V-Neck Slipover
A sleeveless vest knit in the round to the armholes, then front and back separately. Layers over shirts and dresses.
- Yarn
- DK (3) wool; tweeds look great.
- Needles
- US 6 (4 mm) 24 in (60 cm) circular; US 4 (3.5 mm) 16 in circular for ribbing
- Sizes
- Any adult size (size charts). Example: women’s M, finished chest 40 in (102 cm).
- Example gauge
- 22 sts and 30 rows = 4 in (10 cm) in stockinette
- Yarn needed
- About 800 yd (730 m) DK for the example: roughly 55% of the sweater amount.
- Stitch multiple
- 4
Do the math
The examples use the gauge above. Put your own swatch into the gauge calculator first, then use your numbers in each formula.
| Step | Formula | Example | Tool |
|---|---|---|---|
| Body | finished chest × sts per in, to a multiple of 4 | 40 × 5.5 = 220 sts | Cast-On Calculator |
| Underarm bind-off | about 1.5 in of sts | 8 sts (4 each side of each side marker) | By hand |
| Front / back after bind-off | body ÷ 2 − 8 | 110 − 8 = 102 sts | By hand |
| Armhole decreases | 1 each side every RS row, 6 times | 102 → 90 sts | By hand |
| V-neck decreases | neck width ÷ 2, each side | 19 each side over about 64 rows | By hand |
| Shoulders | each front half: 51 − 6 armhole − 19 neck | 26 sts each; back neck 90 − 52 = 38 sts | By hand |
Materials
- DK (3) yarn (see yarn needed)
- US 6 (4 mm) 24 in (60 cm) circular; US 4 (3.5 mm) 16 in circular for ribbing
- Markers
- Stitch holders
- Tapestry needle
Gauge swatch
Swatch in the round.
Instructions
Body
With smaller needle, cast on (example: 220). Join, marking the start and halfway (side markers). Work 2 in of *k2, p2* rib. Change to larger needle and knit until the body is 14 in (36 cm) from the cast-on, or your underarm length.
Divide
Bind off 4 sts either side of each side marker. Put the back on hold. Work the front flat.
Front
Mark the centre of the front (example: 51 sts each side).
Armholes: On the next 6 RS rows: k1, ssk, work to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
V-neck (at the same time): Split at the centre and work each side separately. Decrease 1 st at the neck edge every other row 6 times, then every 4th row 13 times.
Work straight until the armhole is 8.5–9 in (22–23 cm) deep. Put the shoulder sts (example: 26) on hold.
Back
Work the armhole decreases as for the front, then straight to the same depth. Put 26 sts on hold at each side and 38 for the back neck.
Finishing
- Join the shoulders with a three-needle bind-off.
- Neckband: pick up 3 sts per 4 rows down the V, 1 at the point (mark it), and up the other side, then the back neck. Work *k1, p1* rib with a centred double decrease (s2kp) at the point every round for 1 in. Bind off.
- Armbands: pick up 3 sts per 4 rows around each armhole. Work 1 in of 1×1 rib. Bind off.
- Weave in ends and block.
Designer’s notes
- Change neck depth by spreading the 19 decreases over more or fewer rows.
- Add a 4 in cropped length option by knitting only 10 in before the armholes.
Counter set-up
Counter 1: armhole rows. Counter 2: V-neck decreases.
Open the row & stitch counter for several counters, or use the quick one below.
Tools for this pattern
- Size ChartsLook up the finished measurements for the size you are making.
- Gauge CalculatorEnter your swatch counts to get stitches and rows per 4 in (10 cm).
- Cast-On CalculatorEnter your width and gauge; it rounds to the stitch multiple for you.
- Yarn Quantity CalculatorPick the project, size and yarn weight to get total yardage and skeins to buy.
- Row & Stitch CounterSet up the counters listed below; the screen stays awake while you work.