119 Bench Street

119 Bench Street is an ornately patterned vest whose design was inspired by an antique wrought iron fence on Bench Street in the historic city of Galena, Illinois. The vest is worked bottom up. It is knitted in the round from the ribbing along the lower edge to the armholes. From the armholes to the shoulders, the garment is worked back and forth. However, if you prefer, you may work the top half of the vest in the round with the use of steeks across the armhole and neck openings. The neck and armholes are finished with a twisted rib.

119 Bench Street provides a wonderful opportunity to use yarns from your stash to make a wildly colorful vest!

Sizes

1 (2,3,4) (5,6,7) with finished bust circumferences 34.5 (39, 43, 47)(51.5, 55.5, 60) inches/ 88 (99, 109, 119) (131, 141, 152) cm.

Finished measurements shown in pattern directions are hip and bust circumference, length ribbing to armhole, length armhole to shoulder, neck opening, and shoulder seam width.

Yarn

The sample vest is knit in Anthology Yarn Company “Rivers” (80% Alpaca, 20% Merino, 200 yd skeins) in the following colors:

Nemadji (dark background color) 3 (4, 4, 5) (5, 6, 6)
Shell (light contrast color) 2, (3, 3, 3) (4, 4, 4)

Gauge

Be sure to swatch to match the gauge and adjust your needle size accordingly. Gauge is 31 sts and 35 rows over 4 inches / 10 cm in stranded colorwork using US 3/3.25mm needles.