.
• Shaping Techniques: The vest includes strategic decreasing using k2tog and ssk (slip, slip, knit) decreases to shape the armholes and neckline for a fitted silhouette.
• Seed Stitch Edging: The lower edges begin with seed stitch, a textured stitch created by alternating knit and purl stitches, providing a decorative border.

Stitches Used

The pattern employs a focused selection of fundamental and decorative stitches:

• Stockinette Stitch: The primary stitch used throughout most of the vest, created by knitting on right-side rows and purling on wrong-side rows, producing a smooth, classic fabric surface.
• Seed Stitch: A textured alternating knit and purl pattern used for the initial edging rows, creating a bumpy, reversible fabric.
• Knit 1, Purl 1 Ribbing (K1, P1 Rib): Used for fitted sections that provide elasticity and structure.
• Cable Crosses: The pattern includes two primary cable maneuvers—2/2 LC (slip 2 stitches to cable needle and hold in front, knit 2, then knit 2 from cable needle) and 2/2 RC (slip 2 stitches to cable needle and hold in back, knit 2, then knit 2 from cable needle)—which create the characteristic twisted rope texture of cables.
• Decreases: K2tog (knit 2 together) and ssk/ssp (slip, slip, knit or purl) decreases are used to shape the garment.
• Increases: Evenly spaced increases are worked along specific rows to adjust stitch counts for pattern transitions.

Materials and Tools

The Architectural Vest is designed to be knitted with Tahki Yarns Cotton Classic Lite, a 100% mercerized cotton yarn that provides a lightweight, breathable fabric ideal for a sleeveless garment. The yardage requirement ranges from 6 skeins (for Small) to 11 skeins (for 3X), with each skein containing 146 yards (135 meters) and weighing 1.75 ounces (50 grams). The color specified in the pattern is #4003 linen white, a neutral shade suitable for versatile styling.

The following needles and notions are required for construction:

• One pair of size 5 (3.75mm) straight needles for the main flat knitting
• One size 5 (3.75mm) circular needle, 16 inches (40 cm) long, for working smaller sections
• One size 5 (3.75mm) circular needle, 24 inches (60 cm) long, for working larger sections
• A cable needle (cn) for executing cable crosses
• Stitch