Ribbed waistcoat with buttons

BACK

Using size 3 mm point and 120 cm cable, cast-on 142 sts and, for band shaping, work 28 rows rib 1/1 as foll.:

1st r. (WS): sl1-p, (k1, p1) rep. across the entire r. and purl last st.

2nd r. (RS): sl1-k, (p1, k1) rep. across the entire r. and knit last st.

From 3rd to 28th r.: rep. the 1st and the 2nd r.

Using size 4 mm points, work rib 4/1 as foll.:

1st r. (WS): bind off the first 10 sts., 1 edge st. in garter st., (k4, yo, p1) rep. until the end and work last edge st. in garter st.

2nd r. (RS): bind off the first 10 sts., 1 edge st., * k1-tbl, work a yo tog. with the next st. to create a decorative hole), p4. *, rep. from * to * until the end, 1 edge st.

3rd r. (WS): 1 edge st., (k4, p1) rep. across the entire r., 1 edge st.

4th r. (RS): 1 edge st., (p4, k1-tbl) rep. across the entire r., 1 edge st.

From 5th to 70th r.: always rep. the 3rd and the 4th r.

Maintaining the pattern, begin to shape the armholes by decreasing 2 sts. every 4 r. 5 times on both sides.

At the end of the decrease section, 102 sts. remain. Start counting r. from this point, then cont. working 64 r. rib 4/1.

Next, start shaping the shoulders as foll.: maintaining the pattern, bind off 10 sts. at the beginning of each back-and-forth r., totaling 30 sts. bound off for each shoulder. Place the remaining 42 sts. on hold.

FRONT

Work as given for the back but vary the number of r. as foll.: after the 1/1 ribbed band, work 50 r. rib 4/1. For the armholes, decrease 2 sts. every 4 r., 5 times on both sides, and cont. in pattern with the same number of sts. for 60 r.

Now, begin to shape the neckline by binding off the center 22 sts. and cont. working each shoulder separately.

Right shoulder: on the side of the neckline, decrease 2 sts. every 2 r. 5 times (10 r. in total). Simultaneously, shape the shoulder on the opposite side of the neckline by binding off the sts. as on the corresponding shoulder at the back.

Left shoulder: work as given for the right shoulder, reversing all shaping.

FINISHING

Sew the shoulders on the WS.

Side bands (x 2): pick up sts. evenly along edge sts. on the right side of the front and back, between the 2 panels 1/1 ribbed bands. Work 3 cm in rib 1/1, then loosely bind off the sts.

Work the other band along the left side edge of the front and back similarly.

On the RS, sew the ends of the bands to the corresponding 10 previously bound-off side sts. of the front and back.

Collar

Pick up the sts. left on hold at the back neckline and pick up the sts. evenly along the front neckline. Work 3 cm in rib 1/1, then bind off the sts. loosely.

Join the side bands of the front and back by sewing 3 buttons on each side of the vest. For each side, sew the first button through both layers (front and back) just above the 1/1 ribbed bottom band. Continue upwards, sewing 1 button approximately 8 cm above the previous one, repeating this process twice.

Hide the ends. Wet and block. Wear!