Long Tunic Vest

Knit a long, lightweight vest in various lace patterns with this tunic vest knitting pattern from Patons. This is a great way to practice your knitting skills and not get bored.

Materials:

• Yarn: Patons Astra (50 g/1.75 oz) Size S M L XL 10 10 12 balls
• Knitting Needles: Sizes 3.75 mm (U.S. 5) and 4 mm (U.S. 6) circular knitting needles 36 ins [90 cm] long or size needed to obtain tension. Set of four 3.75 mm (U.S. 5) double-pointed knitting needles. 1 stitch holder. 6 buttons.

Sizes:
Small 30-32 ins [ 76-81 cm ]
Medium 34-36 ins [ 86-91 cm ]
Large 38-40 ins [ 97-102 cm ]
Finished bust
Small 38 ins [ 97 cm ]
Medium 41 ins [ 104 cm ]
Large 44¼ ins [ 112.5 cm ]

Gauge: 22 sts and 30 rows = 4 ins [10 cm] with larger needles in stocking st.

Instructions:

The instructions are written for smallest size. If changes are necessar y for larger sizes the instructions will be written thus ( ).

Note: Body is worked in one piece to armholes.

BODY
With smaller circular needle cast on 206 (223-240) sts. Do not join.
Working back and for th across needle in rows, proceed as follows:
Knit 3 rows (garter st) noting that 1st row is WS.
Change to larger circular needle and proceed in border pat as follows:
1st row: (RS). Knit.
2nd r ow: K1. Purl to last st. K1.
3rd row: K1. *(K2tog) 3 times. (yfwd. K1) 5 times. yfwd. (Sl1. K1. psso) 3 times. Rep from * to last st. K1.
4th row: As 2nd row.
Rep last 4 rows 4 times more.
Knit 4 rows, dec 1 (0-1) st in centre of last row. 205 (223-239) sts.
Proceed in box lace pat as follows:
1st row: (RS). Knit.
2nd row: Purl.
3rd r ow: K1 (2-2). *P3. K5. Rep from * to last 4 (5-5) sts. P3. K1 (2-2).
4th row: P1 (2-2). *K3. P5. Rep from * to last 4 (5-5) sts. K3. P1 (2-2).
5th row: K1 (2-2). *yfwd. Sl1. K2tog. psso. yfwd. K5. Rep from * to last 4 (5- 5) sts. yfwd. Sl1. K2tog. psso. yfwd. K1 (2-2).
6th row: Purl.
7th row: Knit.
8th row: Purl.
9th row: K5 (6-6). *P3. K5. Rep from
* to last 0 (1-1) st. K0 (1-1).
10th row: P5 (6-6). *K3. P5. Rep from
* to last 0 (1-1) st. P0 (1-1).
11th row: K5 (6-6). *yfwd. Sl1. K2tog.
psso. yfwd. K5. Rep from * to last
0 (1-1) st. K0 (1-1).
12th row: Purl.
These 12 rows form box lace pat.
Rep 1st to 6th rows once more.
Next row: (RS). Knit.
Next 5 rows: Purl, inc 4 (3-4) sts evenly across last row. 209 (226-243) sts.
Proceed in arrowhead lace pat as follows:
1st r ow: (RS). K1. *P3. yfwd. K2. Sl1. K1. psso. P6. K2tog. K2. yrn. Rep from * to last 4 sts. P3. K1.
2nd and alt rows: K1. Purl to last st. K1.
3rd row: K1. *P3. K1. yfwd. K2. Sl1. K1. psso. P4. K2tog. K2. yfwd. K1 Rep from * to last 4 sts. P3. K1.
5th row: K1. *P3. K2. yfwd. K2. Sl1. K1. psso. P2. K2tog. K2. yfwd. K2. Rep from * to last 4 sts. P3. K1.
7th row: K1. *P3. K3. yfwd. K2. Sl1. K1. psso. K2tog. K2. yfwd. K3. Rep from * to last 4 sts. P3. K1.
8th row: As 2nd row.
These 8 rows form arrowhead lace pat.
Rep last 8 rows 10 times more.
Work 2 rows garter st dec 4 (3-4) sts evenly across last row. 205 (223-239) sts.
Divide for Armholes: Next row: (RS). K50 (55-59). (Right Front).
Turn. Leave rem sts on a spare needle.
Shape Right Front and Place Box Lace Pat: 1st row: Cast off 5 (6-7) sts. Knit to end of row.
2nd row: Work 2tog (front edge). Knit to last 2 sts. Work 2tog.
3rd row: Purl.
4th row: Work 2tog. K6 (7-7). *P3. K5. Rep from * to last 3 (6-9) sts. P0 (3-3). K1 (1-4). Work 2tog.
5th row: P7 (2-5). *K3. P5. Rep from * to last 2 (3-3) sts. P2 (3-3).
6th row: Work 2tog. K5 (6-6). *yfwd. Sl1. K2tog. psso. yfwd. K5. Rep from * to last 2 (5-8) sts. (yfwd. Sl1. K2tog. psso. yfwd) 0 (1-1) time. K0 (0-3). Work 2tog.
7th row: Purl.
8th row: Work 2tog. Knit to last 2 sts. Work 2tog.
9th row: Purl.
10th row: Work 2tog. K7 (8-8). *P3. K5. Rep from * to last 4 (7-2) sts. P0 (3-0). K2 (2-0). Work 2tog. 35 (39- 42) sts.
11th row: P8 (3-6). *K3. P5. Rep from * to last 3 (4-4) sts. P3 (4-4).
Box lace pat is now in position.

