It’s been storming in Georgia all weekend, and yesterday our power went out for the better part of an hour. An hour with no electricity shows you exactly how dependent you are on power – everything we thought of to do ended up needing electricity! And, okay, I have a confession – I am a little obsessed with my cats. Combine the two on a lazy Saturday afternoon, and this is what you get:
Why yes, that is a cashmere argyle sweater vest that I knit for my cats. It fits both of them quite well, even though the other one is about four pounds heavier! I used leftover Rowan Cashsoft DK from a sweater I knit three years ago (and yes, I’m aware that this yarn is too nice for a cat sweater…) – about a half a ball of the main color, not even 50 yards of the green, and mere scraps of the white. I know I am not the only one out there who thinks this is endlessly entertaining, nor can I be the only one who has a little free time and some old stash yarn you have no idea what to do with, so here’s my pattern:
Kitty Cat Argyle Sweater Vest
Yarn:Rowan Cashsoft DK or any DK weight – MC (.5 balls), CC1 (.5 balls), CC2 (10 yards)
Needles: US 5 26″ circular (you could also use DPNs for arms)
Gauge: 6.5 stitches=1″, 8 rows= 1″
Back:
CO 50 stitches with CC1.
Row 1: *K1, P1* repeat through end of row.
Repeat Row 1 five times (6 times total) or until ribbing measures .75″.
Switch to MC.
Row 7 (RS): K across.
Row 8 (WS): P across.
Repeat Rows 7+8 until you have completed 32 rows in stockinette (stockinette section measures 4″).
Row 41 (RS): BO 5 at beginning of the row, K to end of row (45 stitches).
Row 42 (WS): BO 5 at beginning of the row, P to end of row (40 stitches).
Row 43 (RS): K2, SSK, K to last four stitchs, K2tog, K2 (38 stitches).
Row 44 (WS): P across.
Repeat Rows 43 and 44 until you have 28 stitches left on the needle (five times), ending with a WS row.
Row 55 (RS): K across.
Row 56 (WS): P across.
Repeat Rows 55 and 56 three times (4 times total).
Row 63 (RS): K2, M1, K to last two stitches, M1, K2.
Row 64 (WS): P across.
Repeat Rows 63 and 64 four times (38 stitches).
Row 73 (RS): K2, M1, K to last two stitches, M1, K2.
Row 74 (WS): P to end, CO 5 stitches at end of row (45 stitches).
Row 75 (RS): K to end, CO 5 stitches at end of row (50 stitches).
Row 76 (WS): P across.
Row 77 (RS): K across.
Row 78 (WS): P across.
Row 79 (RS): K across.
Row 80 (WS): P across.
Row 81 (RS): K across.
Row 82 (WS): P across.
Row 83 (RS): K across.
Row 84 (WS): P across.
BO loosely.
Front:
Work as for back for 42 rows
Row 43 (RS): K2, SSK, K5, work Row 1 of chart, K6, K2tog, K2 (38 stitches).
Row 44 (WS): P8, work next row of chart, K9.
Repeat Rows 43 and 44 five times (28 stitches remain), working each row of the chart and switching back to MC once chart is completed, ending with a WS row.
Row 55 (RS): K across.
Row 56 (WS): P across.
Separate for V-neck:
Row 57 (RS): K13, BO 1, K14
Row 58 (WS): P13, attach new ball to other side of front, P14.
From now on, you’ll switch to the other side’s working yarn when you reach the second half of the front in the row.
Row 59 (RS): K to last 3 stitches, K2tog, K1, switch to other ball, K1, SSK, K to end. (25 stitches total)
Row 60 (WS): P across for each side.
Row 61 (RS): K to last 3 stitches, K2tog, K1, switch to other ball, K1, SSK, K to end. (23 stitches total)
Row 62 (WS): P across for each side.
Continue decreasing one stitch on each side of the V-neck for every RS row in this manner, and at the same time, continue side shaping the same as for the back as follows:
Row 63 (RS): K2, M1, K to last three stitches, K2tog, K1, switch to other ball, K1, SSK, K to last two stitches, M1, K2.
Row 64 (WS): P across for each side.
Repeat Rows 63 and 64 four times.
Row 73 (RS): K2, M1, K to last three stitches, K2tog, K1, switch to other ball, K1, SSK, K to last two stitches, M1, K2.
Row 74 (WS): P to end for each side, CO 5 stitches at end of row (28 stitches).
Row 75 (RS): K to last three stitchs, K2tog, K1, switch to other ball, K1, SSK, K to end, CO 5 stitches at end of row (33 stitches).
Row 76 (WS): P across for each side.
Row 77 (RS): K to last 3 stitches, K2tog, K1, switch to other ball, K1, SSK, K to end. (31 stitches)
Row 78 (WS): P across each side.
Row 79 (RS): K to last 3 stitches, K2tog, K1, switch to other ball, K1, SSK, K to end. (29 stitches)
Row 80 (WS): P across each side.
Row 81 (RS): K to last 3 stitches, K2tog, K1, switch to other ball, K1, SSK, K to end. (27 stitches)
Row 82 (WS): P across each side.
Row 83 (RS): K to last 3 stitches, K2tog, K1, switch to other ball, K1, SSK, K to end. (25 stitches)
Row 84 (WS): P across each side.
BO each half loosely.
Chart:
Finishing:
Sew side seams above arms, then sew side seams under arms.
Neck:
Beginning at base of the V on the front, pick up stitches all around the neck to the other end of the V – pick up about two stitches for every three in the sweater. DO NOT JOIN. Knit back and forth in 1×1 ribbing (K1, P1) until you have six rows of ribbing, BO loosely.
Arms:
Pick up stitches all around the armhole – pick up every other stitch – and join for kntting in the round. Knit in 1×1 ribbing for six rounds, BO loosely. Repeat for other side.
Weave in all ends.
Wrestle onto nearest available cat.
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