Finished Bust Sizes: 36, 40, 44, 48 inches

Materials
4, (5, 5, 6) - 50-gr balls Crystal Palace Merino Stripes, col. #23 "blue jeans"
CPY Bamboo Needles or DAISY Needles size 10.5 - 26" or 29" circular needle, 1 pair 10.5 straight needles
2 stitch markers

Gauge: 14 sts = 4" in garter stitch

Back
Note: Length from underarm to lower edge of vest is 17 (18, 19, 19) inches. To adjust length either shorter or longer, multiply desired length from underarm x 3.5 stitches per inch and cast on accordingly for the two sides. All other instructions remain unchanged.

Cast on 56 (60, 63, 63) sts for left side, place marker, cast on 63, (70, 77, 84) sts, place marker for lower edge, cast on 56 (60, 63, 63).for right side.
Knit one row.
Begin shaping:
Row 1 (K to 2 sts before marker, K2 tog, slip marker, K 2 tog) twice, K to end.
Row 2  Knit
Repeat these two rows until piece measures 1.5 (2, 2, 2) inches from beginning. End by working a right-side row.
At the beginning of next row, cast on very loosely 32 (36, 40 44) sts, K to end.
At the beginning of next right-side row, cast on the same number of sts and work to end, making decreases as estab.
Continue working rows 1 and 2 as estab until 2 sts remain between markers. End by working a wrong-side row.
Next row: Knit to marker, remove marker, K1. With straight needle, K1, remove marker, K to end of row.
Fold work with right sides together and with 2nd straight needle, work 3-needle bind off.

Front: Work as for back until 2 sts remain between markers, but end by working a right-side row.
Row 1: Bind off 32 (36, 40, 44) sts, K to end.
Row 2: Bind off 32 (36, 40, 44) sts, K to marker, remove marker, K1, with with straight needle, K1, remove second marker, K to end.
Fold work with right sides together and with 2nd straight needles, work 3-needle bind off.
Sew shoulder seams and side seams. Attach button trip at center front and attach buttons to hold lapels in place.

Designed and Knit by Gail Tanquary for Crystal Palace Yarns
Visit Gail's shop, Alameda Yarn Co., in Alameda, CA if you are in the East Bay area.

Copyright 2006 Crystal Palace Yarns/Straw Into Gold, Inc. - We are happy to share this  pattern with knitters. The pattern may be used for non-commercial personal or knitting guild use. It is not to be used in any publication in print nor should it be reproduced in electronic/digital format without permission. Knitting shops carrying CP Yarns Merino Stripes are welcome to print and share this pattern with customers of our yarns.

Retail shops in the USA should contact CPY Wholesale for information on purchasing Crystal Palace Yarns and email cpyinfo @ straw.com .

or write to:
Crystal Palace Yarns, 160 23rd St., Richmond, CA 94804
phone: 510-237-9988,  fax: 510-237-9809