Size S only: Cont in box lace pat dec 1 st at armhole edge only on next row. 34 sts.
Work 1 row even in pat.

Sizes M and L only: Cont in box lace pat dec 1 st at each end of needle on next and following alt row. (35-38) sts.
Work 1 row even in pat.

Size L only: Dec 1 st at armhole edge only on next row. Work 1 row even in pat.
Dec 1 st at each end of needle on next row. 35 sts. Work 3 rows even in pat.

All Sizes: Keeping cont of pat, dec 1 st at front edge only on next and following 4th rows until there are 24 (25-25) sts.
Cont even in pat until armhole measures 8½ (9-9½) ins [21.5 (23-24) cm] ending with a RS row.
Shoulder shaping: Cast off 8 sts beg next and following alt row. Work 1 row even. Cast off rem 8 (9-9) sts.
Divide for Back: Next row: With right side of work facing, join yarn to rem sts on spare needle. Cast off 5 (6-7) sts. K100 (107-114) (including st on needle after cast off ). (Back). Turn. Leave rem sts on spare needle.
Shape Back and Place Box LacePat: 1st row: Cast off 5 (6-7) sts. Knit to end of row.
2nd row: Work 2tog. Knit to last 2 sts. Work 2tog.
3rd row: Purl.
4th row: Work 2tog. K7 (2-5). *P3. K5. Rep from * to last 4 (7-2) sts. P0 (3-0). K2 (2-0). Work 2tog.
5th row: P8 (3-6). *K3. P5. Rep from * to last 3 (6-1) sts. K0 (3-0). P3 (3-1).
6th row: Work 2tog. K6 (1-4). *yfwd. Sl1. K2tog. psso. yfwd. K5. Rep from * to last 3 (6-9) sts. (yfwd. Sl1. K2tog. psso. yfwd) 0 (1-1) time. K1 (1-4). Work 2tog.
7th row: Purl.
8th row: Work 2tog. Knit to last 2 sts. Work 2tog.
9th row: Purl.
10th row: Work 2tog. K8 (3-6). *P3. K5. Rep from * to last 5 (8-3) sts. P0 (3- 0). K3 (3-1). Work 2tog. 85 (91-97) sts.
11th row: P1 (4-7). *K3. P5. Rep from * to last 4 (7-10) sts. K0 (3-3). P4 (4-6).
Box lace pat is now in position.
Keeping cont of pat, dec 1 st at each end of needle on next and following 0 (1-3) alt rows. 83 (87-89) sts.
Cont even in pat until armhole measures same length as Right Front ending with RS facing for next row.
Shoulder shaping: Cast off 8 sts beg next 4 rows, then 8 (9-9) sts beg following 2 rows. Leave rem 35 (37-39) sts on a st holder.
Shape Left Front and Place Box Lace Pat: 1st row: With RS of work facing, join yarn to rem sts on spare needle. Cast off 5 (6-7) sts. K45 (49-52) (including st on needle after cast off ).
2nd row: Knit.
3rd row: Work 2tog. Knit to last 2 sts.
Work 2tog (front edge).
4th row: Purl.
