I never seem to be done playing with these Oban cables!

This time, they find themselves knit up into a quick and easy vest. I plan to wear this with only a tank underneath as we head into warmer days. When it cools down again, I’ll be wearing it as shown here, over a sleeved top, or paired with a dress. This combination of textures and color works all year round!! :)

The yarn I chose is Ritual Dyes Marona, in a stunning shade called Chestnut. This DK weight wool is light and bouncy and shows off a cable incredibly well. Worked at a worsted gauge on a US#7 needle, it remained round and lofty and the fabric has just enough drape for anytime wear. The fiber here is Cormo, and it’s just perfect.

If you’d like to get a kit straight from Ritual Dyes, with the yardage all figured out per size, see HERE.

The Oban Vest features an even number of cable repeats across front and back, allowing for a perfectly centered V-neck. I could then use the cables to shape each side of the neckline opening - and continue them around the shoulders to meet at the center back. The edge is then simply finished to keep all the attention on that gorgeous cable edge. It’s bold and crisp and feels so classic.

At each side of the body are smaller, more delicate columns. These provide a bit of contrast and make modifications or shaping easy to add.

I also chose to play a little with the traditional vest silhouette, maintaining enough width at top to create a subtle shoulder cap. I love this fit on my Frisky Witch, and think it creates a beautifully flattering shape. Paired with a fitted armhole ribbing, it’s just perfect, and it allows you to easily wear the vest without sleeves underneath. But yes, notes are included in the pattern on how to add extra armhole shaping for narrow, more traditional vest shoulders.

In addition to shoulder modification, the pattern also has notes on altering length from hem or customizing your fit around the body, as well as changing the upper body depth and armhole circumference.

The Oban Vest is worked from the bottom up in the round and split into pieces at armhole. These upper body pieces are then worked flat to shoulder and seamed. The two cable ends are continued beyond shoulders and seamed down to upper back in finishing. Lastly, stitches are picked up around both armhole and V-neck openings and worked in round to end.

All cable instructions are both charted and written.

Sizes
34(40,44,50,54)(60,64,67.5)”
86.5(101.5,111.75,127,137.25)(152.5,162.5,171.5)cm

Sizes are based on bust circumference of vest in final, blocked fabric. Jess is wearing my vest with about 3”/7.75cm of positive ease at bust and it hits her at the waist. I wear it with between 4-5”/10-12.75cm of ease and it’s just a little longer on me. However, I think it looks great both ways!

Yarn
Ritual Dyes Marona 3ply DK, (100% Cormo wool, 250yds/228m per 4oz/100g skein). Shown in Chestnut.

700(750,800,900,1000)(1100,1200,1300)yds
640(685,730,825,915)(1005,1100,1190)m needed.
If modifying or substituting yarn, adjust the above estimates as required. Yardage is based on test knits and does include about 10% buffer.

If substituting, I suggest a round DK or a light worsted weight wool in a solid, semisolid, tweed or heather. You can also hold a fingering and a strand of alpaca/silk/mohair for a halo as long as you get gauge. Due to the nature of cables, a fiber with a lot of memory might result in smaller gauge, be sure to swatch in pattern and block all swatches before casting on.

If you are a Ravelry fan with eagle eyes, yes that’s Jess.
I love her.