PASTICCIO CIRCULAR VEST by Shelley Mackie and elann This circular vest is knit in the round and has no seams to sew up when finished! Knit in a simple, reversible mesh pattern, is light and airy, and very comfortable to wear. Its circular shape gives swing to its drape, and because one size fits most women, it makes a lovely gift. It can be worn two ways – as pictured above, with the longer part of the circle below the sleeves, for a long, dressy look, or as shown below, with the shorter part of the circle below the sleeves, for a short, sassy, look. Size: One size to fit most women (S, M, L). Only the placement and the length of the armholes are actually "sized". The vest is a circle, knit in 8 equal sections, with armholes made in sections 2 and 7. The sample garment was knit to 9.5" from the center of the circle, at the point where its armholes measured approx. 10" in length. For smaller bodies, armholes can be made sooner than this, which will result in a smaller garment and a shorter armhole length. For larger bodies, continue knitting past 9.5", until 2 sections measure the desired width across back, and armholes are desired length. This can easily by determined by placing all stitches on a length of ribbon, and placing the knitted circle against the back of the intended wearer. To calculate yarn requirements for larger or smaller sizes, determine desired back width, and compare it to sample garment's back width as a percentage, and then increase or decrease your yarn requirements by this percentage – e.g. sample garment's 19" back width used 9 balls, so a 21" back would use 10 balls (21 divided by 19 = 1.1, and 9 x 1.1 = 10). Materials: - 9 balls of elann.com Pasticcio - or 1 full bag of elann.com Pasticcio - 5.5 mm (US 9) double pointed or circular needles (or size required to obtain correct gauge). - 7 stitch markers, color A - 1 stitch marker, color B Gauge: Approx. 12 sts and 14 rows = 4", measured over pattern stitch – gauge is not critical to this project. Instructions: With 5.5 mm (US 9) needles, cast on 8 sts. Divide sts evenly on either 4 double pointed needles or 2 circulars. Knit one Round. kf&b into each st - 16sts. Place 7 stitch markers, color A, every 2 sts to divide into 8 equal sections, ending with the placement of stitch marker color B to denote the beginning of round. Begin to knit in pattern between markers, in each of the 8 sections as follows: Rnd 1: *k2tog, yo* sections 1 to 7 - at last 2 sts in section 8, k2tog, yrn. Rnd 2: *P2tog, yrn*. sections 1 to 7 - at last 2 sts in section 8, p2tog, leave yarn in front of work, so that a short and neat stitch is created before you begin Rnd 3. Rnd 3: Kf&b, *k*, kf&b (Note: in the very first occurrence of Rnd 3, there will be no *k*, as there will be only 2 sts in each section). Rdn 4: P Note: By knitting f&b in the stiches before and after each of the 8 markers in every rnd 3, you will be increasing 16 sts every 4 rows. Continue rep rounds 1-4. When you have enough sts, switch to one circular needle. Continue until circle measures approx. 9.5" from its center (or until there are approx. 28 sts in each of 8 sections) then end on a round 3. Armhole Rnd 4: P 28 sts in first section, BO 28 sts in second section, P 28 sts in sections 3, 4, 5, 6, BO 28 sts in section 7, P 28 sts in section 8. Next Rnd 1: *k2tog, yo* across first section, turn work, CO 28 sts in second section, turn work, *k2tog, yo* across sections 3, 4, 5, 6, turn work, CO 28 sts in section 7, turn work, *k2tog, yo* across section 8. Continue to rep rounds 1-4 until circle measures approx. 22" from center. Bind off with picot bind off as follows: BO 2 sts, *sl rem st on RH needle onto LH needle, CO 2 sts, BO 4 sts*; rep from * to * to end, then fasten off remaining st. Finishing: Crochet 1 row sc around armholes. Abbreviations: approx. approximately, BO bind off, CO cast on, f&b front and back, k knit, k2tog knit 2 together, LH left hand, p purl, p2tog purl 2 together, rem remaining, RH right hand, Rnd Round, sc single crochet, sl slip, st(s) stitch(es), yo yarn over, yrn yarn round needle to make one stitch. Please note this pattern is copyrighted material and the entire contents of this pattern are copyrighted as a collective work under the copyright laws of Canada and the United States. You may print a copy of this pattern for your own personal use and enjoyment, but editing, publishing, transmitting, e-mailing, posting it to a list service or database, or otherwise commercially exploiting this pattern is strictly forbidden. Copyright elann.com inc.