Kytice Vest

**Kytice Vest** (bouquet in English; pronounced KIH-tyi-tseh) is a relaxed, slightly thicker vest featuring a beautifully textured floral pattern. The bouquet motif is formed with cables, lace, roosimine and bobbles, accented by a few embroidery stitches. Resembling an old still-life painting, the main motif is framed by ribbon-like stripes with bobble blossoms. Its original shoulder construction provides a great fit while offering very unique and elegant shaping. The thoughtful details of this vest make it as tatement piece in an everyday wardrobe. The inspiration for this vest comes from the book of ballads Kytice (in English, Wildflowers) by Karel Jaromír Erben. I grew up listening to and reading these terrifying yet beautiful ballads, wrote an essay on them in grammar school, and even owned a very old copy that included now-unpublished pieces. It’s a classic of Czech literature that I love and return to whenever I can. SIZES 1–9 (See the schematic in the image gallery.) EASE 10–15 cm / 4–6” of positive ease around bust recommended *The vest shown is a size 2 on a 157 cm / 5.2 ft tall model with 85 cm / 33.5” bust circumference and 36 cm / 14.25” shoulder width.* MEASUREMENTS (See the dimension schematic in the image gallery.) Shoulder width 39 (40, 41.5, 43, 44), [45.5, 46.5, 47, 48.5] cm / 15.25 (15.75, 16.25, 17, 17.25), [18, 18.25, 18.5, 19]" Neck opening width 17 (18, 20, 20, 21), [21, 22, 21, 21] cm / 6.75 (7, 7.75, 7.75, 8.25), [8.25, 8.75, 8.25, 8.25]" Shoulder length 10.5 (10.5, 10.5, 11.5, 11.5), [12, 12, 13, 13.5] cm / 4.25 (4.25, 4.25, 4.5, 4.5), [4.75, 4.75, 5, 5.25]" Armhole depth 20.5 (22, 23.5, 25, 27), [27.5, 28.5, 30, 31] cm / 8 (8.75, 9.25, 9.75, 10.75), [10.75, 11.25, 11.75, 12.25]" Neckline drop 5 (5, 6, 6, 7), [7, 8, 8, 8] cm / 2 (2, 2.25, 2.25, 2.75), [2.75, 3.25, 3.25, 3.25]" Vest length at the front, adjustable, see page 5 46 (46, 46, 46, 46), [46, 46, 46, 46] cm / 18 (18, 18, 18, 18), [18, 18, 18, 18]" Bust circumference 87 (96, 108, 117.5, 127.5), [137, 146.5, 156.5, 166] cm / 34.25 (37.75, 42.5, 46.25, 50.25), [54, 57.75, 61.5, 65.5]" YARN 3 (3, 3, 3, 3), [4, 4, 4, 4] skeins of Mota by Wooldreamers (230 m / 252 yds / 100 g, 100% local Spanish wool) or approx.510 (545, 590, 615, 660), [715, 735, 780, 830] m / 558 (596, 645, 673, 722), [782, 804, 853, 908] yds of a similar yarn. *The sample is knitted with Mota in the colourway 746G.* *Please be aware that adjusting the length of the garment or the *needle size you need to achieve the stated gauge will also affect the amount of yarnneeded to finish the project.* The yarn estimates are calculated for working the Kytice pattern on both sides and for the default length of the vest.* NEEDLES A: 5 mm / 8 US circular needles with a cable of at least 80 cm / 32" B: 4.5 mm / 7 US circular needles with a cable of at least 80 cm / 32" *Needle A is used for the main fabric, and Needle B for the ribbing.* *Always use the needle sizes needed to achieve the required gauge.* GAUGE 17 sts & 27 rows = 10 cm / 4" on needle A, in stockinette stitch worked both flat in the round after washing and blocking 16 sts & 27 rows = 10 cm / 4" on needle A, in moss stitch worked both flat & in the round after washing and blocking Kytice chart 40 sts = 21.5 cm / 8.5” on needle A, measured on row 31 of the chart *Please note that for this pattern both stitch gauge and round/row gauge is important. Your round gauge should therefore fall between **26 and 28 rounds/rows**.* NOTIONS * blocking tools * stitch markers * pins * tapestry needle ABOUT THE CONSTRUCTION This vest is worked from the top down. You begin with shoulder shaping, working two separate pieces that are later joined once the neckline is shaped. Up to the underarms, the vest is worked flat, with the armholes shaped with increases. The back yoke begins in the same way, with two shoulder pieces, then continues to the armholes, where shaping is also created with increases. From this point, you can either work the vest in the round or continue knitting flat and seam the sides later. The ribbing is worked flat, as it is split. You then seam the shoulders, pick up stitches along the neckline, and work the neckband in half-twisted ribbing. The same method is used for the armholes. All ribbed sections are finished with a tubular bind-off.