5th row: Work 2tog. K6 (1-4). *P3. K5. Rep from * to last 3 (4-4) sts. K1 (2-2). Work 2tog.
6th row: P7 (8-8). *K3. P5. Rep from * to last 2 (5-0) sts. K0 (3-0). P2 (2-0).
7th row: Work 2tog. K5 (0-3). *yfwd. Sl1. K2tog. psso. yfwd. K5. Rep from * to last 2 (3-3) sts. K0 (1-1). Work 2tog.
8th row: Purl.
9th row: Work 2tog. Knit to last 2 sts. Work 2tog.
10th row: Purl.
11th row: Work 2tog. K7 (2-8). *P3. K5. Rep from * to last 4 (5-2) sts. P0 (3- 0). K2 (0-0). Work 2tog. 35 (39-42) sts.
12th row: P8 (1-6). *K3. P5. Rep from * to last 3 (6-4) sts. K0 (3-3). P3 (3-1).
Box lace pat is now in position.

Size S only: Cont in box lace pat dec 1 st at armhole edge only on next row. 34 sts.
Work 1 row even in pat.

Sizes M and L only: Cont in box lace pat dec 1 st at each end of needle on next and following alt row. (35-38) sts.
Work 1 row even in pat.

Size L only: Dec 1 st at armhole edge only on next row. Work 1 row even in pat.
Dec 1 st at each end of needle on next row. 35 sts.
Work 3 rows even in pat.

All Sizes: Keeping cont of pat, dec 1 st at front edge only on next and following 4th rows until there are 24 (25-25) sts.
Cont even in pat until armhole measures 8½ (9-9½) ins [21.5 (23-24) cm] ending with RS facing for next row.
Shoulder shaping: Cast off 8 sts beg next and following alt row. Work 1 row even. Cast off rem 8 (9-9) sts.

FINISHING
Button and Buttonhole Band: Sew shoulder seams. With RS of work facing and smaller needle pick up and knit 100 sts up Right Front edge to first front dec and 58 (62-66) sts up front neck edge. K35 (37-39) sts from Back neck st holder dec 1 st at centre. Pick up and knit 58 (62-66) sts down Left Front neck edge and 100 sts down front edge. 350 (360-370) sts. Do not join.
Working back and forth across needle in rows, knit 3 rows (garter st).
4th row: (RS). K3. *Cast off 2 sts. K17 (including st on needle after cast off ). Rep from * 4 times more. Cast off 2 sts. Knit to end of row.
5th row: Knit, casting on 2 sts over cast off sts.
Work 3 rows garter st. Cast off knitways (WS). Sew buttons to correspond to buttonholes.
Armbands: With RS of work facing pick up and knit 91 (95-101) sts evenly around armhole edge dividing among 3 of the smaller double pointed needles. Join in round and placing a marker on first st, proceed as follows:
1st rnd: Purl.
2nd rnd: Knit.
Rep last 2 rnds 3 times more. Cast off purlwise.