Best Vest is a classic V-neck sweater vest. Design elements include a full length, easy and relaxed fit, deep armholes, the perfect not-too-deep not-too-shallow V-neck, and gorgeous wide bands of ribbing. Use #BestVest and tag me on Instagram and Tiktok @JamesNWatts

YARN
Wensley Worsted by La Bien Aimée—250 yds (230m) per 100 gram skein. 50% Falkland Corriedale, 25% Falkland Merino, 25% Wensleydale.
Sample vest was knit in the colorway “Pistachio”.
This vest would also work nicely in La Bien Aimée’s Corrie Worsted, or Corrie Confetti, but feel free to use any worsted/DK weight yarn that you can get gauge in.

SIZING
XS(S, M, L, XL) (XXL, 3X, 4X, 5X)
To fit a chest circumference of:
30(34, 38, 42, 46) (50, 54, 58, 62)“
76 (86.5, 96.5, 106.5, 117)(127, 137, 147.5, 157.5)cm

Best Vest has a finished body circumference of:
38.75(42.25, 46.75, 50.25, 54.75) (58.25, 61.75, 66.25, 69.75)”
98.5 (107.5, 118.5, 127.5, 139)(148, 157, 168.5, 177)cm

Best Vest is designed to be worn with 6-10” (15-25cm) positive ease. Choose a size 6-10” (15-25cm) larger than your own chest circumference. My chest circumference is 42” and I knit the size L for 8” positive ease. My frame is quite boxy and this gave the kind of oversized fit I was looking for. If your waist circumference is much smaller than your chest circumference, then you can size down and still get an oversized look and fit.

GAUGE
18sts x 28 rows = 4”x 4”, in stockinette stitch, knit flat, blocked, on size US 7 needles, or any size needle needed to get the correct gauge.

YARDAGE
This vest requires a total of:
645(712, 812, 883, 991) (1064, 1100, 1145, 1200) yards

590(651, 742, 807, 906) (973, 1040, 1106, 1173) meters

NEEDLES AND NOTIONS
• Size US 7 (4.5mm) needles for the body, or any size required to get gauge
• Size US 5 (3.75mm) needles for the ribbed edgings, or a needle 2 sizes smaller than the needle you got gauge with
• Ring markers
• Removable, locking stitch marker
• Darning or tapestry needle for weaving in ends

CONSTRUCTION
This vest is knit bottom up, in the round, beginning with the hem ribbing, and then moving to stockinette. Once you reach the underarms, the front and back are split and worked flat separately. From the start of the V-neck, the front right and left are worked separately. Some sizes require the knitter to work armhole and V-neck shaping simultaneously. After the front is complete, the back is worked from the underarm. The top back right and left are finished separately as shoulder shaping is worked. Shoulders are attached with a 3-needle bind off. Stitches are picked up and knit for armhole and V-neck ribbing.

MODIFYING VEST LENGTH
This vest is designed to be worn full length, but it would be easy to modify it to be cropped. Consult the schematic for the length of your size. If you want to shorten or lengthen your vest, the length must be altered in the first stockinette portion of the vest, before reaching the underarm where front and back are split and worked separately. This point will be marked in the instructions.