WHAT...NO POCKET IN MY VEST?
© Countrywool 1999 - 2007
this page last updated: January 11, 2007

 




a pattern to be used for our charity 

Knitting For The Neighborhood  project

sponsored by
Countrywool
59 Spring Road
Hudson NY 12534
(518)828-4554

your local and internet knitting and spinning shop

Charity Knitting has become the fond offspring at Countrywool. The Neighborhood Knitters meet weekly in the shop to knit in good company on the projects the group has adopted. Our CHILDREN IN COMMON sock project has attracted hundreds of knitters from the Internet and the Hudson Valley of New York State, and as of August 1, 1999, together they have made over 300 pairs of socks for the kids in orphanages in Eastern Europe. We thought that the kids might appreciate warm backs and tummies, as well as feet, in the poorly heated homes they live in, so the WHAT'S IN MY POCKET VEST pattern was born. I have constructed it to be quickly knitted on big needles with big yarn. In 2007, the rules changed for airline carry-on baggage allowances, so we have abandoned the pocket and toy we once added to reduce weight. This pattern is meant to be freely used by any and all knitters, and I hope that you will find it in your heart to make THE FIRST ONE for the orphans,  and mail it to:

COUNTRYWOOL * 59 SPRING ROAD * HUDSON * NY * 12534

size...to fit any child between ages 2 - 14, so matter how large or small it  comes out, please feel free to donate it. It will be appreciated and used! I will suggest....that once you get the body going, measure it around to see what SIZE(chest) it is coming out to, and then adjust the length and vest depth accordingly

What...No Pocket In My Vest? (with optional sleeves!)
(note: set your printer to LANDSCAPE to print this page well)

a Countrywool pattern

copyright 1999-2007 Claudia Krisniski . All rights reserved.
Please read full copyright notice at end of pattern.

Want to help an orphan keep warm in 45* (indoor!) temperatures? Knit him/her an exceptionally warm vest. With each stitch, knit in a prayer for his or her well being.

Suggested materials:
Thick bulky wool.......these vests are going to orphanages in eastern Europe....Russia, Lithuania, Ukraine where it's COLD. You may use 2 strands of worsted wool.  I have used Brown Sheep's  Lamb's Pride Bulky or Worsted   or Peace Fleece .

Suggested needles: size 10.5 or better to match the wool and give you a knitting gauge of:

Gauge:  3 sts=1”.

Sizes: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14

These vests are knit in-the-round until you reach the armhole, then the stitches are divided and knit back and forth on the circular needle until you reach the shoulders, which are knit together to bind them off. The neck has no shaping and is necessarily quite large. Be sure you bind off the neck stitches with a VERY BIG needle so there is enough stretch to go over your head!

Children In Common
What, No Pocket? Vest

Sizes: 2, (24”chest), 4 (26”), 6 (28”), 8 (30”), 10 (32”), 12 (34”), 14 (36”)

Materials: # 10.5 (or size needed to achieve gauge) 24” circular needle
                AND one pair straight needles (for shoulder bind off).
                #13 needle (any length...used to bind off)
                4,5,6,7,8,9,10 oz BULKY WOOL or NATURAL FIBER yarn (it's COLD there!)
                                          or slightly more in weight worsted yarn
                                           ...knit with 2 strands held together
                                          BE CREATIVE.....use leftovers!
               adding sleeves?
                   ... you'll need an additional 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5 oz yarn
                   ... double pointed needle around size 10
                   ... 12" circular (or set of 4 double pointed) needle #9 or 10
                   ... a dozen safety pins or split ring markers
                darning needle
                1 large stitch holder (for 40 stitches)
 
key:
k=knit
p=purl
st(s)=stitch(es)
rnd=round
tog=together
yo=yarn over needle, or yarn around needle
* *= repeat directions between * * until end of row/round
ss=stockinette stitch=Flat knitting: Knit the outside rows, purl the inside rows
                                  Round knitting: Knit every round
gt = garter stitch = Flat knitting: Knit the outside AND inside rows
                             Round knitting: * Knit one round, purl one round * repeat**

                                                        SIZES:                       2         4         6         8         10         12         14
With circular needle, cast on___ sts. Join                       72         78        84        90       96         102       108
Work in-the-round in garter st until hem is 2”.
   GARTER STITCH IN THE ROUND:  Rnd 1: k
  Rnd 2: p       repeat Rnds 1 and 2 for pattern

Change to STOCKINETTE STITCH (knit every rnd)
and work till vest measures __ from cast on edge.           7          8            9         10        11          12        13
 

Begin GARTER STITCH underarm and armhole edge treatment:
purl                                                                                   6           6           7          7         8            8          8
knit                                                                                  24          27         28        31       32          35        38
purl                                                                                  12          12         14        14       16          16        16
knit                                                                                  24          27         28        31       32          35        38
purl                                                                                    6            6            7          7         8           8          8

Keeping PURL stitches in row above in garter stitch,
work around for 1” until vest measures___from edge,       8           9          10         11        12          13       14
ending after a round where underarm stitches have
been knit.

