Dolcetto was designed for a recent mYak knitting retreat in the Langhe region of Italy that I had the pleasure to be a part of. With that in mind, I designed it to dovetail into the two workshops I taught - one on necklines, and one on pattern modification.

Since my classes were all about options, your Dolcetto pattern purchase includes both a V-neck and a crew neck version of the vest, so TWO PDFs will be available for download into your library.

Dolcetto is a cute little top with a lot of options. I chose an elegant and detailed cable and played around with asymmetry this time. Within the cables, there’s a fun technique that adds a “wrap” to the crosses, so there’s also a simple new skill to play with in the motif.

I added texture at the center of the body and stockinette along the sides, and extended the cable feet straight into the hem edge. It’s timeless, but unique, and when knit in mYak Medium, it’s soft and luxurious as well.

The idea behind the design was to create a classic piece that could be both modified and worn a number of ways, since my workshops were about making your knits to work for you.

Small cap shoulders allow you to wear Dolcetto without anything underneath - but you can layer it if desired, and the option for either a V or crew neck means that you can choose what works best in your wardrobe. Notes on adjusting the vest in a number of ways are noted in the pattern. Plus, Dolcetto works equally well with more or less ease, depending on how you want to wear yours!

Leslie is wearing my crew neck sample (shown in Mustard) with the fit I usually choose. She’s got 3-4”/7.75-10cm of ease at bust and the length on her is just below the waist, which looks great with a long shirt showing underneath. It also looks fantastic worn over high waisted pants or a skirt.

Robyn is wearing Paola’s V-neck sample (shown in Petrol) with about 5-6”/12.75-15.25cm of ease and a longer length. I love how this works solo, as a loose and easy shell, but it’s also perfect as a warm layer over a top or tucked into a pair of jeans. Paola wore this vest on the retreat with a fitted, long sleeve tee underneath, and paired it with loose, flowy pants that looked great on her.

Dolcetto is worked from the bottom up in the round, and split into pieces at armholes. The front and back are then worked flat to shoulder and seamed. Collar and armhole ribbings are picked up around openings and worked in round to end.

Cable instructions are both charted and written, and each of the two versions has notes on the different places and ways you can modify the vest to fit your needs.

Sizes
36.5(39.5,43.5,49.5,53.5)(57.5,61.5,66.5)”
92.75(100.25,110.5,125.75,136)(146,156.25,169)cm,

Sizes are based on final, blocked fabric and reflect circumference at bust.

Crew neck, yardage needed
750(800,900,1000,1100)(1200,1350,1450)yds 685(730,825,915,1005)(1100,1235,1325)m

V-neck, yardage needed
700(750,850,950,1050)(1150,1250,1350)yds 640(685,780,870,960)(1050,1145,1235)m

Worsted weight yarn needed. I suggest a solid or semi solid shade with minimal variegation that will work to gauge and show off the detail well. If knitting a size with more ease, choose a yarn with some memory so that your vest does not grow with wear. Yardage may vary with modifications or substitute yarns.