Fraser

Fraser Slipover by Katya Frankel

What is Being Made

Fraser is a seamless knitted slipover (also known as a waistcoat or vest) designed by Katya Frankel. This garment is worked from the bottom up in a single piece until the armholes, where the knitting is divided to shape the front and back sections separately. The slipover features a hood that is added to the body after the shoulders are joined, creating a versatile layering piece suitable for intermediate knitters.

Construction and Techniques

The Fraser slipover employs a seamless construction method, which eliminates the need for seaming pieces together after knitting. The garment begins at the lower edge and progresses upward in the round until the armhole shaping begins. At this point, the knitter divides the stitches to work the front and back sections flat (back and forth on needles) rather than in the round. This technique allows for precise shaping at the armholes while maintaining the seamless aesthetic of the piece. After the shoulder seams are joined, the hood is picked up from the neck edge and worked downward in Stocking stitch, adding a cozy finishing element to the design.

Stitches Used

Fraser incorporates two primary stitch patterns:

• Cabled Stitch Pattern: The main body of the slipover features a cabled stitch pattern worked over a Stocking stitch ground. This combination creates subtle texture and visual interest while maintaining the drape and structure of the garment. The cables are set against the smooth Stocking stitch background, giving the piece a refined, textured appearance.
• Stocking Stitch: Used for the hood and as the foundation for the cabled pattern sections. Stocking stitch (knit on right-side rows, purl on wrong-side rows when working flat) creates a smooth, classic fabric base.

Yarn and Materials

Fraser is designed to be worked in DK weight yarn, with the pattern sample knitted in Sirdar Click DK (70% acrylic / 30% wool blend). The yardage requirements vary by size: approximately 465 to 605 yards (425 to 550 meters) of DK weight yarn is needed depending on the chosen size. The pattern specifies 3 to 4 balls of Sirdar Click DK (#0189), with larger sizes requiring more yarn.

Knitting is worked on 4mm (US 6) needles. The pattern requires attention to gauge for proper fit: 24 stitches and 32 rounds/rows over 4 inches (10 centimeters) in the cabled pattern, and 22 stitches and 26 rows over 4 inches (10 centimeters) in Stocking stitch using the specified needle size. Knitters are advised to adjust needle size as necessary to achieve the correct gauge.

Difficulty Level

Fraser is rated as an Intermediate