Side-to-Side Sampler Vest or Sweater
Vertical stripes are created by knitting this sweater from side to side (instead of from the bottom up) in rows of thick or textured yarns alternating occasionally with rows of thinner yarns worked in garter stitch and other stitches as desired. On size US 8 or 9 needles, make a gauge swatch of at least $4^{\circ}\times4^{\prime\prime}$ with several of the thick and thin yarns, measure your gauge carefully (you are looking for an average as the various yarns. will differ slightly), copy your gauge per inch into the blanks indicated in the pattern, and multiply by the number of inches for your stitch count. Sleeves, if desired, are worked bottom to top in the usual manner. Your gauge: stitches per inch.
Yarns used in sweater pictured at right
Elann Esprit or Cascade Fixation, 3 prints and 2 solid colors, $98.\dot{3}\%$ Cotton/ 1 $7\%$ Elastic (esp. recommended for the armholes) Elann Sonata in Burnished Apricot and Butterscotch, $100\%$ Mercerized Cotton Elann Peruvian Baby Silk in Lotus Blossom. $80\%$ Baby Alpaca/ $\left.20\%$ Silk Elann SuperTweed in Summer Tweed, $39\%$ Cotton/ $28\%$ Wool/ $28\%$ Acrylic/" $4\%$ Nylon/ $\mathsf{196}$ Elastane Mister Joe Pony in Summer Berries, $43\%$ Wool/ $40\%$ Acrylic/ $17\%$ Nylon These are just suggestions. A sampler sweater is a good way to use up odds and ends. If you are _using,a stretchy yarn (such as Esprit/Fixation), you may need to switch to needles one size larger for those rows to keep the gauge consistent. Plan on about 900 yards of yarn for a sleeveless version.
Finished measurements
Small = 38" around and 20" long Medium $=42"$ around and 21" long Large $=46"$ around and 22" long Extra Large $=50"$ around and 23" long Directions given for Size S [M, L, XL]
Right Front
With a smooth and medium-to heavy yarn, cast on gauge x 16[17,17.5, $18]=_{-}$ sts. (this first yarn will be your button band). Knit in garter, seed or rib stitch for 4[4.5, 5, 5] inches, switching yarns (and stitches if desired)every fewrows CO an additional gauge X 4 [4, 4.5, $5]=-$ sts at neck edge. Work in desired stitches for 5 [5.5, 6, 7] inches.
Right Armhole
BO gauge x 7[7.5, 8, 9] $=$ sts, beginning at neck edge. Work for 2 inches. CO gauge_ x 7[7.5, 8, 9] $=$ sts.
Back
Work for 5 [5.5, 6, 7] inches. BO gauge ×1 sts at neck edge. Work for 7[8, 9, 9] inches. CO gauge_ x1 = sts at neck edge. Work for 5 [5.5, 6, 7] inches.
Left Armhole
BO gauge. $\times\,7[7.5,\,8,\,9]=\_$ sts, beginning at neck edge. Work for 2 inches. CO gauge_ x 7[7.5, 8, 9] $=$ sts.
Left Front
Work for 5 [5.5, 6, 7] inches. Bind off gauge. x 4 [4, 4.5, 5], = sts at neck edge. Work for 3.5[4, 4.5, 4.5] inches. Work buttonhole row: Beginning.3 sts from neck edge, work 5 to 8 buttonholes BO1-2sts,onnextrow,CO1-2sts above the bound off sts. To close with just one large button, beginning 3 sts from neck edge, work by BO 3 sts, on next row, CO°3 'sts above the bound off sts. Continue working .until piece measures 4[4.5, 5, 5]inches from last decreases. BO all sts.
Optional instructions for
sleeves
Cast on gauge x 9[10, 11, ${12}]=$ sts. If ribbed cuff is desired, work K2,P2 rib for $\dashv-2^{\circ}$ with 1 or 2 size smaller needles, using one of the medium-weight smooth yarns. Work sleeves in garter stitch or other stitches as desired, changing yarns to match body of garment. Increase 1 st at beginning and end of row every 8th row until you have gauge x 16[17, 18, $20]=$ sts. Knit even until piece measures 16.5[16.5, 17.5, 17.5] inches. Sleeve cap: BO 4 st at the beginning of next 8 rows. BO 6 st at the beginning of next 4 rows. BO remaining stitches. Knit second sleeve, following yarn and stitch changes in first sleeve.
Finishing
Sew shoulder seams together. If applicable, sew sleeve seams together and sew sleeves to body. Sew buttons onto button band opposite buttonholes If desired, crochet an edging around neck and bottom hem, or attach an I-cord trim.