UNDERARM BIND OFF:
knit                                                                                    3          3           4           4         5           5          5
purl                                                                                    3            3           3          3         3           3           3
knit                                                                                   24         27         28         31      32          35        38
purl                                                                                     3            3           3          3         3            3           3
bind off                                                                               6           6           8          8         10         10         10
purl                                                                                     3            3           3          3         3            3           3
knit                                                                                    24         27         28         31      32          35        38
purl                                                                                      3            3           3          3        3            3           3
bind off  (this will take you  PAST the beginning stitch                  6            6           8          8         10         10         10
and will  will bring you to the beginning of the FRONT ROW of vest.
 

You will now work on the VEST FRONT on __sts.          30          33          34        37        38         41        44
Work back and forth in STOCKINETTE STITCH,
keeping 3 armhole edge sts, on each side,
in GARTER STITCH. Work until armhole depth,
measured from bind off row, measures__”from                4           5             6          6         7           7           7
underarm.  Work in Garter Stitch for
one inch more till armhole measures____".                      5           6             7          7          8           8          8
Place stitches on straight needle. Break yarn.

VEST BACK: work same as for front, but leave
yarn attached.

SHOULDER and NECK bind off:
holding both sets of shoulder stitches WRONG SIDES
together, work a 3 needle bind off over __ sts.                 4            5            5           5           6            6         6
Then continue to bind off ON ONE NEEDLE ONLY
___sts (for front/or/back of neck)                                    22           23            24         27        26        29       32
Break yarn. Reattach to first stitch on OTHER needle
closest to last stitch of 3 needle bind off.....bind off on
ONE NEEDLE ONLY___sts, continue to bind off           22           23            24         27        26        29       32
BOTH NEEDLES TOGETHER using 3 needle bind -
off the last___sts.                                                             4              5             5            5        6         6          6

Darn in ends.


   sweater knit by Claire Coleman

SLEEVES:
Pickup: With a double pointed needle, pick up one loop of each stitch of underarm. Darn working yarn into the "corner" of the armhole to the left of the picked up underarm sts. With 12" circular needle and working yarn, pick up and knit all sts around armhole until you reach the other side of the double pointed needle holding underarms sts. Count all sts EXCEPT UNDERARM STS.
You should have ___sts                                                    36         36         42        42         42         48         48
 (IF YOU DO NOT, figure out how many more/less you need and write it down. Place your safety pins evenly by eye in places you need more/less sts, and in the NEXT round, increase/decrease as needed when you come to the pin and then remove it.)

WORK BACK AND FORTH TO JOIN UNDERARM STS TO SLEEVE:
slip last stitch from circular needle onto double pointed needle and knit 2 sts together: last picked up stitch with first st on double pointed needle. Turn.

Row 1: Purl across row to before last st on circular needle...pick up first underarm stitch you come to on double pointed needle and slip it onto 12” needle, and purl this together with last st of Row 1 . Turn.
Row 2: Knit across row to before last st on circular needle...pick up first underarm stitch you come to on double pointed needle and slip it onto 12" needle, and knit this together with last st of Row 2 . Turn.
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until all sts on double pointed needle have been worked out of existence. NOTE: as you approach the end of this procedure, the last row you work should be a knit row. If it isn't, work a short row wrap to reverse knitting direction at the end of the purl row, leaving you on the knit side to continue.

KNITTING THE SLEEVE IN THE ROUND:  Place a marker ON FIRST STITCH to note the underarm "seam" line. Work in the round in knit from now on. *Knit 2 rounds, and then stop 2 sts before marked stitch. Decrease 2 sts as follows : ssk, knit marked stitch, k2tog*

Repeat * to * until there are___sts                                  24             26             28          30        32       34         36
Work sleeve to ___" from underarm.                               8              9                10          10.5     11      12         13
CUFF:
Knit one round decreasing 4 sts evenly by eye. *Purl one round, knit one round* repeat 3x (total 6 rounds). Bind off in purl.                     

COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Copyright 1999-2007 by Claudia Krisniski. This pattern may be used by individuals for personal use and charity knitting only. It can be distributed to and shared with others as long as it remains fully intact, including this copyright  notice. It may not be sold, used to produce items for sale, or used in a compilation or archive of any kind without the expressed written permission of the designer. All rights are expressly reserved by the designer.