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 a statement 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yet beautiful ballads, wrote an essay on them in grammar school, and even owned a very old copy that included now-unpublished pieces.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

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. 

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"

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

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.