This is the vest I was working on during our 4th Knitathon.
I was imagining cold winter afternoons, in front of the fireplace with a cup of warm cocoa and the rain dancing on the windows – just the right scenario for a cozy vest!
Kat no.4 is very cozy, with lots of texture and some easy cables. If you have never tried cabling before, this would be a very good first project!
The vest is worked bottom up, and the pattern gives suggestions on how to modify both the length and the size of the armholes.

Sizes
1-2-3 (4-5-6) 7-8

Measurements
Approximate width over chest (shoulder to shoulder, including ribbing): 44-49-51,5 (56-57,5-60) 63-65,5 cm / 17.3-19.3-20.3 (22-22.5-23.6) 24.8-25.8 in

Bust circumference: 79-90-100 (110-119-128) 140-150 cm / 31.1-35.4-39.4 (43.3-46.9-50.4) 56.1- 59 in
Length: 49-49-49 (52-52-55) 55-58 cm / 19.3-19.3-19.3 (20.5-20.5-21.7) 21.7-22.8 in Armhole depth: 27-27-27 (29-29-31) 31-31 cm / 10.6-10.6-10.6 (11.4-11.4-12.2) 12.2-12.2 in

Fit
It can be tricky to choose the size of a vest, as it will always fit looser on the body compared to a sweater or top with sleeves.
You can wear Kat no. 4 with anything from 10% negative ease to 15% positive ease, depending on your personal preferences. It was originally designed to be worn with a 0-5 cm / 0-2 in positive ease for a relaxed fit, but it also looks pretty as a tight fitting garment. You can use the measurements from shoulder to shoulder to help you find your size.
It is easy to change the length of the vest and the depth of the armholes. For changes to the length, you knit your vest longer or shorter than instructed before separating front and back. For changes to the armhole depth, you knit your vest longer or shorter than instructed after the decreases for the armhole, but before starting the neckline shaping.

Yardage
430-450-550 (650-750-850) 950-1100 meters aran weight yarn – or any yarn that will fit the gauge. A blow yarn (as I have used in the black sample) will be much lighter than a spun yarn, but still work with the required gauge.

You can also combine yarns:
1 strand of DK held with 1 strand fingering or
1 strand of Worsted held with 1 strand lace weight

Remember, if you combine multiple strands, you will need 430 meters of each strand for a size 1 – the yardage is given for yarns held together.

The black sample is knit in Drops Air, color 06, with 10 cm negative ease
The rust sample is knit in 2 strands of Drops Brushed Alpaca, color 24, with 0 cm ease
The grey sample is knit in 1 strand of Wool of the Andes Worsted, color Dove Heather and 1 strand of Magpie Feather color Smoke & Mirrors, with 10 cm positive ease

Suggested needles
3.75 mm circulars, 80 cm for ribbing (using magic loop when needed) 5.00 mm circulars, 80 cm for body (using magic loop when needed)

Gauge
17 stitches x 24 rows or rounds in stockinette stitch on the larger needle = 10 x 10 cm after blocking.
Note: Needle size is just a suggestion. Adjust needle size if needed to obtain gauge!

Pay extra attention to your gauge when working the purl stitches on the wrong side. Many knitters tend to have a looser gauge when purling. If this happens to you, you will have to go down a needle size on the purl side.