Add some flair to any plain button-down shirt with this colorful argyle vest. Coming straight out of the 1920s, this vest is the perfect way to add a touch of color and warmth to any outfit.

Skill Level: Intermediate

Sizes: Small, Medium, Large, 1x, 2x

Gauge: 1 pattern rep (10 sts) = 2 1/2″; 1 diamond (8 rows) = 3 1/2″

Materials

Yarn: Cascade Venezia Sport (70% merino wool, 30% mulberry silk; 307.5 yards [281 meters]/ grams): #189 Mustard (A, [1, 1, 2, 2] balls), #195 Deep Navy (B, [1, 1, 2, 2] balls), #159 Ruby (C, [1, 1, 2, 2] balls)
Hook: US size F/5 (3.75 mm) hook

Pattern Notes

The method used to make this vest is called stranded colorwork. It allows us to use multiple colors without working over the unused color. Instead, the unused color is carried along the back of the work as a long “strand”. To avoid having the strands become too long, when a large number of stitches is skipped before the unused color is used again, work over the unused color for just one stitch. Simply work the stitch you are making over the strand, then drop it again for the following stitch. When you are ready to use the unused color, draw it though on the last pull-through of the previous stitch, as is usually done when changing color. Make sure the strands are not pulled tightly along the work, as they will cause the fabric to pucker.
Because we are turning at the ends of rounds or rows in this project, you will sometimes be stranding along the back of the work, and sometimes along the side facing you. It’s necessary to turn for two reasons 1) to prevent bias of the work 2) so that the front and back can be worked separately in the armhole section.

Pattern

With A, ch 142 (162, 182, 222, 242). At end of rnd, do not change color on last loop of last st of rnd, sl st to top of starting ch 3, then turn and sl st back to start next rnd.
Rnd 1: Ch 2, dc in next ch (counts as dc2tog) *dc in next 5 ch, dc2tog, change to B, 3 dc in next ch**, change to A, dc2tog, rep from * around ending last rep at **, sl st to top of tch, turn. [140 (160, 180, 220, 240) sts 14 (16, 18, 22, 24) diamonds]
Rnd 2: Sl st in next st, ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next dc, 2 dc in next dc, change to A, dc2tog, dc in next 3 dc, dc2tog, change to to B, dc2tog, rep from * around.
Rnd 3: Sl st in next st, ch 2, dc in next dc, *dc in next dc, dc2tog, change to B, 2 dc in next dc, dc in next 3 dc, 2 dc in next dc, change to A, dc2tog, rep from * ending last rep at **, change to A and sl st to top of first dc, turn.
Rnd 4: Sl st in next st, ch 3, dc in same st, * dc in next 5 dc, 2 dc in next dc**, change to A, dc3tog, change to B, 2 dc in next dc, rep from * change to C and sl st to top of first dc, turn.
Rnd 5: Sl st in next st, ch 3, 2 dc in same st, *change to B, dc2tog, dc in next 5 dc, dc2tog**, change to C**, 3 dc in next dc, rep from * ending last rep at ** sl st to top of ch 3, turn.
Rnd 6: Sl st in next st, ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next dc, 2 dc in next dc, change to B, dc2tog, dc in next 3 dc, dc2tog, change to C**, 2 dc in next dc, rep from * ending last rep at **, sl st to top of ch 3, turn.
Rnd 7: Sl st in next st, ch 3, dc in same dc, *dc in next 3 dc, 2 dc in next dc, change to B, dc2tog, dc in next dc, dc2tog, change to C**, 2 dc in next dc, rep from * ending last rep at **, sl st to top of ch 3, turn.
Rnd 8: Sl st in next st, ch 3, dc in same dc, *dc in next 5 dc, 2 dc in next dc, change to B, dc3tog, change to C** rep from * endings last rep at **, sl st to top of ch 3, turn.
Rnds 9-32: Rep rows 2-8 using same color sequence, changing color every 4 rows when starting new diamond.
Divide for front and back.

Back

Small, Med, Large Only
Row 1: Ch 2, dc in next dc (counts as dc2tog), cont in patt over 7 (8, 9) diamonds ending last diamond with dc2tog, turn. [67 (77, 87) sts]

1X and 2X Only
Row 1: Sl st over 10 sts, ch 2, dc in next dc (counts as dc2tog, cont in patt over 9 (10) diamonds ending last diamond with dc2tog, leave 10 sts unworked. [87 (97) sts]

All Sizes
Row 2: Ch 2, dc in next dc, continue in patt to last 2 sts, dc2tog, turn. [65 (75, 85, 85, 95) sts]
Rows 3-7 (3-7, 3-9, 3-7, 3-10): Continue dec 1 st at each end, ending with 55 (65, 71, 75, 81) sts.
Rows 8-18 (8-20, 10-22, 8-22, 11-24): Work even in patt, end off.

Front Left

PM in center on front, in 35th (40th, 45th, 55th, 65th) st.
With RS facing, join color C in st adjacent to last st of back.

Small, Med, Large Only
Row 1: Ch 2, dc in next dc (counts as dc2tog), cont in patt to (1 before M, M, 1 before M, 1 before M, 1 before M) dc2tog, turn. [32 (38, 42) sts]

1X and 2X Only
Row 1: Sl st over 10 sts, ch 2, dc in next dc (counts a dc2tog), cont in patt to 1 before M) dc2tog, turn. [42 (52) sts]

All Sizes
Rows 2-7 (2-7, 2-9, 2-7, 2-10): Dec 1 st at each end, ending with 20 (26, 26, 30, 34) sts.
Rows 8-12 (8-13, 8-13, 8-19, 11-21): Dec 1 st at neck edge only. (15 (20, 20, 20, 23) sts)
Rows 13-18 (14-20, 14-22, 18-22, 22-24): Work even in patt and fasten off.

Right

Join color C in (all sizes but Medium: st adjacent to M) (Medium, join in M).

Small, Med, Large Only
Row 1: Ch 2, dc in next dc, cont in patt to 2 sts before first st of back, dc2tog, turn.

1X and 2X Only
Row 1: Ch 2, dc in next dc, cont in patt to last 11 sts, dc2tog, leave 10 sts unworked.
Follow instructions for Front Left.

Finishing

Steam to flatten fabric.
Work slip st seam from WS across shoulders.
With RS facing, join color B at bottom of sweater, at side, ch 1, working over base ch, work evenly -paced sc all around bottom.
With RS facing, join color B at shoulder seam, ch 1, work evenly spaced sc all around neckline, working sc2tog over point of V on front neckline and skipping center st if there is one.
With RS facing, join color B at seam of armhole, ch 1, work evenly-spaced sc all around armhole. Rep on 2nd armhole.