Morocco Vest

Morocco – just the name conjures up images of spicy foods, colorful clothing, and a warm Mediterranean breeze. Here it is translated into a colorful striped vest to brighten up long summer days. Only one ball of each color is required, so it can be made with those leftover or random balls of yarn in your stash. The back is knit in a circle, which is then divided into sections for the front, sides and bottom. Stitches are picked up to create striped bands along the front opening and armholes. It is very quick to knit and the only finishing required is sewing the side seams and weaving in loose ends, so before you know it you will have a versatile vest to wear with any summer outfit. It can be worn open or pinned closed at the front, as shown in the photo.

SIZE
XS [S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X] (shown in size S)

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Chest: 32 [36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56] inches
Length at center back: 20 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32] inches

MATERIALS
6 different colored balls of worsted weight yarn, each ball at least 100 yds. The colors I used are: black, charcoal, purple, cherry red, red with metallic gold, and orange.


1 set US #10/6mm double-point needles
1 40 inch US #10/6mm circular needle

notions required
tapestry needle to weave in ends
waste yarn
stitch markers

GAUGE
13 sts/17 rows = 4" in stockinette stitch

PATTERN NOTES
For the back and fronts: alternate colors every 4 rows.
For the mitered bands: alternate colors every 2 rows.
When alternating colors, knit the first stitch with both the old color and the new color to avoid the color stair stepping.

PATTERN
Back
Using DPN, CO 8 sts. Divide onto the needles as follows: 2 sts on first ndl, 4 sts on second ndl, 2 sts on third ndl. Join in the round and place marker.
Round 1: kfb in each st. (16 sts)
Round 2: *kfb, k1* 8 times (24 sts)
Round 3 and all odd rounds: k
Round 4: *kfb, k2* 8 times (32 sts)
Change to next color, and continue to alternate colors every 4 rounds.
Round 6: *kfb, k3* 8 times (40 sts)
Round 8: *kfb, k4* 8 times (48 sts)
Continue in this manner, increasing the number of stitches between each kfb, for 34[39, 43, 47, 51, 56, 60] rounds. 152[168, 184, 200, 216, 240, 256] sts. Switch to circular ndl when necessary.

Divide into fronts, sides, and bottom:
Continuing in same color as last round, k9[10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16]; BO 20[22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32] sts; k9[10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16]; BO 38[42, 46, 50, 54, 60, 64] sts; k38[42, 46, 50, 54, 60, 64]; BO 38[42, 46, 50, 54, 60, 64] sts. Cut yarn and pull through remaining st on the right ndl.
Place the section of 38[42, 46, 50, 54, 60, 64] sts on waste yarn (this is the bottom). Place the left front section of 9[10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16] sts on another piece of waste yarn.

Right Front:
With RS facing, begin working in St st, alternating colors every 4 rows. Work even until right front is 5.5[6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5] inches, ending with a WS row.

Increase rows:
Row 1: (RS) K until last st, kfb.
Row 2: (WS) kfb, P to end
Repeat the last two rows 4[4, 5, 5, 6, 7, 7 ] more times. 19[20, 23, 24, 27, 31, 32] sts.
Work even until the front is 13.5[15, 16.5, 18, 19.5, 21, 22.5] inches. Place sts onto a piece of waste yarn.

Left Front:
Place 10 sts from waste yarn onto ndl. With RS facing, begin working in St st, alternating colors every 4 rows. Work even until right front is 5.5[6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5] inches, ending with a WS row.

Increase rows:
Row 1: (RS) kfb, K to end.
Row 2: (WS) P to last st, kfb.
Repeat the last two rows 4[4, 5, 5, 6, 7, 7 ] more times. 19[20, 23, 24, 27, 31, 32] sts.
Work even until the front is 13.5[15, 16.5, 18, 19.5, 21, 22.5] inches, ending with a WS row.

Mitered Border:
Place marker, pick up 47[53, 58, 64, 69, 74, 80] sts along left front opening, placing marker at the corner of the front opening and neckline; pick up 20[22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32] sts at back neck; pick up 47[53, 58, 64, 69, 74, 80] sts along right front, placing marker at corner of front opening and neckline; place 19[20, 23, 24, 27, 31, 32] sts from right front onto the ndl; place marker, place 38[42, 46, 50, 54, 60, 64] sts from back onto ndl; place a different colored marker to mark the beginning of the round. Join for working in the round. 191[212, 233, 254, 275, 299, 320] sts.

Round 1: *k to marker, yo, pass marker, k1, yo* to end of round.
Round 2: *p to marker, pass marker, k1* to end of round.
Work these 2 rounds 5 more times, alternating colors every 2 rounds. BO sts loosely.

Sew side seams:
Starting at the bottom, sew the side seams, leaving 7[7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10] inches open for the armhole.

Armhole binding:
The armhole binding can be worked either with the DPNs, or with the circular ndl and the magic loop technique.
Pick up 46[48, 52, 56, 58, 62, 66] sts around the armhole and join for working in the round.
Round 1: k
Round 2: p
Repeat the last two rounds 5 more times, alternating colors every 2 rounds. BO sts loosely.

FINISHING
Weave in all loose ends. Sew the center of the circle on the back close if necessary.