This design evolved from a desire to have a plaid vest, that exudes some celtic feeling, without the usual abundance of difficult cable patterns. I would have tired, quickly, of cabling the whole back, so devised an ascending-into-ribs pattern, that keeps the thickness of the back similar to the thickness of the stranded fronts.
The other details that make this vest interesting to look at, as well as knit, are the cabled armholes that match the direction of the cables on the back; the vertically-knit cabled front bands incorporating the buttonholes into the cable centers; and the only-2-seams construction method - this vest is knit in one piece, only the shoulders are seamed (but a 3-needle BO could be used, instead)! Pewter buttons add the finishing touch!
Sizes: 36/43/50" (shown in 36" size)
Yarn:Bartlettyarns' 2-ply wool (210 yd/4 oz skeins): 2/3/4 Mountain Berry, 1 skein each: Charcoal, Oxford, and Natural.
Gauge: 16 sts and 20 rows = 4" (10cm) in st st; & 22.5 sts and 24.5 rows = 4" in cable patt with size 8 (5mm) ndls, or size to give gauge.
Substitute Yarn Wt: Heavy Worsted
Skill Level: Intermediate
Ravelry PDF Download: $5.00
CORRECTION: An adjusted Chart 3 is shown below. You'll see a p2tog symbol at the base of each column of black and purl sts. The pattern changes up the back of the vest, from all cables, to some cables and rib, then to more rib than cables. So, in order for the rib to grow out of the cables evenly, the center 2 sts of the changing cable needs to worked as a p2tog (on the RS, which is a k2tog on the WS). This decreasing will also occur in Chart 4, although the p2tog's will occur on row 1 of chart 4 for sizes S and L, but on row 3 for size M.
Adjusted Chart 3 (This is a jpeg. Click and hold on it to select download to your disk from the menu.)
