With all the gorgeous textures and stitches filling the pattern books on my shelves, it’s still those classics, Stockinette and Garter, that I come back to time and again. Amande is my attempt to use these old friends of mine to create a garment with interesting lines and a unique shape. And because there aren’t any fancy stitches to keep track of, there are some fun techniques in there to keep you on your toes: i-cord bind offs, applied i-cord worked as you go, short rows, various cast-ons, pockets, and a big, chunky cable up the back.

The vest is knit from the bottom up, mostly in one piece (very minimal seaming), and the fronts of the vest are created by picking up sts down the fronts and working short rows on either side. The pockets are created as you go, with the linings picked up and knit after the body of the vest is done. Add some funky buttons to make it your own I chose almond (amande) shaped wood, to go with the rustic nature of the wool.

Yarn requirements: 465 (530, 595, 660, 725, 790, 850, 915) yds/ 425 (485, 545, 605, 660, 720, 780, 835) m

ERRATA:
2/11/12 -- An error was found in the waist decrease section, making the length from hip to waist slightly too long. This error was corrected in version 2 of the pattern and now reads:

Dec Row (RS): K to 3 sts before first marker, k2tog, p1, sm, ssk, k to 2 sts before next marker, k2tog, sm, p1, ssk, k to end – 4 sts dec’d.
Working in St st (making sure to p the seam st on the RS and k it on the WS), rep Dec Row every 2.25 (2.25, 2.25, 2.25, 2.75, 2.75, 2.75, 2.75)” / 6 (6, 6, 6, 7, 7, 7, 7) cm 2 (2, 3, 3, 1, 2, 2, 3) more times, then every 2 (2, -, -, 2.25, 2.25, 2.25, -)” / 5 (5, -, -, 6, 6, 6, -) cm 1 (1, -, -, 2, 1, 1, -) time.
Total sts: 64 (76, 86, 98, 110, 122, 132, 144).

Piece should measure 7.75 (7.75, 8, 8, 8.5, 9, 9, 9.5)” / 19.5 (19.5, 20, 20, 21.5, 23, 23, 24) cm.