I’m so so obsessed with Irish Moss Stitch so much lately. The texture, and the drape, are so pretty. Also, I’m very into mohair yarn recently. Either work with 2ply mohair held together or pair mohair with any other type of yarn. The finished fabric is so delicate.
Yarns
For this vest, I knit with Moda Vera Faux Mo, held together with Loren Natural Baby. Both yarns are in Fingering weight. If you are not mixing any yarn or don’t like to knit with the yarn held together, DK Weight yarn is ideal.
Materials
- Circular Knitting Needles: size 5.0mm & 4.5mm
- Crochet Hook G Sizes 4.0mm
- Any DK Weight Yarn [ 710 (930, 1170)yards ]
- Stitch Maker (pin type) & Stitch Holder
- Measuring Tape
- Darning/Tapestry Needle
- Scissors
Gauge : 20sts X 26 Rows = 10cm X 10cm (in Stitch Irish Moss Stitch Pattern)
Finishes Sizes :
Sizes: S-M (L-XL, 2XL-3XL)
Bust: 46.5 (55.5, 64.5)cm
Lenght: 57.5 (62.5, 67.5)cm
Top Construction
- Vest is worked in the round bottom up. Then knit in flat once reaches the armhole.
- Start with bottom ribbing, bottom body, and then split to front and back.
- Shoulders are finished with Grafting on Knit One, Purl One technique.
- Finished up with k2p1(with the knit through back loop) ribbing at the neckline and both armholes.
Abbreviations
CO Cast On
BO Bind Of
K Knit
P Purl
KTBL Knit through Back Loop
K2TOG Knit 2 stitches together (right slanting decrease)
SSK Slip Slip Knit (left slanting decrease)
S2KP2 Slip 2 together, Knit 1, Pass Slipped stitch over
(center decrease)
STS Stitches
ST Stitch
SM Stitch Marker
PU Pick Up
RS Right Side
WS Wrong Side
* Repeat as directed
[ ] Stitch count in a row
Irish Moss Stitch Pattern
Irish Moss Stitch is a 4-row repeat stitch pattern. It is a simple repeat K1, P1 stitches and alternates the position every 2 rows. It can be knit on an even or odd number of stitches.
STITCH PATTERN CHART
Stitch Pattern Knit in Round
Row 1&2 :
*K1, P1* repeat till end
Row 3&4 :
*P1, K1* repeat till end
Repeat rows 1 – 4
Stitch Pattern Knit in Flat
Row 1 : RS
*K1, P1* repeat till end, turn
Row 2 : WS
*P1, K1* repeat till end, turn
Row 3 : RS
*P1, K1* repeat till end, turn
Row 4: WS
*K1, P1* repeat till end, turn
Repeat rows 1 – 4
Note :
- When instructions are written ‘knit in pattern’ mean continue knit in Irish Moss Stitch without any decrease or increase.
- When mentioning RIGHT/LEFT panel, it is mean the position of the panel when the right side of the work is facing you.
- Shoulder joins with open edges stitch method to create an invisible seam. If you aren’t confident with live stitches, you can just bind off the shoulders on the last row in the pattern at WS and seam them together with your own preferred method.
Vest Pattern
Bottom Ribbing
Crochet-Chain Cast on with 4.5mm needles & 4.0mm crochet hook.
CO 186 (222, 258) sts (the numbers can be divided by 3)
As it is working in the round, place SM to mark the end & beginning of the row.
ROW 1-24
*KTBL X2, P1* repeat to SM
[186 (222, 258) sts]
Lower Body
Switch to 5.0mm needles
ROW 1&2 :
*K1, P1* repeat to SM
[186 (222, 258) sts]
ROW 3&4 :
*P1, K1* repeat to SM
[186 (222, 258) sts]
Repeat Row 1 to 4 until
ROW 64 (70, 76)
After this, we will be splitting to front and back of the vest and knit back and forth. Working in 3 parts.
1st – Front right & neck shaping,
2nd – Front left & neck shaping,
3rd – Back & neck shaping
Leave 46 (55, 64) sts on working needles. The rest of sts, transfer to the stitch holder/scrap yarn.
Front Right Panel
ROW 65 (71, 77) : RS
BO 3, knit in pattern till 2 sts left, K2TOG the last 2 sts, turn
[42 (51, 60) sts]
ROW 66-68 (72-74, 78-80) :
Knit in pattern, turn
[42 (51, 60) sts]
ROW 69 (75, 81) : RS
Knit in pattern till 2 sts left, K2TOG the last 2 sts, turn
[41 (50, 59) sts]
ROW 70-72 (76-78, 82-84) :
Knit in pattern, turn
[41 (50, 59) sts]
Repeat rows 69-72 (75-78, 81-84)
another 14 (16, 17) times
until Row 128 (141, 152)
[27 (34, 42) sts]
Note: for sizes L-XL, you skip the last repeat row 78.
Knit in pattern additional 1 row for size S-M & 2XL-3XL.
You complete the front right panel at
ROW 129 (141, 151) RS.
Cut off the yarn enough length to weave in.
Transfer all the sts to the stitch holder.
