Top-Down Long Vest (Free Knitting Pattern)

Directions are for size Small; changes for sizes Medium, Large, X-Large, 2X and 3X are in parentheses.
 
Finished Bust: 37 (40, 43, 49, 52, 56)” [94 (101.5, 109, 124.5, 133, 142) cm]
Finished Length, laid flat: 32 (33, 33, 33, 34, 34)” [81.5 (84, 84, 84, 86.5, 86.5) cm]
 
NOTES
1. Front and Back of drop-shoulder vest are worked separately from provisional cast-on at shoulder edge to underarm.
Stitches are joined at underarm and worked back and forth in rows on a circular needle t lower edge. Circular needle is used to accommodate large number of stitches.
2. Instructions for length are for flat gauge. Garment will stretch 8-10” [20-25 cm] when worn.

PATTERN STITCHES
Faggoting Stitch (multiple of 2 sts + 2 extra)
Row 1: K1, *yo, ssk; repeat from * to last st, k1.
Repeat Row 1 for Faggoting st.
 
SPECIAL ABBREVIATIONS
provisional cast-on: With crochet hook and scrap yarn, make chain several sts longer than number of sts to be cast-on, fasten off. Beginning at slip knot end of chain and working through back loop, pick up sts to be cast on. When ready to work in opposite direction, pull out crochet chain, beginning at end that was fastened off and
placing resulting loops on needle. If you are short or over a st, increase or decrease in first row. cable cast-on: Turn work so stitches are on left needle, *insert needle between first and 2nd stitch on left needle, wrap and draw loop through (as if making a knit st), slip the
new stitch back onto the left needle; repeat from * until the desired number of stitches have been cast on.
Ssk: Slip next two stitches knitwise to right needle, insert point of left needle through front of sts, knit these sts together through back loop.

BACK
Using provisional cast-on and straight knitting needles, cast on 50 (54, 60, 66, 70, 76) sts.
Knit 1 row for wrong side row. Place marker in cast-on row to mark for right side and top of shoulder.
Work in Faggoting st until piece measures 9 (10, 10¾, 11¼, 12, 12½)” [23 (25.5, 27.5, 28.5, 30.5, 32) cm], end with a wrong side row.
Place stitches on stitch holder.

FRONT
With right side facing, pull out scrap yarn of provisional cast-on, slipping sts on straight knitting needle – 50 (54, 60, 66, 70, 76) sts.
Work in Faggoting st across 14 (16, 18, 20, 22, 24) sts of right shoulder, join separate ball of yarn and working in pattern, bind off center 22 (22, 24, 26, 26, 28) sts for back neck, work in Faggoting st to end of row.
Working both sides at same time with separate balls of yarn, work 5 rows.
 
Shape Neck
Next Row (Right Side): Work in pattern to end of right shoulder, using cable caston, cast on 10 (10, 10, 12, 12, 12) sts for Right Front; using cable cast-on, cast on 10 (10, 10, 12, 12, 12) sts, purl sts just cast on,
then work in Faggoting st to end of row for Left Front – 24 (26, 28, 32, 34, 36) sts each shoulder.
 
Next Row (Wrong Side): On Left Front, work to end, working new sts in pattern; on Right Front, knit across sts just cast on, work
in pattern to end.
Working new sts of Right Front in pattern, continue until piece measures same length as Back from top of shoulder markers, end
with a wrong side row. Cut yarn attached to Right Front.
 
Join Back and Fronts
With right side facing, slip sts of Back to circular needle; slip Right Front sts to right point of same circular needle.
 
Next Row (Right Side): With attached yarn, work across Left Front in pattern to last st, yo, ssk last st of Left Front with first st of Back, continue in pattern across Back sts to last st, yo, ssk last st of Back with first st of Right Front, continue in pattern across sts of Right Front – 98 (106, 116, 130, 138, 148) sts. Working back and forth in rows, work in Faggoting st until piece measures 23 (23, 22¼, 21¾, 22, 21½)” [58.5 (58.5, 56.5, 55.5, 56, 54.5) cm] from underarm, end with a wrong side row. Bind off in pattern.

FINISHING
Weave in ends. Block flat
 
Thanks to Red Heart for the permission to use this pattern.