We will be finishing the last row with grafting. Pick up 47 (56, 65) sts from the stitch holder/scrap yarn onto working needles.
Front Left Panel
ROW 65 (71, 77) : RS
Transfer 1 st to SM, this will be the center of the st for the V-neckline.
SSK, knit in pattern to the end, turn
[45 (54, 63) sts]
ROW 66 (72, 78) : WS
BO 3, knit in pattern to the end, turn
[42 (51, 60) sts]
ROW 67-68 (73-74, 79-80) :
Knit in pattern, turn
[42 (51, 60) sts]
ROW 69 (75, 81) : RS
SSK, knit in pattern to the end, turn
[41 (50, 59) sts]
ROW 70-72 (76-78, 82-84) :
Knit in pattern, turn
[41 (50, 59) sts]
Repeat row 69-72 (75-78, 81-84)
another 14 (16, 17) times
until ROW 128 (141, 152)
[27 (34, 42) sts]
Note: for size L-XL, you skip the last repeat row 78.
Knit in pattern additional 1 row for size S-M & 2XL-3XL.
You complete the front left panel at
Row 129 (141, 151) : RS.
Cut off the yarn enough length to weave in.
Transfer all the sts to the stitch holder.
We will be finishing the last row with grafting. Pick up all the 93 (111, 129) number of sts from the stitch holder/scrap yarn onto working needles.
Back Panel
ROW 65 (71, 77) : RS
BO 3, knit in pattern to the end, turn
[90 (108, 126) sts]
ROW 66 (72, 78) : WS
BO 3, knit in pattern to the end, turn
[87 (105, 123) sts]
ROW 67-116 (73-128, 79-140) :
Knit in pattern, turn
[87 (105, 123) sts]
Back Left Panel
ROW 117 (129, 141) : RS
Knit in pattern for 40 (47, 55) sts, transfer this 40 (47, 55) sts to a stitch holder. BO 7 (11,13) sts, knit in pattern to the end, turn
[40 (47, 55) sts]
Place SM at the CENTER of the BO 7 (11,13) for marking the beginning of collar ribbing.
ROW 118 (130, 142) : WS
Knit in pattern, turn
[40 (47, 55) sts]
ROW 119 (131, 143) : RS
BO 5 sts, knit in pattern to the end, turn
[35 (42, 50) sts]
ROW 120 (132, 144) : WS
Knit in pattern, turn
[35 (42, 50) sts]
ROW 121 (133, 145) : RS
BO 3 sts, knit in pattern to the end, turn
[32 (39, 47) sts]
ROW 122 (134, 146) : WS
Knit in pattern, turn
[32 (39, 47) sts]
ROW 123 (135, 147) : RS
BO 2 sts, knit in pattern to the end, turn
[30 (37, 45) sts]
ROW 124 (136, 148) : WS
Knit in pattern, turn
[30 (37, 45) sts]
ROW 125 (137, 149) : RS
SSK, knit in pattern to the end, turn
[29 (36, 44) sts]
ROW 126 (138, 150) : WS
Knit in pattern, turn
[29 (36, 44) sts]
ROW 127 (139, 151) : RS
SSK, knit in pattern to the end, turn
[28 (35, 43) sts]
ROW 128 (140, 152) : WS
Knit in pattern, turn
[28 (35, 43) sts]
ROW 129 (141, 153) : RS
SSK, knit in pattern to the end, turn
[27 (34, 42) sts]
Cut off the yarn length about 4-5 times the width of the shoulder for grafting.
Transfer the sts to a stitch holder
Pick up the last 40 (47, 55) sts back on the working needle to finish up the back panel.
Back Right Panel
ROW 118 (130, 142) : WS
BO 5 sts, knit in pattern to the end, turn
[35 (42, 50) sts]
ROW 119 (131, 143) : RS
Knit in pattern, turn
[35 (42, 50) sts]
ROW 120 (132, 144) : WS
BO 3 sts, knit in pattern to the end, turn
[32 (39, 47) sts]
ROW 121 (133, 145) : RS
Knit in pattern, turn
[32 (39, 47) sts]
ROW 122 (134, 146) : WS
BO 2 sts, knit in pattern to the end, turn
[30 (37, 45) sts]
ROW 123-124 (135-136, 147-148) :
Knit in pattern, turn
[30 (37, 45) sts]
ROW 125 (137, 149) : RS
knit in pattern till 2 sts left,
K2TOG the last 2 sts, turn
[29 (36, 44) sts]
ROW 126 (138, 150) : WS
Knit in pattern, turn
[29 (36, 44) sts]
ROW 127 (139, 151) : RS
knit in pattern till 2 sts left,
K2TOG the last 2 sts, turn
[28 (35, 43) sts]
ROW 128 (140, 152) : WS
Knit in pattern, turn
[28 (35, 43) sts]
ROW 129 (141, 153) : RS
knit in pattern till 2 sts left,
K2TOG the last 2 sts, turn
[27 (34, 42) sts]
Cut off the yarn length about 4-5 times the width of the shoulder for grafting.
Bring the front panel and grafting the shoulder together.
Instruction given as below;
Vest Schematics
GRAFTING
Grafting is also known as Kitchener Stitch. A joining method of two open edges stitches using a darning needle. Graft following the stitch pattern in the row gives the finished garment look with no seam. It will be easy to graft on Stockinette Stitch or Garter Stitch because you will only need to repeat the same stitches in a row. While for this Irish Moss Stitch, we got to make it as we k1p1 or p1k1. The illustration below gives you a picture of how grafting flow on Irish Moss stitch placing the top parts(shoulders) of both panels side by side. By grafting you are actually creating 2 rows of stitches in one go.
Place the shoulder stitches onto the working needles. Putting them wrong side facing the wrong side together. With the front panel right side facing you, (see picture beside) start grafting as below steps, working on leg by leg of the stitches;
Grafting Front Panel start with Knit st & Back Panel start with Purl st (Knit st on wrong side)
Set-up :
Step 1: Insert darning needle purl wise into first stitch on back needle, leave st on needle.
Step 2: Insert darning needle purl wise into first stitch on front needle, leave st on needle.
Grafting :
Step 3: Insert darning needle knit wise into first stitch on back needle, remove st from needle.
Step 4: Insert darning needle knit wise into next stitch on back needle, leave st on needle.
Step 5: Insert darning needle knit wise into first stitch on front needle, remove st from needle.
Step 6: Insert darning needle knit wise into next stitch on front needle, leave st on needle.
Step 7: Insert darning needle purl wise into first stitch on back needle, remove st from needle.
Step 8: Insert darning needle purl wise into next stitch on back needle, leave st on needle.
Step 9: Insert darning needle purl wise into first stitch on front needle, remove st from needle.
Step 10: Insert darning needle purl wise into next stitch on front needle, leave st on needle.
Repeat step 3-10. On the last st. skip step 4/6/8/10 then grafting to next step.
Grafting Front Panel start with Purl st & Back Panel start with Knit st (Purl st on wrong side)
Set-up :
Step 1: Insert darning needle knit wise into first stitch on back needle, leave st on needle.
Step 2: Insert darning needle knit wise into first stitch on front needle, leave st on needle.
Grafting :
Step 3: Insert darning needle purl wise into first stitch on back needle, remove st from needle.
Step 4: Insert darning needle purl wise into next stitch on back needle, leave st on needle.
Step 5: Insert darning needle purl wise into first stitch on front needle, remove st from needle.
Step 6: Insert darning needle purl wise into next stitch on front needle, leave st on needle.
Step 7: Insert darning needle knit wise into first stitch on back needle, remove st from needle.
Step 8: Insert darning needle knit wise into next stitch on back needle, leave st on needle.
Step 9: Insert darning needle knit wise into first stitch on front needle, remove st from needle.
Step 10: Insert darning needle knit wise into next stitch on front needle, leave st on needle. Repeat step 3-10. On the last st. skip step 4/6/8/10 then grafting to next step.
COLLAR & SLEEVES RIBBING
Collar Ribbing
ROW 1 :
With 4.5mm circular needles, from the center back panel where we place a SM earlier, pick up 90 (98, 105)sts till the stitch on the SM at the front panel, knit/purl(follow stitch pattern)leave SM on to mark the center point, pick up another 89 (97, 104)sts
[180 (196, 210) sts]
Note: make sure PU equally same numbers for both sides from the center point.
ROW 2 :
Begin with P1(center of back collar),
*KTBL X2, P1* repeat till 1 stitch before SM S2KP2(center of front collar), continue ribbing patterns as reverse/mirror sts.
[Decrease 2sts]
ROW 3 :
P1(center of back collar),
knit in ribbing pattern,
K1(center of front collar),
knit in ribbing pattern
[No Decrease]
Repeat Row 2 to 3 until Row 11.
ROW 12 :
With 4.0mm crochet hook, bind off in pattern.
Sleeves Ribbing
ROW 1 :
With 4.5mm circular needles, from bottom of the armholes, pick up 135 (147, 159) sts.
The numbers that can be divided by 4.
ROW 2 – ROW 5 :
Begin with K1, *P1, KTBL X2* continue knit in ribbing pattern and end with K1.
ROW 6
With 4.0mm crochet hook, bind off in pattern.
Repeat the same on the other side of armhole.
Weave in all the yarn ends, and your CLASSIC V-NECK VEST is DONE!
If you are following this pattern, I would love to see your work. Share and Tag your project with #znooipattern on Instagram or Facebook.
Happy knitting 😊😊
6 replies on “Knit Classic V-Neck Vest”
I found this pattern by accident, and I think it’s lovely. I must ask, though, are your sizes correct? 2X-3X is 64.5 cm or slightly less than 25 inches? I normally wear a 3X, and 25 inches doesn’t even go halfway around. I’m saving the pattern just to try it out because it’s so nice looking.
Hi Rae, thanks for point it out. Will correct it. The pattern is up to 2X not 3X.
Is a free pdf available?
Hi Sherrie, Free only on website. Paid PDF available where can be find in my Ravelry & Etsy.
Thank you for making and sharing
You are welcome Jazz ^_^